The British Antarctic Territory and South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands marked the centenary of the end of World War I with new stamps. The issue honors members of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914-16 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition who served in the war.
According to the press release from Popjoy Mint, which represents the two postal administrations, after the expedition “almost to a man, the explorers joined the armed forces or returned to their previous lives in the Merchant Navy.”
The stamps are in se-tenant (side-by-side) pairs with the stamp on the left depicting the man and the stamp on the right showing his military honors.
The 76-penny British Antarctic Territory stamps feature Alexander Macklin, the surgeon aboard the expedition’s ship Endurance and later a major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in tending the wounded.
The £1.22 stamps honor Joseph Stenhouse, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the sinking of a U-boat and the Distinguished Service Order for his command of a flotilla of boats on Russia’s Lake Onega.
Frank Worsley, the captain of Endurance, also was recognized for the sinking of a U-boat. He is featured on the £1.25 stamps from South Georgia and South Sandwich Island. The 80p pair recognizes Thomas Orde-Lees, who received the Air Force Cross for his pioneering work in parachuting. (Penguin News)
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