Unsung Heroes

If you read my last blog, you will have seen we spent a weekend in Akaroa a few weekends ago with good friends. Whilst there, we invariably walk along the waterfront - and this includes a wander out on the wharf to see what's wagging and a cafe visit.
But I always go and say hello to Frank - Frank Worsley. He was the captain of 'Endurance', Ernest Shackleton's ship of Antarctic fame just over one hundred years ago. In particular, he skippered and navigated the 'James Caird', the Endurance lifeboat, from Elephant Island to South Georgia - to this day, one of the most amazing feats of survival on this planet. I urge you to read 'Endurance', Shackleton's book on the entire expedition - the only book I have ever read from cover to cover without stopping.

Frank Worsley

Frank Worsley was an unsung hero.

This year, I have read two other great yarns................

1. The first is about Frank Wild, who was Shackleton's deputy on the famous expedition. Frank Wild has been awarded FOUR polar medals - to my knowledge the only person ever to receive this number - five expeditions in total to the Antarctic. Three with Shackleton, one with Scott and one with Mawson. Wild was left in charge of the shore team on Elephant Island whilst Worsley and Shackleton sailed off for help.
Frank Wild led a reclusive life after the expeditions - first in UK and then South Africa. He died of pneumonia in 1939 and his ashes were lost for decades. They were only recently found, and his ashes were taken to South Georgia and buried beside his close friend, 'the Boss',  Ernest Shackleton's grave on the island.

2. The second is about George Lowe, a kiwi mountaineer and close friend of Ed Hillary. George Lowe was a member of the successful 1953 British Himalayan expedition to Mt Everest. George worked tirelessly in the Khumbu Icefall, and masterminded the route up the Lhotse face and on to South Col, knowing all along that he personally would not be in the summit attempt teams. After Hillary and Tenzing's success, it was to George Lowe that Hillary pronounced (way above South Col when George climber up solo with thermoses for them) - "Well George, we knocked the bastard off!"
The next year, George Lowe was Best Man at Ed Hillary's wedding.

Both Frank Wild and George Lowe are unsung heroes too.

No doubt there are many more. Let me know who you think of - please.

Two books well worth reading