Monday, 21 March 1910

Scott

The officers of the 1901-1904 British Antarctic Expedition aboard the Discovery. From left: Edward Wilson, Ernest Shackleton, Albert Armitage, Michael Barne, Reginald Koettlitz, Reginald Skelton, Capt. Robert Scott, Charles Royds, Louis Bernacchi, Hartley Ferrar, Thomas V. Hodgson. [1]

Skelton had assumed that the rank of second-in-command would be his, but the hiring of Lt. Evans put paid to that, as, although Skelton himself was willing to go in any capacity, Evans was unable to accept the notion of a commander of senior rank serving under him.

"I should be delighted to have you on the Expedition," Scott wrote to Skelton, "but it would be folly for me to indulge in a personal predilection and this may lead to friction -- I hope you see my position -- Evans would of course assent if I put my foot down but I don't think I ought to do that, for yielding on his part should be voluntary." [2]

Skelton, not only having sailed with Scott on the Discovery, but having developed the motor sledges for the new expedition, was understandably bitter about being jettisoned in favour of the inexperienced Evans. "If the dispensing with my services is so easy, I think it might have been put so 3 years ago when you [first] wrote ... to me about the motor sledge." [3]

"My dear chap, you are bound to feel sore over this matter and I cannot expect you will quite appreciate my motives. I am very grieved that it should be so.... I have the highest regard for your capabilities, your integrity, & your loyalty to myself," Scott wrote, adding at last, "I'm sorry awfully sorry." [4]


Notes:

[1] Wikimedia Commons.
[2] R.F. Scott, letter to Reginald Skelton, 21 March, 1910, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.361.
[3] Reginald Skelton, letter to R.F. Scott, 7 April, 1910, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.279.
[4] R.F. Scott, letter to Reginald Skelton, 3 April, 1910, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.362.

Saturday, 25 May 1907

Scott

One of the prototype sledges being tested at Fefor in March, 1910. [1]

In order to interest potential backers, Scott had written a memorandum proposing the use of motor sledges in the Antarctic. "A glance at the figures ... for men haulage will show that it cannot be done in that way," he wrote, nor were dogs the answer. "It is only in considering the possibility of motor traction that the problem becomes practical.... I am of opinion that a very high Southern Latitude could be achieved and the possibility of the South Pole itself could be reached by the proper employment of vehicles capable of mechanical propulsion over the surface of the Great Southern Barrier." [2]

On Nansen's advice, Scott had taken 23 Siberian sled dogs with him on the Discovery, but had decided that their indifferent performance was due to their unsuitability for work in the Antarctic.

Barne had since found a backer for the motor sledges, Lord Howard de Walden, and begun developing a model; he also approached Reginald Skelton from the Discovery expedition.

"It took time," Barne wrote to Skelton, "but at length I have worked him [de Walden] up to something like enthusiasm on the subject and he has given his promise to help all he can ... he is only 27 and has rather a curious manner which may put you off at first but the manner hides great good nature.... You know his interest in motor boats -- this is his especial hobby and you will be wise to draw him out ... in other words as a matter of policy it will be expedient to let him imagine that his ideas are being worked out instead of yours -- But I can trust you to exercise tact." [3]

Scott wrote to Skelton, "Traction is the main thing and of course one turns to the motor; it matters not who first thought of it since it is so natural a thought to come to anyone." Skelton himself had made the suggestion on the Discovery in 1902. [4] "I have not told you of my scheme before," Scott went on, "because it seemed to me the moment had not come.... Now the moment has come -- There is only one person in the world that combines a knowledge of southern conditions with engineering skill and that is yourself."

Scott hoped that Skelton would come along as the expedition's second-in-command. "I have cherished the idea that if I went South again you would join -- what I want now is, not a promise that if all goes well you will come South, but your engineering skill and expert knowledge in designing and pushing forward the design of the ... motors Lord Howard will build.... I will only go South with a pretty good certainty of success and I believe that that can only be obtained by universal patience in getting the machine that is required." [5]

The sledge would be based on a caterpillar track, the first such designed specifically for use on snow; Skelton, in fact, had the idea of putting slats on the track to grip the surface.


