Girev, correspondence

• MS 1246;MJ Letter to Cecil Meares, 2 January 1913 [Written from Cape Evans relating trip south in search of Pole Party] microfilm

The British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) spent two winters at Cape Evans on Ross Island. Extensive scientific investigations and exploration was conducted along the coast of Victoria Land and on the Ross Ice Shelf. A party led by Griffith Taylor spent three months exploring the western mountains and this work was continued after the departure of the polar party in 1911. A northern party led by Victor Campbell established a base at Cape Adare from whence they conducted scientific programmes. After moving camp the party were forced to spend the winter of 1912 in ice caves before walking back to the Cape Evans camp. The first cin documentary film of an Antarctic expedition, 90° South was made during the expedition. After successfully reaching the South Pole on 17 January 1912 Scott and his companions (Henry Bowers, Edgar Evans, Lawrence Oates and Edward Wilson) perished during the return journey.

Girev served as dog driver on the expedition and accompanied Apsley Cherry-Garrard on a sledge journey in March 1912, carrying supplies for the returning polar party they reached One Ton depot, but was unable to stay due to a lack of dog food and concern for Girev's deteriorating health. At the time they turned back, Scott's party was just 60 miles further south, something they had no means of knowing.

Chronological.

The letter is in the hand of Frank Debenham.

This is a copy.

The Scott Polar Research Institute holds a number of photographs, film and other illustrative material in the Picture Library, some of which covers this expedition. The catalogue can be searched on line by going to the Picture Library Database and selecting the Enter Polar Pictures link.

The Institute holds over a hundred archival collections containing material relating to this expedition see SPRI collection GB 015 British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 for more information.

The letter is in the hand of Frank Debenham.