All language subtitles for The Great White Silence-1924-eng

Herbert Ponting's original negatives were
acquired by the BFI National Archive in
1944. From these and a Dutch release print
from the Eye Film Institute Netherlands,

we have reconstructed Ponting's silent
feature The Great White Silence with its
tinting and toning as released by him
in 1924.

The Antarctic Continent is
an ice clad wilderness
of dazzling whiteness and
appalling silence.

It is the home of Nature in her most
savage and merciless moods,
and it is there that the
hurricane and the blizzard

Though larger than Europe,
that vast continent has
never been inhabited by man;

it is utterly devoid of
vegetation and no land
animals of any kind exist there.

Only a few of the hardiest and most
determined explorers have ever
penetrated to its icebound shores;

and at the heart of that dread and
sterile desolation there is a spot that
only ten human beings have trodden
since God made the World.

That spot is the uttermost end
of the earth...
the SOUTH POLE.

The immortal story of the Scott
South Pole Expedition now belong
to History as the greatest peace
adventure of the Age.

II is a proud heritage of our
Race. The Leader was Captain Robert
Falcon Scott, R.N., C.V.O.

When Mr. Ponting had the
honor to show this
record of the Expedition...

by Royal Command at Buckingham
Palace, His Majesty King George
said:

I wish that every British boy
could see this film for it would
help to foster spirit...

of adventure on which the Empire
was founded.

The story of the film will
now be told in the words
of Mr. Herbert G. Ponting,

who took and developed
it under circumstances
hitherto unparalleled in the
history of photography.

At the end of October, 1910,
there steamed into the
harbor of Lyttelton, New
Zealand, the old Dundee...

Whaler TERRA NOVA, which had
seen more Polar service than
any other vessel that had
ever sailed the seas.

On board were members of
the British Antarctic Expedition.
This was to be not only an
endeavor to reach the South Pole;

it was one of the greatest
scientific enterprises ever
sent out from any land.

At Lyttelton, the TERA NOVA
was overhauled and restored,
and finally nineteen ponies
were shipped.

Whilst the ship was at New Zealand,
the crew spend their leisure hours
in sailor fashion.

There were some good dancers
amongst them, and the orchestra
consisted of banjo, bones and
gramophone.

We had plenty of this sort
of talent on board.

And here is another little
bout between two of
the stokers.

On November 29th. Captain Scott
bade farewell to friends on the
bridge of the TERRA NOVA.

Then we cast off from the wharf,
where crowds had gathered to
watch our departure...

And the TERRA NOVA
proceeded on her lonely way,
with her load line nearly
a foot below water.

We had many tons of deck cargo,
amongst which our thirty Siberian
dogs were berthed.

I soon got busy amongst them
with my camera.

And here are some of our
Siberian ponies.

They were in the care of that
gallant cavalry officer,
Captain Oates.

Soon after we had started
on our way, an epidemic
broke out aboard...

...of HAIRCUTTING!
Dr. Wilson's locks were
the first to go.

Then Captain Oates clipped Mr. Meares...
and he didn't pay much attention
to a request for "merely trimming".

When evening fell upon the sea,
the green hills of New Zealand
softly merged into the night.

Then all hands were piped
on deck to set full sail.

And the next day we were well
upon our southward way, with
all our canvas pulling and
swelling to the breeze

But before another dawn a full
gale was shrieking through the
riffing, and hissing and raging
over the now mountainous waves.

There is no land in these
latitudes to break the fury
of the seas;

and in that gale two of our
ponies died, two dogs were
drowned, and we lost some
tons of our deck cargo.

Whenever the ship was hove-to for
soundings, seabirds swarmed about
us and they squabbled noisily for
any scraps thrown overboard,

Ten days after leaving New
Zealand we felt the first breath
of frozen seas. The "Look-out"
reported an iceberg ahead.

We steamed close to it
to enable us secure
this picture.

The floating island was all gleaming
in the sunlight, and the waves were
dashing with a thunderous roar
against its crystal cliffs.

Tough nearly 100 feet
of ice appeared above
the surface of the sea,

it was estimated that
not more than the eighth
part of the berg was
above water.

Then we entered the pack-ice, and
it was thrilling to learn over the
rail and watch our iron-shod prow
crashing through the floes.

We were now fairly across
the Antarctic Circle, and
ice-floes covered the
surface of the sea.

But the TERRA NOVA would
ram and split them, and
into the "leads" thus formed
she would force her way.

More than once, however, the
floes became too thick, and the
ship was imprisoned until the
swell broke up the ice.

