31. 1/7 Sir Ernest SHACKLETON

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton CVO OBE FRGS FRSGS was an Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic. He was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Born in Kilkea, County Kildare, Ireland, Shackleton and his Anglo-Irish family[1] moved to Sydenham in suburban south London when he was ten. Shackleton's first experience of the polar regions was as third officer on Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery expedition of 1901–1904, from which he was sent home early on health grounds, after he and his companions Scott and Edward Adrian Wilson set a new southern record by marching to latitude 82°S. During the Nimrod expedition of 1907–1909, he and three companions established a new record Farthest South latitude at 88°S, only 97 geographical miles (112 statute miles or 180 kilometres) from the South Pole, the largest advance to the pole in exploration history. Also, members of his team climbed Mount Erebus, the most active Antarctic volcano. For these achievements, Shackleton was knighted by King Edward VII on his return home.

After the race to the South Pole ended in December 1911, with Roald Amundsen's conquest, Shackleton turned his attention to the crossing of Antarctica from sea to sea, via the pole. To this end, he made preparations for what became the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–1917. Disaster struck this expedition when its ship, Endurance, became trapped in pack ice and was slowly crushed before the shore parties could be landed. The crew escaped by camping on the sea ice until it disintegrated, then by launching the lifeboats to reach Elephant Island and ultimately South Georgia Island, a stormy ocean voyage of 720 nautical miles (1,330 km; 830 mi) and Shackleton's most famous exploit. In 1921, he returned to the Antarctic with the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition, but died of a heart attack while his ship was moored in South Georgia. At his wife's request, he was buried there.

"Scott for scientific method, Amundsen for speed and efficiency but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton",

In the Spirit of Shackleton this tracker & six others in the series will set out into the world - to keep exploring & pushing out the Boundaries.

Please look up the storoes of his expiditions - particularly the Endurance 1914-1917 - an amazing story of human survival, and incredible leadership 

1/7 Shackleton

2/7 Frank Wild his loyal No 1

3/7 Tom Crean - tough, strong, loyal Irishman

4/7 Frank Worsley - his reliable & accurate Captain

5/7 Leonard Hussey - Surgeon & Meteriologist

6/7 Frank Hurley - Remarkable Kiwi Photographer

7/7 Mrs Chippy - the Ships Cat (met a sad end) 

I hope to travel to his Grave in South Georgia (there is a cache there!) in November 2021 and take these with me, & back home again.

Then they can set out into the world

Until then they will accomany me on my travels, alot on a cycle!

THIS IS A CHARITY TB - The Rainy Day Trust is the UK's only charity supporting the home improvement workforce and their families in times of need.