Robert Falcon Scott - Time Line, Info Graphic
British
Antarctic Expedition 1910-13
Scott's Journey:
page 1 - preparations
| page 2 - the polar journey
| this page - time-line and
info graphic |
crew of the Terra
Nova | why
did Scott die? |
what did Scott's
team die of?
-
A British organized and led expedition with an extensive
scientific programme along with exploration including at
attempt to be the first to the South Pole
-
Most famous for the deaths of Scott and his four companions
on the way back from the South Pole having been beaten there
by Amundsen
-
Were it not for the South Pole tragedy, the expedition
would have become famous for the scientific achievements
and trials of of the Western and Northern Parties
Info-graphic of the expedition.
Full size image (4000px
wide) wide)
Scott and the South Pole Party (yellow boxes)
- The main reason for Scott's expedition was to be the
first to reach the South Pole, he had tried to do this previously
in 1902/3 when he came to within 480 miles of the Pole with
Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson. Shackleton in a separate
expedition came within 97 miles of the Pole in 1909. The Pole
was still there for the taking.
The Northern Party (white boxes) - North
is around the edges of the map above, south and the pole are
in the middle of the map. Led by Victor Campbell the Northern
Party wintered as planned in a hut at Cape Adare in 1911, the
Terra Nova met them in January 1912 and moved them to another
location where they were to spend 6 weeks before being picked
up again. The Terra Nova could not get through thick pack ice
however and they were forced to spend a second winter in very
difficult conditions in a snow cave they excavated before walking
back to base as spring arrived.
The Western Party - (blue boxes) - 2 journeys,
the first of 3 months made by 4 men in early 1911 to the Dry
Valleys and surrounding area. The second also of 4 men set off
in Nov 1911 to investigate the glaciers and strike inland, the
Terra Nova is unable to pick them up in January as planned so
they start walking back, being met part-way by the ship a month
later.
Date
Scott and the South Pole Party
Northern Party
Western Party
15th June 1910
Terra Nova sails from Cardiff, Wales
4th Jan 1911
Arrival at Cape Evans, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Ship
unloaded and hut built on Ross Island.
25th Jan 1911
Terra Nova leaves Cape Evans, she will spend the winter
in New Zealand
27th Jan 1911
Terra Nova takes 1st Western Party led by Debenham to
Butter Point to map valleys and glaciers including the
"Dry Valleys"
27th Jan 1911
Terra Nova sails to establish an eastern camp, turned
back at Cape Colbeck, they sail towards Cape Adare
3rd Feb 1911
Terra Nova meets unexpectedly with Amundsen's ship Fram
at the Bay of Whales
18th Feb 1911
Terra Nova lands 6 men led by Campbell at Cape Adare,
the Eastern Party becomes the Northern Party, a hut
is built and preparations for winter made
Jan - Apr 1911
Supply laying sledge journeys as far as One Ton Depot
to prepare for the attempt on the South Pole
Start of Winter 1911 - first winter
13th April 1911
The winter is spent with many scientific investigations
and some sledging journeys
1st Western Party walk back to main hut at Cape Evans
27th June 1911
Bowers, Cherry-Garrard, Wilson make a winter journey
to Cape Crozier to bring back an emperor penguins' egg
in the Antarctic winter night
2nd Aug 1911
Cape Crozier party return exhausted after a difficult
journey
October 1911
With the arrival of spring, Scott made more depot-laying
sledging journeys in preparation for the South Pole
attempt
Scott and the South Pole Party
Northern Party
Western Party
24th Oct - 4th Nov 1911
South Pole journey begins,
16 men, 2 motor sledges, 10 ponies, 23 dogs, 13 sledges
set off
18th Nov 1911
2nd Western Party led by Debenham manhaul to Butter
Point and up the coast to map valleys and glaciers
24th Nov 1911
First 2 men sent back to Cape Evans
9th Dec 1911
Foot of Beardmore Glacier reached, ponies shot
11th Dec 1911
Next 2 men and dog team sent back
21st Dec 1911
Half way up Beardmore Glacier, next 4 men sent back
4th Jan 1912
Rim of Beardmore, 3 men sent back, 5 now head to the
South Pole
8th Jan 1912
Terra Nova moves Northern Party to Evans Cove, intending
a 6 week stay, they survey the area around Mt. Melbourne
15th Jan 1912
Pick-up by Terra Nova delayed, party begin to man-haul
back to Cape Evans
17th Jan 1912
5 men reach the South Pole to find they were beaten
by Amundsen a month earlier
6th Feb 1912
Terra Nova arrives at Cape Evans
14th Feb 1912
Terra Nova meets Western party crossing fast ice, collects
them and takes them back to Cape Evans
17th Feb 1912
Edgar Evans dies in his sleeping bag on the return from
the pole
Campbell's party return to the rendezvous point to meet
the Terra Nova which cannot get through a thick belt
of sea-ice
3rd Mar 1912
Terra Nova leaves Cape Evans after waiting for the South
Pole Party to return, she cannot risk being iced in
as winter arrives
12th Mar 1912
Realising they were not going to be picked up that season
a hut is built and ice-cave excavated on Inexpressible
Island for the winter, it is complete by the 17th of
March
Scott and the South Pole Party
Northern Party
Western Party
Start of Winter 1912 - second winter
16th Mar 1912
Suffering from gangrene and frostbite, Captain Oates
walks to his death in a blizzard sacrificing himself
for his companions
Rations are short, tea served on Sundays was reboiled
on Mondays and smoked as tobacco on Tuesdays, the winter
is very difficult.
19th Mar 1912
Scott's final camp made 11 miles from food and fuel
at One Ton Depot, the three surviving men can walk no
further
29th Mar 1912
Scott dies in the tent, he was presumed to be the last
man alive
A sombre winter is passed at Cape Evans, after their
non-return, it is assumed Scott and the polar party
have not survived
30th Sept 1912
As winter ends, the Northern Party begin to walk down
the coast back to Cape Evans
29th Oct 1912
A cache of food left by the Western Party the previous
year is found, the ill and weak men are re-vitalised
6th Nov 1912
Northern Party reach Cape Evans hut to receive a sumptuous
meal
12th Nov 1912
The bodies of Scott, Bowers and Wilson are found in
their tent
18th Jan 1913
Terra Nova arrives at Cape Evans
19th Jan 1913
Terra Nova leaves Cape Evans with all remaining
men to return to Britain
