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A Permanent Memorial to Dr. Edward Wilson

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A Permanent Memorial to Dr. Edward Wilson A Permanent Memorial to Dr. Edward Wilson by Sylvester L. Crozet, F.R.G.S. Although those interested in the history of polar This year in June, a similar di splay, en hanced by explora tio n a re aware that at the Scott Polar Research several recent acquisitions to the Wilson Collection, was Insti tute at Cambridge, England, many personal items arranged by the curator of the art gall ery, to mark the of famous Anta rctic explorers are preserved, it is not centena ry of Dr. Wilson's birth in the previously men­ generall y known that in Gl oucester, at the Cheltenha m tioned town. On this occasion more than 100 of his water Art Gallery a nd Museum, a collection of similar articles colours, drawings, photographs and other personalia is housed. These items were the personal belongings of were on view. Dr. Edward Adrian Wilson, who died with Scott in the The 1972 ex hibition served as a curtain-raiser to a more Antarctic in 191 2. lasti ng tribute to this intrepid ex pl orer. This was the Ten yea rs ago, in 1962, the 50th anniversa ry of Dr. publication, by Bl andfords, of "Edward Wilson - Di ary Wilson's death, the monument erected to his memory, of the 'Terra Nova' Expedition to the Antarctic 19 J 0- sculpted by Capt. Scott's widow, Lady Scott (la ter 1912".* Jn this volume, most excellently presented, are Lady K ennet), which was unveiled in 1914, in the Long reproduced a great number of the water colours which Garden of the Promenade a t Cheltenham, was the scene were executed by Dr. Wil son when he accompanied that of a memorial ceremony. Concurrently there was a n ill-fated enterprise. ex hi bition at the C heltenha m Art Gallery and Museum The work referred to was edited from original manu­ of many of D r. Wilson's works of art and personal scripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute and the possessions which he took to the Antarctic, as Scientific British Museum, by Mr. H. G. R. King, librarian of the Director, with Scott's expedition. aforementioned establishment. BOOK REVIEW BOEKOORSIG DIARY OF THE 'TERRA NOVA' EXPEDITION TO THE ANTARCTIC 1910-1912 by Edward Wilson *Blandford Press Ltd., 167 Hi gh Holborn, London the pole a nd his fi eld diary kept during this latter peri od. WC l V 6PH. £6,50 plus postage. T he book is richly illustrated with maps, photographs, sketches a nd 27 of Wilson's beautiful wa tercolours of This most reada bl e book of Scott's last expedition to the such scenes as glaciers, pack-ice and sunsets. South is a welcome addition to Anta rctic literature. Wilson, with his scientific and medical background, a nd The diary was written for his fam ily to read a nd havi ng accompanied Scott on a previous expedition to the Wilson's enthusiasm fills it with optimism right until Antarctic, was Scott's obvious choice as C hief Scientific shortly before hi s death. Officer on the " Terra ova" expedition. The book has As far as the scientific programme was concerned, been compiled a nd tra nscribed by H . G. R. King from Wilson did not spare himself. He set a rigorous pro­ the diary kept by Wilson during the voyage to the gramme a nd worked long hours, determined for " the Anta rctic (via the Cape of Good Hope, Australia and New scientific work to make the bagging of the Pole merely Zeala nd), the wintering at Cape Evans prior to the bid for an item in the results" . 91 His account of the winter months, prior to the pole the last few terrible days of urging the exhausted and expedition, are fi lled with descriptions very similar to starving horses across the crevassed surface, "Thank God those given by members of today's Antarctic teams. The the horses are now a ll done with and we begin the heavier curiosity of the penguins, close shaves with crevasses and work ourselves" . the two-sided nature of the husky dogs (lovable creatures The return trip is a story of failing strength and in their relationship to humans but uncontro ll abl y crippling injuries which would have been minor under vicious as far as other living creatures are concerned) are different circumstances. The account ends a few weeks talked of by every visitor to the White Continent. before the death of the Pole party, a tragic eleven miles During the dreadful trek to the pole, Wilson's humour from One Ton Depot which wo uld have meant their and good spirits must have buoyed the rest of the team surviva l. considerably. However, even he is forced to comment after M.R.T. 92 INCE 426 49 2.173 .
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