Notes:

[1] "How Scott's Motor Sledges Behaved", The New York Times, 16 February, 1913.
[2] R.F. Scott, "The Sledging Problem in the Antarctic: Men versus Motors," quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.232.
[3] R.F. Scott, letter to R.W. Skelton, 25 May, 1907, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.337.
[4] Roland Huntford, Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.232 and 234.
[5] R.F. Scott, letter to R.W. Skelton, 25 May, 1907, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.234.

Monday, 4 March 1907

Scott

Lt. E.RG.R. "Teddy" Evans, who had served as second-in-command of the Morning, one of the relief vessels on the Discovery expedition, had hoped to go with Barne to the Weddell Sea, but now wrote to Scott, "I am very disappointed that I shall not be Michael's navigator, but will you take me as yours? [If] you will only let me sail with you I promise that you will have no keener officer & no one shall work harder than I will.... I am tremendously enthusiastic about Antarctic exploration." [1]


Notes:

[1] E.R.G.R. Evans, letter to R.F. Scott, 4 March 1907, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.360-361.

Monday, 18 February 1907

Scott

To Scott, Shackleton's announcement seemed a breach of professional etiquette if not an act of outright treachery. Keltie, having been told Scott's intentions in confidence, could say nothing about them to Shackleton, and wrote to Scott, "He told me he had been planning something of the kind ever since he came back, probably to prove that though he had been sent home, he is quite as good as those who remained. He assured me that he had heard on the best authority that the Belgians had an expedition ready to send out to the Discovery quarters and make for the Pole, and that is the reason why he wished to rush out with his announcement.... The position is an awkward one, as you can understand."

"I suppose even if you had the necessary funds, you would not think of going down there as a rival to Shackleton? He is very confident of success, but I am doubtful of it myself, and it is just possible that he may have to return within 18 months after he set out without doing much. then of course it might be our opportunity." [1]

Scott was already writing to Shackleton. "The situation is awkward for me. As a matter of fact I have always intended to try again but as I am dependent on the Navy I was forced to reinstate myself & get some experience before I again asked for leave, meanwhile I thought it best to keep my plans in the dark.... You see therefore that your announcement cuts right across my plans but in a way I feel I have a sort of right to my own field of work in the same way as Peary claimed Smith's Sound and many African travellers their particular locality -- I am sure you will agree with me in this and I am equally sure that only your entire ignorance of my plan could have made you settle on the Discovery route without a word to me. As I say Michael Barne is now in town I wish you would meet him and discuss matters as he is in possession of my ideas."

Barne, who had been Scott's second lieutenant on the Discovery, had since tried to raise money for an expedition of his own to the Weddell Sea, but agreed in September 1906 to accompany Scott again instead.

"PS," Scott wrote, "I feel sure that with a little discussion we can work in accord rather than in opposition -- I don't believe the Foreigner will do much, the whole area is ours to attack." [2]

He was writing again almost immediately. "I ought perhaps to explain to you what has been my attitude with regard to the South a little more carefully as I wrote in haste.... Of course my intention was to go to McMurdo Sound our old winter quarters again! I cannot but look upon this as my area until I signify my intention to desert it -- I think this is not a dog in the manger attitude for after all I know the region better than anyone, everything concerning it was discovered by our expedition and it is a natural right of leadership to continue along the line which I made.... The foreigners always conceded this when I was abroad or rather they conceded that the sphere of the Ross Sea was English; indeed they did this in the case of 'Discovery' herself on account of Ross. Surely if a foreigner has the good taste to leave this to the country which has done the work there, the English must admit the same argument to apply amongst themselves." He added, somewhat disingenuously, "I would explain to you that the reason I did not write to you [earlier] was because it never entered my head that you had a wish to go on. I have imagined you as very busy.... I had naturally no object in keeping any of our old company in the dark, you know how attached I am to all and how gladly I would take anyone who cared come again." [3]


Notes:

[1] Scott Keltie, letter to R.F. Scott, 18 February, 1907, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.299.
[2] R.F. Scott, letter to Ernest Shackleton, 18 February, 1907, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.299-300.
[3] R.F. Scott, letter to Ernest Shackleton, undated, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.300.