Isobel Williams – Author, Cruise Speaker and Lecturer

Edgar Evans was denigrated by many after his death, because, it was alledged, he was unable to keep pace with his companions on the fearful return and held the British party up, so causing of the deaths of the whole group.

It took years for Edgar to regain his rightful place in British Antarctic history, but now Swansea is celebrating the life of her famous son.

There is to be a service in St Mary’s Church on Friday 17th February 2012, to be followed by a conference in the Swansea Museum on the 18th.

A ‘must’ for those interested in local history and in Edgar Evans, a man who was of great credit to his country.

It is wonderful to see actual images taken by Scott on his final attempt at The South Pole. Scott and some of his colleagues were instructed in the art of photography by the Camera Artist of the expedition, Herbert Ponting (who was not part of the final assault on the Pole),and became adept with colour filters, telescopic lenses and orthochromatic plates. He took some wonderful, action-filled images as well as panoramic views.
David Wilson (Dr Edward Wilson’s great nephew) has published ‘The Lost Photographs of Captain Scott’

It is interesting to see that the focus of works on British exploration in Antarctica in the early 1900s has now widened to include biographies of men who supported their leaders so significantly. Recent biographies include works on Frank Wild, Dr Reginald Koettlitz (of the ‘Discovery’ expedition), Dr Edward Wilson of ‘Discovery’ and ‘Terra Nova’ and P.O.Edgar Evans who also followed Scott on both these expeditions. A work on Vince who died on Scott’s first expedition is awaited, as well as a biography of ‘Birdie’ Bowers.
It is great to know that these men, four of whom lost their lives in Antarctica, are now receiving proper attention and appreciation.

Next year Robert Stephenson of the ‘Antarctic Circle’ will be hosting a symposium the focus of which will be 90% Antarctic. It will be held in his home town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire USA and will be for all those interested in matters Antarctic. Some authors will talk on their works and this will be a great opportunity to meet like minded enthusiasts.
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Anyone visiting the Gower Peninsula should spend some time in the church in the village of Rhosilli. Here, in this beautiful little church, there is a poignant memorial to P.O. Edgar Evans. It is worthy of notice, firstly as an impressive testament of Edgar’s wife Lois’ firm loyalty and faith in her husband when others were denigrating him. Secondly for the interest in the two errors on the memorial: the line from Tennyson’s Ulysses is incorrectly quoted and the British explorers are depicted with one(rather than two), ski sticks.
A little jem!

At a recent society meeting in Essendon, the audience was interested in some original cigarette cards from 1913. These illustrated all aspects of Scott’s last expedition whilst the set was complete, the only significant figure left out of the series was Chief Petty Officer Edgar Evans, who some felt at that time to be responsible for the failure of the Polar Team to return.
We now know, from greater understanding of the severity of the conditions in the Antarctic that they all suffered from the same problems: lack of food, extreme cold, dehydration, but Edgar, being the biggest showed the effects soonest.