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Falkland Islands and the saga of Sir Ernest Shackleton a century ago

Monday, August 11th 2014 - 22:56 UTC
Full article 29 comments

One hundred years ago this month Sir Ernest Shackleton set sail from Plymouth on HMS Endurance at the beginning of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-17), also known as the Endurance Expedition. Read full article

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  • ilsen

    A true Briton and a legend. An example to all who face adversity and how to deal with it.
    An epic tale.

    Aug 11th, 2014 - 11:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • La Patria

    A scale of courage we rarely get to see these days.

    He was lucky though for his ship to be allowed to dock at and then leave BsAs as it carried the British flag....oh yeah, that was when Argentina was pretty civilised and one of the world's richest countries. Go forward 100 years....wow!!

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 02:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • golfcronie

    Take note Argies, when faced with a difficult situation, don't look back, face it and move forward.

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 07:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • FI_Frost

    Defaultina would have the world believe it is only they - a bunch of Latin european squatters - that have any rightful claim in this region. Their lies and mouthings needs to be challenged when ever necessary: a 'Malvinas Museum' is a joke, fitting for a country like North Korea. They have no history.

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 08:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Room101

    And he did it without my help. Amazing.

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 09:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • CaptainSilver

    In Punta Arenas next to the replica of Magellans ship at the museum is a replica of the Shackletons converted lifeboat that they made the epic journey in.

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 11:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Orbit

    @6 Is it chained down ? CFK will have her eye on it otherwise; austral elvis (copyright yb) and captanich on the oars. It will be last seen heading for Venezuela, US$ packed in a tatty burberry shopping caddy and plastic bags, towing Timerman on a big yellow banana.

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 12:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • darragh

    Slightly off topic - Tom Crean mentioned in the article above was born in the village of Anascaul about 5 miles away from where I live. In Anascaul there is a pub named the 'South Pole' and a lager is brewed in Dingle called 'Creans'. Not to my taste I have to say but a sensible and practical way to remember one of Shackleton's men. Slainte

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 01:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    Captain Silver
    In the Chilean naval academy, Shackelton is revered and his epic voyage is a part of our instruction. Chile as a footnote, was involved in the final rescue of his men.

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 03:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • CaptainSilver

    Chicureo, I made my first visit to Chile in February. I found it a wonderful place with stunning landscapes, warm friendly people and there are so many surprising (to me) links with the UK. I loved the desert and Patagonia, and particularly Chiles Liverpool, Valporiso. We love Chilian wines, and we always buy Chilian produce if we see it on the shelf. We were invited to a gig and were very pleased when a group of people gathered around us telling us that England makes the best music in the world. We agree! I am aware there is much mutual respect and friendship between our navies. You are our best friends in SA, long may it continue.

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 04:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    (9) Chicureo

    As you surely know by now...., my respect for the Armed Farces of this world, including their “Uneducational Institutions” is less than negligible...

    That's why it doesn't surprise me a bit that your Naval Academy reveres and instructs you guys about an individual unknown to me called “Shackelton”...;-)

    Back in your Shile with renewed energy, I hope...

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 07:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Voice

    Think… and what inspirational episode can you point to in your personal life can you point to that betters Shackleton's?

    Struggling down to the Supermercedo in your carpet slippers to pick up another tube of Sterodent perhaps?

    And… as for the RG navy, sinking ships, submarines that cant submerge come to mind, clapped out sailing schooners…?

    As for the RG air force, dropping nuns from aircraft over the River Plate?

    And as for the RG Army - experts at retreating at high speed?

    No wonder you have no respect, RG forces are a national embarrasment. ;-)

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 07:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    @9
    An interesting footnote. Thanks!
    Research Bernardo O'Higgins and in particular 'sea Wolf' Lord Cochrane for further interest on British Chilean links. Although I expect you already know.
    :)

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 08:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    Señor THINK,
    My profound apologies to the forum for misspelling Sir Ernest's name.
    And yes... I was never the sharpest knife in the cadet drawer, but I certainly enjoyed studying naval history. ...You seem to have all the suspicious traits of an academic profesora...

    In answer to your kind assumption, sadly these days I find myself here in California humming the melancholic, “Si vas para Chile” being strummed in my mind by Los Huasos Quincheros. I sort of find myself empathizing with the ARA Almirante Irízar as we both find ourselves in a similar situation.

    Captain Silver,
    The song I mention above ends with, “Y verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero” which describes your experience. We ARE friendly, even to our Andean kleptomaniac neighbors.

    ILSEN,
    The greatest true naval hero of Chile was no doubt Lord Cochrane. His history is fascinating, including at one point considering to rescue Napoleon from his final exile and bring him to South America.

    The Voice,
    THINK is very content that his country's navy is a horrid disgrace. If he had his way, the entire Argentine armed forces would be disbanded, or more likely assume the strategy of Costa Rica...

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 09:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    (14) Chicureo
    Couldn't resist the temptation of trashing the “Institution”............. Nothing personal, you know...
    The Irizar and you will, si Diós quiere y la Virgen lo permite, soon be back in their right element...
    Keep strong.