The ice field was a desolate
scene when viewed from
the main top-mast.

About this time we met with the
first Penguins. I shall have a lot
to tell you about these
extraordinary creatures later.

We saw many seals basking on the
ice, and occasionally we shot them
and brought them aboard,

for fresh meat was necessary
to guard against that dread
disease scurvy.

Now let us take a peed at the
iron-shod prow of the ship
shearing a way through
the ice.

The TERRA NOVA was built
of oak, fourteen inches thick,

and her iron-sheathed bow was
backed with nine feet of solid
teak. Now just watch her batting
with the ice!

This is how I took
these pictures.

After fighting the floes for
three weeks, we emerged
from the ice,

which was drifting northwards,
and steamed into the open sea.

Two days later a mighty
rampart loomed up before us
it was the Great Ice Barrier,

the Polar Ice-cap which barred
all further progress all further
progress southward.

To the westward it terminated
at the cliffs of Ross Island,
above which rose the volcanic
foot-hills of Mount Terror.

The Great Ice Barrier is
the most extensive mass of
ice on earth, approximating
the size of France.

It is the birthplace of
the icebergs...

...which break away in
great masses, sometimes
many miles in length.

THE LARGEST BERG SIGHTED
DURING THE EXPEDITION WAS
22 MILES LONG.

SUCH AN ICEBERG COULD BEAR
THE CITY OF LONDON AND ALL
IT'S SUBURBS ON ITS BACK.

We now steamed past the
coast Ross Island and
entered McMurdo Sound...

...by the light of the
Midnight Sun, which shed
its radiance on snow-clad
mountain peaks...

...and magnificent
glaciers.

All that night we steamed
leisurely along, carefully
scrutinizing the land.

Then young ice began
to form upon the sea...

...and growing rapidly, it
speedily congealed into
pancakes which looked like
lily-leaves upon the sea,

and for a time we repeatedly
ran into and out of this
beautiful ice formation.

When at length we reached
firm ice, we moored the
ship to it.

In the morning, a glorious prospect
opened out, with the great volcano
Mount Erebus towering over
13,000 feet into the heavens.

At the foot of this magnificent
mountain we decided to establish
winter-quarters,

and we began immediately
to unload our equipment
and stores on to the ice.

Then we disembarked
the ponies.

They had come from distant
Siberia, and were almost
wild with joy to be
"ashore" once more.

For hours they whinnied
and nibbled at the snow
in sheer delight.

After a day's rest they
were set to work hauling
light loads of stores.

The Motor Tractors also
got busy; they worked on the
Caterpillar principle, and were
the forerunners of the "Tanks".

Each Tractor could haul
two tons on trailer
sledges, at a speed of
three miles an hour.

The dogs put in some
good work, too.

THEY seemed to regard work
as the only sort of fun to be
had in these regions...
and they were not far wrong!

So, they're back...
for a little more
FUN!

We built a wooden house
for winter-quarters; it had to
stand terrific storms, and
heavy drifts of snow.

The great volcano, Mount
Erebus, rose high into the
skies in the background,

and it often vomited
clouds of smoke into
the heavens...

This produced an
extraordinary spectacle
by the light of the
Midnight Sun.

And now, I want to
introduce to you "Nigger", the
Expedition mascot, with one
of his sailor friends.

Nigger had been further
South than any cat that
was ever a kitten.
Now, watch him jump!

Hard luck, Nigger!
But you're allowed
three tries.

That's better! Now another,
please - to convince these
nice people that it
wasn't a fluke.

Now come to the end of
our Cape and see some
of the inhabitants of
these regions - the Seals.

They go "home"
for dinner.

And though they come
ashore to sleep...

...they return for
the morning dip...
which some prefer to
take this way.

Whilst other prefer
this method.

They dearly love to
play in the waves...

...for surf bathing is very
popular in the summer-time
when the temperature rises
above Zero.

This one taking "a stroll"
among the rocks, found he
had come the wrong way.

So he back-pedalled.

And this one objected to my
presence and "went" for me.

The reason the picture stops
suddenly is because I picked
up the camera and gave him
the right of way.

Now come with me and my
photographic sledge on to
the ice again, to get some
more seal pictures.

When taking pictures in Polar
temperatures one has to
protect oneself well against
the frost.

In the spring the baby Seals
are born, and in sheltered places
on the ice there are hundreds of
mothers with their little ones.

The mothers suckle their
cubs, just as other
mammals do.

Some had twins but
that was unusual.

