Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing (goodreads.com)
On the 8th August 1914, the three masted barquentine Endurance set sail from Plymouth as part of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition. Commanded by Irish explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, the voyage aimed to land the 28 man exploration team at Vahsel bay, Antarctica, before their commencement of the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent. The entire expedition was set to take up to three years, with a secondary party establishing an RV camp on the other side of the crossing.
On 18th January 1915, the Endurance became stuck fast in the floating pack ice within the Weddell Sea, North of their intended destination. Unable to break free, and too far from the Antarctic mainland to commence the crossing, the Endurance and her crew drifted within the pack ice, slowly moving northwards.
Ten months later on 21st November 1915, as a result of the building ice pressure alongside the hull, the Endurance finally sank. Her crew had previously abandoned the ship, taking life-rafts and whatever supplies they were able to collect, in the hope of ultimately completing an open boat journey, across the seas in search of rescue.
What followed is likely the most incredible, and at times unbelievable journey in search of rescue. Over a period of 18 months, the exploration team drifted across ice packs, conducted pack marches through impossible terrain and finally successfully crossed the raging currents of the Weddel Sea, reported to hold some of the worst weather conditions across the globe. Most astonishingly, despite the extreme conditions, minimal equipment and insufficient food, Shackleton and his team successfully completed the journey without a single loss of life.
‘Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage’ was written by Alfred Lansing in 1959 and covers the journey of Shackleton and his crew with astonishingly accurate detail. During development of the book, Lansing had access to both the multiple diaries that were kept and survived the journey, as well as interviewing many of the survivors for first person accounts. The result of Lansing’s in-depth research is an almost day to day recount of the trials and tribulations forced upon the crew of the ill-fated Endurance.
The diary and personal recount of Sir Ernest Shackleton himself is particularly important. Forced to lead his crew within the worst of circumstances, Shackleton successfully managed to not only keep his entire crew alive, but also sustain the morale and endurance within his team, ultimately leading them to salvation. The lessons in leadership that can be drawn from the accounts of Sir Ernest Shackleton are endless. His private accounts explore his ongoing struggle to find balance between Leader and Commander, between friend and boss. Ultimately finding this balance is what kept his crew alive, and is a must read for all junior officers, and personnel within positions of command.
One of the biggest lessons I have taken away from Endurance, and the reason I believe it a must read for those within the profession of arms, is Shackleton’s ability to persevere and maintain his composure, even in the most dire circumstances. Diary accounts of both the crew, and Shackleton himself indicate that most believed they would not survive the journey. Despite this, Shackleton maintained his external composure and belief that they would eventually find rescue. This is a strong lesson for command appointments in maintaining positive external composure, even when you have doubts yourself. The crew of the Endurance may not have resolutely believed that they would escape the Antarctic, but all believed that if there was anyone to lead them there, it would be Shackleton.
Rescue came to the crew of Endurance on 30th August 1916 when Chilean Navy Ship Yelcho sailed into the Bay of Elephant Island, where they had sought refuge. In the months leading up to this, Shackleton had departed the island on one of the life rafts, completing his intended open sea crossing and finding support at a small whaling station on South Georgia Island.
Ernest Shackleton | Explorers Podcast
On 24th September 1921, six years following their rescue, Shackleton set sail again on his last expedition, once again returning to circumnavigate the Antarctic. On 5th January 1922 – one day after reaching South Georgia Island, where he has previously found rescue – Sir Ernest Shackleton suffered a fatal heart attack. His body was buried on South Georgia Island, later accompanied by Frank Wild in 2011, Captain of Endurance, and Shackleton’s right hand man.
“I think this is as ‘the Boss’ would have had it himself, standing lonely in an island far from civilisation, surrounded by stormy tempestuous seas, & in the vicinity of one of his greatest exploits.” – Alexander Macklin, Expedition physician.
On 9th March, 2022, the crew of the SA Agulhas II gathered around livestream video from an underwater drone, scanning the Antarctic floor. At a depth of 3008 meters, and approximately four kilometres from where it sank, the wreck of the Endurance came into view, seen for the first time in 107 years, since it sank.
The ship remains in astonishingly good condition, preserved by the ice cold conditions of the Weddell Sea. Endurance has been granted underwater cultural heritage status, under the 1959 Antarctic treaty, and will remain in its position beneath the Weddel Sea.
About the Author: Michael Turner is an Ordnance officer currently posted to the 1st Regiment, RAA.