Significance: Rewriting Imperial Failure

Britain’s Apathy-Turned-Awe

Resources and enthusiasm for imperial exploration had long waned in Britain when Shackleton announced his plans to cross the South Pole. Prominent political figures, such as Winston Churchill, expressed their distaste for furthering scientific and nationalistic desires when the Empire itself was under threat by WWI.1 After so many milestones had been reached, imperial expeditions began to seem as though they were fanning the egos of wealthy adventurers rather than bringing power and riches back to the Empire. After all, since the South Pole had been reached, what was the significance for the British Empire to be able to trek from sea to sea across the frozen wasteland?

“Winston Churchill and officials, generally, had been against supporting the expedition in the first place…”

Dudeney, Sheail, and Walton2

1. The British Government’s Hesitancy Before the Voyage

In the face of the war and dwindling enthusiasm for discovering a continent that had already been conquered after humanity’s arrival at the South Pole, several government officials and influential aristocrats joined Churchill’s call to stop investing in Antarctic exploration.3 One such person, Sir Thomas Heath, noted that apart from what little scientific knowledge there was still to gain, Shackleton’s motive was “the patriotic one of forestalling other nations in further exploration.”4 By this time, the British government realized the economic cost far outweighed the little nationalistic pride that an antarctic crossing would bring. In the eyes of the British elite, these voyages lost their appeal as discovery and conquest was replaced by what seemed like an “industry” of expeditions focused on personal gain.5

2. The General Public and Shackleton’s Rescue Attempts

In stark contrast to their stance pre-voyage, the British Government enthusiastically threw money and influence towards any country capable of giving Shackleton a ship to rescue his crew. Amidst letters from personal friends of Shackleton’s crew and his own wife, the government found it difficult to ignore the pleas of the stranded explorers’ loved ones.6 The treasury swiftly opened funds for the rescue attempts as a committee was formed, the Shackleton Relief Advisory Committee, which oversaw the plans and finances for the endeavor.7 However, what caused a nation in the middle of war to suddenly focus so heavily and be willing to spend enormous sums of money on saving the lives of a few sailors? The British elite found a convincing reason: nationalism.

With a gruesome war waging in Europe and an increasingly pessimistic population, the government saw the rescue of stranded Antarctic explorers as an opportunity to appeal to the general public’s humanity. Amid the First World War when news about the horrors of the trenches had begun seeping into England, rescuing the marooned sailors demonstrated that the British Government did, in fact, care about its citizens. Furthermore, the compelling narrative that Shackleton continued to drive as he pleaded for any and all help to rescue his compatriots created a sensational news story that ultimately drove him to attain legendary status around the world. For example, when Shackleton and the crew arrived in Santiago, Chile, they were welcomed by “rapturous” crowds clamoring to see the heroes of the Antarctic.8 Through the efforts of the British Government and her allies, the rescue of the Endurance crew served as a way to legitimize war efforts. Those who died on the battlefield became martyrs for the Empire. While the expedition was a failure, it was recontextualized to showcase the morality of the British Government and, finally, illustrated the dying breath of Imperial exploration as discovery was entirely replaced by politics.

“It was paradoxically in the thick of war, that recollection of the positive reasons for such military sacrifice becomes so relevant.”

Dudeney, Sheail, and Walton9

Endurance and the End of Imperial Exploration

Ultimately, though the Endurance served to legitimize war efforts and saw the successful rescue of all crew, the expedition was undoubtedly a complete failure. From the beginning, Shackleton’s goal had little to do with genuine exploration and scientific discovery. Instead, he sought to further British interests and prestige by crossing the Antarctic. His commitment to the Empire was demonstrated, as Lansing indicates, “…he felt very strongly about doing his part in the war.”10 Either Shackleton would sail and trek under the British flag or fight on the front lines of the war for his country. His ideology therefore defined the expedition as he looked for total glory for the Empire and himself, not for science. Furthermore, few places were left to truly explore. The far reaches of Earth had been journeyed to and the populations of powerful countries were less and less motivated by their explorers. Pride was easily found in reaching the pole first. Yet far less was gained for crossing a barren continent whose significance could be melted down to a singular point already discovered.

Discovery Over a Century Later

Using modern technology, the Endurance22 Expedition successfully located the wreck of the Endurance on March 5th, 2022. The team used Captain Worsley’s log and meteorological analysis of past weather conditions in and around the Weddell Sea to simulate how the Endurance drifted among the ice before it gave in to the ocean.11 Interestingly, the ship aided technological innovation once more as the discovery of the Endurance showed the feasibility of using meteorological analysis to construct drift patterns of pack ice and support further marine archaeological discovery.12

Photo of the Endurance‘s ship’s wheel, captured by Endurance22
Photo of the Endurance‘s stern, captured by Endurance22
The Endurance
Background
Top
Voyage
Aftermath

Works Cited

  1. Dudeney, “The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the Rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,” 380.
  2. Dudeney, “The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the Rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,” 390.
  3. Dudeney, “The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the Rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,” 380.
  4. Dudeney, “The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the Rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,” 380.
  5. Dudeney, “The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the Rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,” 380.
  6. Dudeney, “The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the Rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,” 381.
  7. Dudeney, “The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the Rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,” 382.
  8. Dudeney, “The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the Rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,” 388.
  9. Dudeney, “The British Government, Ernest Shackleton, and the Rescue of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,” 390.
  10. Lansing, “Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage,” 18.
  11. Vos, “Understanding the Drift of the Shackleton’s Endurance,” 1.
  12. Vos, “Understanding the Drift of the Shackleton’s Endurance,” 8.

Media

Newspaper Clippings Regarding Ernest Shackleton’s Adventure. Photograph. AMExplorer. https://www.exploration.amdigital.co.uk/Documents/Images/NLNZ_MS_Papers_0022_81_G/39

Newspaper Clippings Regarding Ernest Shackleton’s Rescue Attempt. Photograph. AMExplorer. https://www.exploration.amdigital.co.uk/Documents/Images/NLNZ_MS_Papers_0022_81_G/39

The Stern of the Endurance With the Name and Emblematic Polestar. Photograph. Endurance22, https://endurance22.org/endurance22-news/endurance22-gallery.

Taffrail and Ship’s Wheel, Aft Well Deck. Photograph. Endurance22, https://endurance22.org/endurance22-news/endurance22-gallery.

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