Weddell Seals have handsome coats
of rich brown, streaked and spotted
with black and fawn and silver, but
of course hair, not fur.

The mothers showed
obvious affection for
their cubs.

Now, watch baby learning
to walk, when Mama says
Come along!

The cubs are pretty, fluffy
little creatures; but look at Mama!
Not much hope of improving
in looks as they grow up!

I was fortunate in being
able to illustrate remarkable
habits of Seals, hitherto
unknown.

This Seal is cutting away the ice
with her teeth in order to make
a way on to it, so that she may
sleep in the fresh air.

Which, after a lot of
hard work, she succeeds
in doing.

When a baby Seal is in the
water, the mother's task is a
long one, for she has to make
the way very easy for the cub.

I had to camp out on
the ice in Zero temperatures
to get these Seal pictures;

and I felt grateful to this
big fellow for he didn't
keep me waiting long.

Here is a monster...
nearly twelve feet long and
weighing about half-a-ton

And finally here's a fight!...
Mostly bluff, and lasts
for one round!

Now come in the ship to "Glacier
Tongue", where we unloaded
the sledges and equipment
for the main exploring party.

Whilst at the glacier, we
saw many Killer Whales...
the most ferocious creatures
in the ocean.

They prey on Seals. Sailors
call these monsters the
"Wolves of the Sea". Here is
one rising and blowing.

One day a big fellow came
close alongside the ship, and
dived under it.

This is a pack of killer
Whales, hunting their prey.
Only their dorsal fins
can be seen.

They have sighted a Seal on the
ice. Watch this mother Seal
frantically trying to save her
baby from the fearful creatures.

Now, watch the LEFT of
the next picture please!
The mother Seal again
leapt on to the ice,

and then once more she dived
into the sea, and tried into the
sea, and tried to lift the baby
out upon her back.

The Whales were drawing
nearer every moment!

But just as the terrible
creatures were almost upon
their prey, a harpoon was
fired from the ship.

IT IS ALL OVER IN A FLASH,
BUT YOU SEE THE HARPOON
STRIKE THE NEAREST WHALE.

Then the frightened monsters
followed done another under
the ice, and the mother and
her baby were saved.

Sometimes we saw the curious
phenomenon as "Frost Smoke".

This was due to a cold
wind striking the water,
which is always much
warmer than the air.

In March TERRA NOVA steamed
away to New Zealand...
to return a year later to
take the Expedition home.

And these are the
explorers who remained
in the South. (Captain
Scott with the Ski stick.)

The long Polar night fell
in May, and for three
months we had a period
of darkness...

...almost constant storms,
with temperatures from 20
to 50 degrees below Zero.

But when the weather
was clear the stately
ice-cliffs were marvelously
beautiful in the moonlight.

Captain Scott much of his
time during the Winter
writing up his Diary in
our Winter quarters Hut.

In September the welcome
sun came back again,
and we rejoiced at the
Birth of Polar Spring.

With the advent of daylight
once more, we sometimes
had a game of football,

to make us fit for the arduous
work ahead. Captain Scott
- last with the ball -
kicks off.

This game was played on the
frozen sea, 2,000 miles nearer
the South Pole than any other
football match ever contested,

and the temperature was
70 degrees below freezing.

We also now had daily
practice at Skiing under
the tuition of an expert.

The Norwegian snowshoes,
spelt SKI and pronounced SHE,
were alas! The only she's we
saw for about two years.

In the Spring I spent much
time amongst the icebergs
with my cameras.

One berg had a wonderful
cavern, which I christened
"Aladdin's Cave".

The same Cavern
a year later.

The "Matterhorn berg".

The Bastion.

Jack Frost's Castle.

And now I want to show
you how our dog teams
worked.

First, however, let me
introduce to you. "Osman",
the leader of the pack.

And also "Kris", another
splendid animal.

Feeding time. The dogs
are having seal-meat
to-day; to-marrow they'll
have biscuits.

They led their keepers
a dog's life.

But they were gluttons for
exercise and were wildly
excited whenever any
work appeared in sight.

The leader of the team did
not have to pull like the
rank and file;

His duty was to use brain rather
than mudcle, to find the easier
track for the sledge.

When all was ready, the
sledge had to be anchored,
and the dogs held;

otherwise they would bolt...
and there would be the
very dickens to pay!

A team of ten dogs
could pull a load of
one thousand pounds
twenty miles a day,

and they didn't believe
in "ca canny".