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 10:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    THINK
    No offense taken, including the fact that I could never stand the SOB that ran the navy at that time. He certainly lowered the grand reputation of the “Institution”
    Thank you for you the sentiment about the icebreaker... It's expensive and questionable to keep ancient vessels afloat, but I'm very sentimental...

    Aug 12th, 2014 - 10:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Escoses Doido

    I see nobody has mentioned Shackleton's center parting.
    This was a ground breaking style, and years ahead of its time.

    The farthest anybody else had gone at that time was the side parting.

    He deffinately should be in the cover of center patters monthly.

    (Not Simon Cowell though, he's a twat)

    Aug 13th, 2014 - 11:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • RICO

    Think, hopefully you will be straightened out by a period of institutionalised education, I recommend volunteering to train as a Naval mechanic.

    Aug 13th, 2014 - 06:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Vestige

    D'oh !!

    #1 .... he was born in Ireland.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Shackleton

    born on 15 February 1874 in Kilkea near Athy, County Kildare, Ireland, about 46 miles (74 km) from Dublin.

    Aug 17th, 2014 - 12:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    D'oh! Birthplace doesn't always equate to nationality.

    #19......... in 1874 Ireland was part of the UK. Independence didn't come until 1922.

    His Anglo-irish family moved back to London when he was 10. Do some research on what Anglo-Irish actually means. They were part of the British Empire then. If a member of the British governing class had children whilst in say, India, their children were still British.

    Please note SIR Ernest Shackleton. You can not receive a full knighthood if you are not a British subject.

    Try reading beyond the first sentence in wiki when trying to get smart with me. Typical Argentine shoddy approach. No wonder you have never produced men of equivalent stature to Sir Ernest.

    Aug 17th, 2014 - 12:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Vestige

    “Birthplace doesn't always equate to nationality”.

    - Briton is not a nationality.

    I graciously concede, (as I always do in the rare occasions when I err) he was technically a Briton as he was of British descent.
    However he was also Irish, having been both born on the island of Ireland and having being born of an Irish parent.

    Under your terms that means a true Briton can potentially be anyone with a British parent. Hardly a select bunch.

    Anyhoo, heres to Irish independence.
    May that righteous endeavor be fully completed as soon as possible.

    Aug 18th, 2014 - 12:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • inthegutter

    “Anyhoo, heres to Irish independence.
    May that righteous endeavor be fully completed as soon as possible.”

    Even if its against the wishes of most of the inhabitants of the remaining “non-independent” part, eh. Remind, how being part of the RoI would result in NI being more independent than being part of the UK (where many responsibilities are devolved).

    Aug 18th, 2014 - 07:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Vestige

    Barring exceptional change the above is a demographic inevitability.
    A 'when', not an 'if'.
    May it occur asap.

    Aug 18th, 2014 - 04:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • inthegutter

    #23

    Well no, Catholics are unlikely to be in the majority for at least 100 years according to the recent demographic change (look at the proportion of Catholics as a function of age - it has pretty much flattened). Even then, not all Catholics would vote to dissolve the union. Norther Ireland will be independent before it is part of the RoI.

    Suggestion it's an inevitability is stupid, Extrapolation is usually a bad idea when it comes to human demographics.

    So spare us your anti-british bullshit and go back to dreaming about the falklands.

    Aug 18th, 2014 - 06:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    I Thank You.

    *exits Stage right*

    (well, mostly right, anyway)

    ;-)

    Aug 18th, 2014 - 08:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Vestige

    Its not dependent on Catholicism. Yes there probably will be a brief time of independence before integration. Extrapolation may not be appropriate in all contexts but in this one it most likely functions perfectly well.

    It nothing anti-British, just fact.
    Return to dreaming of the empire.

    Aug 18th, 2014 - 09:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Escoses Doido

    @26 simmit;

    Not a Taig are ye?

    Aug 19th, 2014 - 12:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Vestige

    On here Im usually Argentinian when not being Spanish, occasionally Irish.
    Ive even been American once or twice.

    Whatever suits the temper tantrum at the time.

    Aug 19th, 2014 - 02:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • rupertbrooks0

    For those of you interested the actual boat in which Sir Ernest Shackleton made his epic voyage “The James Caird” has been preserved, and can be viewed by the public. It can be seen at Dulwich College (an independent secondary school in Dulwich south London).

    This was of course the school Sir Ernest attended as a boy between the ages of 13 and 18. The School was founded in 1619 by James Alleyn, a famous, successful actor and theatre producer who both knew and acted in Shakespeares plays.

    Dulwich itself is a well preserved Georgian village in South London, a middle class enclave, surrounded by parks and sports pitches. Dulwich picture gallery is the oldest purpose built free public art gallery in Europe and has a fine collection of old masters.

    Readers may obtain further information from the following websites.

    http://www.dulwich.org.uk/college/about/history/the-james-caird

    http://www.dulwich.org.uk/college/about/history/the-james-caird

    http://www.dulwich.org.uk/college/about/history/the-james-caird

    http://www.dulwich.org.uk/college/about/history/the-james-caird

    Aug 20th, 2014 - 05:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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