Selection of images from

The Heart of the Great Alone

Teacher information

Terra Nova Expedition – 1910-13 led by Captain Scott Photographer: Herbert Ponting

The Shore Party January 1911

This group is the Shore Party – the men who remained in throughout the winter of 1911, preparing for Scott’s final departure for the Pole. They pose in front of the expedition hut at Cape Evans. The only people not visible are Clissold, the cook, and Ponting, the photographer. Scott is at the centre of the group and all the men look relaxed. This was taken at the very beginning of the expedition, when they would have been optimistic and excited about the future.

Possible questions/learning opportunities Ask the pupils at what stage of the expedition this photograph might have been taken and their reasons for their answer (the optimistic and excited body language and expressions on the face of the men).

Do the pupils understand the concept of a shore party? What do they think their job was? – This group of men were expected to live in Antarctica throughout the whole winter to prepare for following year. What sort of jobs would they have to do? Where did they live? – ask pupils to research these questions and research into the weather conditions the group would have faced during an Antarctic winter.

At the South Pole 18 January 1912 (photo taken by Henry Bowers)

This photograph records the achievement of reaching the South Pole. Scott stands with his men (from left to right: Oates, Bowers, Scott, Wilson and Evans) in front of the Union Jack given to him by Queen Alexandra. The men are all suffering from frostbite and malnutrition, and the physical exhaustion is apparent on their faces.

Possible questions/learning opportunities Compare this photograph with the previous. Looking at the expressions on the men’s faces, how do the pupils think the men might be feeling?

Can the pupils spot the physical differences in the appearance of the men caused by malnutrition and frostbite? Pupils could research into how far Scott and the group trekked to get to the pole from their starting positions. How many miles were they travelling a day? How many calories were they burning? How much food were they and should they have been eating to keep up their strength?

The Union Jack taken by Scott to the South Pole 1910

Queen Alexandra’s presentation of a flag to the in 1907 began a tradition of transporting royal flags to Antarctica. It was presented to Captain Scott by Queen Alexandra on the eve of his departure, 25 June 1910. Despite nearly being left behind by mistake at Cape Evans, this flag was carried to the South Pole and flown there on 18 January 1912 (photograph above). It was found with the Polar Party at their final camp, along with other personal effects. It was returned to the Queen by Lady Scott 12 July 1913.

Possible questions/learning opportunities Why do the pupils think that Captain Scott took the Union Jack to the South Pole? What flag would they take with them on an expedition/exploration?

Pupils could research to discover whether Scott was the first person to fly a flag at the South Pole? When pupils discover that Norweigan explorer Roald Amundsen got there first, only 33 days before Scott, ask the pupils how Scott and his team would have felt. Return to the previous image and discuss how this might be reflected in the expressions on the men’s faces. Expedition – 1914-17 led by Sir Photographer: Frank Hurley

In the ‘Ritz’, the workroom of the ship Midwinter 1915

During the working day, the crew of the Endurance undertook a variety of activities, including carpentry and scientific experimentation. Three of the men are reading, and Blackborrow, the young Welsh stowaway, can be seen on the left hefting a block of ice to melt for drinking water.

Possible questions/learning opportunities Ask the children to consider what sorts of activities the men could have done to pass the time? Do they think it would have been easy living together on the ship Endurance ?

Pupils could research into the sorts of activities and research the men were undertaking on the expedition e.g. biology, meteorology. Pupils could find out how many men were living on the ship.

The HMS Endurance crushed between the floes 25 October 1915

A week after the ship had been forced out of the ice came the final blow–the pressure crushed the ship into a mass of broken timber fragments, and then the ice parted sufficiently to allow the Endurance to sink.

Possible questions/learning opportunities Having lived in such confined conditions the men were now without shelter/protection. How do the pupils think the men would feel?

Ask the pupils to consider this situation and put together an ‘escape’ plan, pretending they were part of this expedition. What sort of equipment would they use to survive and get out of the situation (e.g. mobile phones). Now ask the pupils to research into the types of equipment that the men would have had available to them in 1915 (i.e. – no way of communicating to anyone that they were in trouble!). What do the pupils think the men should have done next? Research into Shackleton’s rescue mission.

Sir Ernest Shackleton arriving at Elephant Island 30 August 1916

Despite its title, this photograph in fact depicts the departure of the James Caird for South Georgia, 24 April 1916. Hurley did not photograph the actual moment of rescue but renamed this image in order to complete the narrative and to show the return of Shackleton on the relief ship Yelcho , four months later.

Possible questions/learning opportunities How do the pupils think the men felt when they saw the rescue ship on the horizon?

Ask the pupils to research into how long the men had to stay on Elephant Island to be rescued. Where did they live? How did they pass the time?

Because the island had no natural source of shelter, they constructed a shack and wind blocks from their remaining two lifeboats and pieces of canvas tents. Blubber lamps were used for lighting. Expedition physicist Reginald James composed the following verses out of gratitude for Frank Wild, who Shackleton left in charge of the men.

My name is Frankie Wild-o. Me hut's on Elephant Isle. The wall's without a single brick And the roof's without a tile. Nevertheless I must confess, By many and many a mile, It's the most palatial dwelling place You'll find on Elephant Isle.