Let us now have two minutes
with our other four-footed
friends. Here is Dr. Wilson
leading "Nobby" out of the stable.

And this is Lieutenant
Bowers, with Victor.

Petty Officer Evans always
worked with Snatcher.

Now let me show you the
only moving pictures ever
taken of MacCormick's
Antarctic Skua Gull.

These beautiful gulls live
and breed farthest south
of any birds in the world.

See how warily this one
returns to its eggs...

not knowing that my
camera and I aren't
really as bad as we look!

But to settle on them
comfortably is a more
difficult matter than
you might think.

There is only ONE
correct way to do it.

And that wasn't it!
Neither... is this!

Now, she is going
to show you how it
OUGHT to be done.

And at last
everything fits!

Now see the eggs hatching!
The chick is pecking its
way out of the shell.

The eggs are, of course,
hatched under the mother's
wings; but in order to
secure these pictures...

...she was driven off a few
seconds every hour, so
that the chick's progress
could be recorded.

One final kick...
and then Shell out!

Don't be worried, please!
The chick is not dying...
it is just beginning to live.

The next stage
of its career.

This is not a Yorkshire
Terrier. It is still the chick.

Fully hatched now, and
waiting for baby sister.

And here she is, too.

Baby brother is fed up
with the camera, so he's off!

Here is Mama with the
newly hatched clucks- one
is under her wing.

Mr. and Mrs. Skua seem
very proud of their baby.

And baby knows well
enough where it is warm
and comfy.

The most interesting inhabitants
of the Antarctic are the
Adelic Penguins,

and in this scene, on the RIGHT,
the local Charlie Chaplin is
practicing his famous walk.

In the springtime, when every
Penguin lightly turns to thoughts
of love, the ladies stand
about in little groups,

waiting for gentlemen to
come along and succumb to
their attraction succumb to
their attraction... like this!

And this is a gentleman
penguin giving one of these
ladies the glad eye.

And this beauty has made
up her mind to have him,
or else not to.

Sometimes I saw a gentleman
picking up stones laying them
at a lady's feet.

Penguins make their nests
with stones, and this was
his way of asking the lady
to be his bride!

But in this case the
lady does not seem
to regard the proposal
favorably.

The newlyweds' stating
their housekeeping.

A few days later, they
are much excited over the
arrival of the first egg...

and don't seem to know
what to do with it!

Penguins are very proud
ïf their eggs and are
continually discussing them.

See how reluctant the
husband is to leave
them, in order to go
and do the shopping.

And, when he does
stat, he returns for
just one more look!

The lady Penguins call for
their mates by raising their
heads, flapping their flippers,

and making a crooning sound.
Here is one doing it.

EVERYBODY'S DOING IT NOW!
This are all lady Penguins
calling for their husbands
to come home.

Now watch one answer the
call! He knows he has
stayed out too late, and
that he's in for trouble.

Penguins are habitual thieves.
This rascal is trying to
rob a neighbor's nest.

But see what happens
when a thief is caught
in the act!

A discussion on the vexed
question "Do shrimps make
good mothers?"...

...ended in heated
differences of opinion.

This lady foolishly
left nest for a moment.

And a wandering
robber at once took
possession of it.

Then the rightful owner
returned, and sparks began
to fly!

And when the neighbors
protested against such
disgraceful brawling,

the thief made a wobbly retreat,
leaving the owner of the eggs
once more in possession.

I spent many happy days
amongst the Penguins
with my cameras,

and whilst most of them
don't worry their heads
about me, others
resented my intrusion.

Look, for instance, at
this brave little fellow!

But when they found that
I was not such a ruffian
as I looked,

I could even stroke them
as they sat on their nests.

The Skua-gulls are relentless
enemies of the Penguins.

The owner of this nest has left
it uncovered for a moment,
when, down comes a Skud gull,
and off goes the egg!

These audacious rascals often
do their robbery quite leisurely
and defiantly.

The Penguins can offer no
resistance, as they
cannot fly.

There are frequent snowstorms
during the breeding season.
Then the poor Penguins have
a miserable time.

Look at this disconsolate little
fellow, very tired and unhappy,
TRYING TO FIND HIS WIFE!

And when at last,
he succeeds, he runs
with joy to greet her.

As the snow becomes
deeper, the Penguins
sit closer on their eggs!

Until, finally the birds are
completely covered.

You see only snow here but
buried two feet deep, and
sitting tightly on its eggs,
there is a Penguin.

There are thousands
under the snow,

and when this one looked
out and saw me, she had
some very unpleasant
things to say!

Two weeks later the snow
had disappeared; and
here are some of the
newly hatched clicks.

The neighbors are much
worried about them, believing
them to be deserted.

But the mother has only been
removed for a few moments,
so that I might secure a picture.
Now she returns.

The chicks grow so fast
that when they are one
week old...

...it is not easy
to cover them.

At two weeks, it
is impossible.

When three weeks old, the
chicks run about so much
that they get lost in the crowd.

See how concerned are the
kindhearted elders about
this little bunch of strays!

And look at this one
doing Sentry Go to
protect them!

A stranger caresses one
of the chicks...
but the sentry won't stand
any nonsense!

When the chicks are six weeks
old they get their full plumage
and are nearly as big as
their parents.

Then off to the seaside
for their first dip.

They are taught by their parents
swim, and to catch fish...
like this

I can assure you there is
hot very much fun in life
for the Penguins,

and it is a very unusual thing
to see them behaving
in this manner.

But soon you will see
the cause of all the
commotion.

THIS WAS THE CAUSE!

The gallant sailors of the
TERRA NOVA loved to have a
game with the queer creatures.

And this is what they
called The PENGUIN TROT!

All preparation were now
complete and on November 2nd,
1911 Captain Scott set out on
the primary object of the Expedition...

the discovery of the South Pole.
Would he get there before the
Norwegian Expedition,

under Captain Amundsen, which was
also bound for the same goal?

Four parties out...
three to support the main
Polar Party.

The first 20 miles of the
great 850 mile journey
lay across the frozen sea.

From the sea-ice they
went on the Great Ice
Barrier, which had to be
traversed for 400 miles.

Captain Scott and Dr. Wilson
formed the rearguard of the
long caravan that marched
into the Great White Silence.

They waved a last farewell.

200 miles farther on, the
First Supporting Party
deposited a supply of stores...

...for the use of the Polar
Party on the return journey,
and turned back.

After travelling 400 miles
in 38 days the three
parties reached the
Beardmore Glacier.

Here they were overtaken
by a raging, howling blizzard
which delayed them four days.
Here, also, the ponies...

unable to traverse the
dangerous crevasses and
pitfalls of the Glacier...
met their predestined end.

Endeavoring to make up
for the delay which might
lose the coveted honor
of priority at the Pole,

we can imagine the
terrific labor henceforward
entailed in man-hauling
each of the heavy sledges.

Under the virgin snow, cracks
in the ice cannot be seen,
and they often caused
dangerous stumbles...

...for an accident to one man
might imperil the lives of all.

Upward and onward the
determined explorers doggedly
toiled over that stupendous
cataract of ice which,

stretching from the Great Ice
Barrier to the Polar Plateau,
rises 8,000 feet in 120 miles.

Among the dangerous crevasses
and seracs caused by the terrific
pressure of the ice, day after day
they struggled on.

But when occasionally they found
smooth patches of snow, they were
able to make better progress by
using Norwegian ski.

The end of each day brought
always the same routine.
After unpacking the sledge,
they pitched their tent.

They then weighted the tent
with blocks of snow to
prevent it from blowing away.

And after filling the
paraffin cooker with snow
for water...

...they entered the
tent to eat and sleep.

From the summit of the
Beardmore Glacier another
Supporting Party had turned back,

having first deposited their
supplies for the Polar Party.

This Supporting Party
got back to Winter quarters
in 37 days.

They had man-hauled
their sledge for over
600 miles.

Three months exposure to the
intense cold had blackened
and scarred their faces
with frostbite.

Meanwhile Captain Scott, with eight
men, set out across the vast and
fearful wilderness of ice that caps
the undermost end of the world,

and 100 miles farther on the
Last Supporting Party deposited
their supporting and turned back.

Imagine now the isolated
Polar Party in their tent at
the end of each Officer Evans
striving!

Petty Officer Evans is the
cook for the day, and on his
left are Lieut. Dowers, Dr.
Wilson and Captain Scott.

As the temperature is 20
or 30 degrees below Zero,
the explorers change their
damp footgear...

...as soon as they enter the tent.
Sometimes they camped in more
than 100 degrees of frost.

After hanging up their socks
to freeze dry overnight,
the explorers,

with keen sledging appetites,
eagerly watch the cooking of
the savoury pemmican hoosh.

Pemmican hoosh is a rich
soup made of the finest
dried beef, 60% fat.

After the meal, the sleeping bags
are unrolled. They are made of
thick reindeer skins, and no time
is wasted getting into them.

Then all snuggle close together...
for greater warmth.

Day after day they toiled,
drawing ever nearer to the
Goal of their Hopes...

their sole thought, ambition and
ideal to be first to plant their
country's flag at the uttermost
end of the Earth.

On January 18th. 1912, the
party reached the South Pole.
To their dismay, a mute sentinel
was standing at the Goal...

a small deserted tent. It had been
left there by the Norwegians, who,
having discovered a shorter way,
had forestalled Scott by 34 days.

Scott wrote in diary:
It is a terrible disappointment
and I am very sorry for my
loyal companions...

Great God! This is an awful place!

With blasted hopes unbroken spirit,
that gallant little band at the end
of the earth now faced the terrific
850 mile return journey.

Scott wrote:
Now for the run home
and a desperate struggle.
I wonder if we can do it.

From the Pole to the
Beardmore Glacier the distance
was over 300 miles, which they
covered in 18 days;

and then began the descent
of the great icefall.

After two more weeks of tremendous
struggling they got into frightfully
rough ice at the foot of the Glacier,

and Edgar Evans fell and
sustained concussion of the
brain. Scott wrote:

It is a terrible thing to lose
a companion in this way...
His death left us
a shaken party!

Petty Officer Edgar Evans, R.N.

Scott's Diary, February 20th:
Terribly slow progress, but we
hope for better things as we
clear the land...

Pray God, we get better travelling
as we are not so fit as we were.

February 27th:
Desperately cold... We talk of
nothing but food...

Pray God, we have no further
setbacks... but there is a
horrid element of doubt.

March 3rd:
We can't keep up this
pulling that is certain.

Amongst ourselves we are
unendingly cheerful, but what
each man feels in his heart
I can only guess.

March 8th:
The surface remains awful, the
cold intense, and our physical
condition running down...

We are in a very
bad way I fear... Got
help us, indeed!

On March 16th, Captain Oates,
whose feet were completely
maimed by frostbite, could
go no further.

Scott wrote:
He proposed we should leave
him in his sleeping-bag.

That we could not do... At night
he was worse and we knew
that the end had come.

The next day, Oates, determined no
longer to imperil the lives of his
comrades with the burden of his
presence decided to sacrifice himself.

Scott wrote: He said, I am just going
outside, and I may be some time.
He went out into the blizzard and
we have not seen him since...

...We knew that poor Oates
was walking to his death,

but though we tried to
dissuade him we knew that
it was the act of a brave man.
and an English gentleman.

Scott, Wilson and Bowers
struggled on for two days longer.
On March 19th. they pitched
their 60th. Camp from the Pole...

...With food
sufficient for only two more days.

Then another terrific blizzard
stuck them, and they could
not leave the tent.

In that blinding storm it was impossible
for them to find the way to a depot
of plentiful supplies which lay
distant only 11 miles.

Exhausted with hunger and suffering,
they could do no more. But
those gallant, devoted men
met the end with unfailing spirit,

and indomitable courage, trusting
in God, and happy in the knowledge
that they died for the honor
of their country.

As soon as possible a
Search Party set out from
Winter-quarters, and eventually
they reached the fateful tent.

It contained the frozen
remains of Captain Robert
Falcon Scott...

Dr. Edward Adrian Wilson...

...and Lieut. Henry
Robertson Bowers.

It was there that the Leader,
with Death staring him in the eyes,

wrote of the last efforts of
himself and his comrades, and
bequeathed his immortal
journal to Posterity.

The following passages are
quoted from his LAST MESSAGE
in his Diary.

We have been willing to give
our lives to this enterprise,
which is for the honor
our country.

We took risks... we knew we took
them. Things have come out against
us, therefore we have no cause for
complaint,

but bow to the will of
Providence, determined to do
our best to the last.

Had we lived, I should had
a tale to tell of the hardihood,
endurance and courage
of my companions.

These rough notes and our
dead bodies must tell the tale.

But for my own sake I do not regret
this journey, which has shown that
Englishmen can endure Hardships,

help one another, and meet death
with as great fortitude as ever
in the past.
Scott

The three explores were
reverently buried in the ice,
and over their bodies a great
cairn of snow was raised.

And this Cross in The Great
White Silence is sacred to
the memory of England's
greatest Polar explorer...

...and his four loyal comrades...
whose heroism shall last in
the annals of our Race as
long as time endures.

So on their record writ all to
know -
The task achieved, the homeward
way half won -

Though cold they lie beneath their
pall of snow,
Shines the eternal sun.

FINIS