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land the names of
the above and other generous donors to the Expedition. The two
hundred miles of new coast-line I have called Caird Coast. Also, as a
more personal note, I named the three ship's boats, in which we
ultimately escaped from the grip of the ice, after the three principal
donors to the Expedition--the 'James Caird', the 'Stancomb Wills' and
the 'Dudley Docker'. The two last-named are still on the desolate sandy
spit of Elephant Island, where under their shelter twenty-two of my
comrades eked out a bare existence for four and a half months.
The 'James Caird' is now in Liverpool, having been brought home from
South Georgia after her adventurous voyage across the sub-Antarctic
ocean.
Most of the Public Schools of England and Scotland helped the
Expedition to purchase the dog teams, and I named a dog after each
school that helped. But apart from these particular donations I again
thank the many people who assisted us.
So the equipment and organization went on. I purchased the 'Aurora'
from Sir Douglas Mawson, and arranged for Mackintosh to go to
Australia and take charge of her, there sending sledges, equipment and
most of the stores from this side, but depending somewhat on the
sympathy and help of Australia and New Zealand for coal and certain
other necessities, knowing that previously these two countries had
always generously supported the exploration of what one might call
their hinterland.

Towards the end of July all was ready, when suddenly the war clouds
darkened over Europe.
It had been arranged for the 'Endurance' to proceed to Cowes, to be
inspected by His Majesty on the Monday of Cowes week. But on
Friday I received a message to say that the King would not be able to
go to Cowes. My readers will remember how suddenly came the
menace of war. Naturally, both my comrades and I were greatly
exercised as to the probable outcome of the danger threatening the
peace of the world.
We sailed from London on Friday, August 1, 1914, and anchored off
Southend all Saturday. On Sunday afternoon I took the ship off
Margate, growing hourly more anxious as the ever-increasing rumours
spread; and on Monday morning I went ashore and read in the morning
paper the order for general mobilization.
I immediately went on board and mustered all hands and told them that
I proposed to send a telegram to the Admiralty offering the ships, stores,
and, if they agreed, our own services to the country in the event of war
breaking out. All hands immediately agreed, and I sent off a telegram
in which everything was placed at the disposal of the Admiralty. We
only asked that, in the event of the declaration of war, the Expedition
might be considered as a single unit, so as to preserve its homogeneity.
There were enough trained and experienced men amongst us to man a
destroyer. Within an hour I received a laconic wire from the Admiralty
saying "Proceed." Within two hours a longer wire came from Mr.
Winston Churchill, in which we were thanked for our offer, and saying
that the authorities desired that the Expedition, which had the full
sanction and support of the Scientific and Geographical Societies,
should go on.
So, according to these definite instructions, the 'Endurance' sailed to
Plymouth. On Tuesday the King sent for me and handed me the Union
Jack to carry on the Expedition. That night, at midnight, war broke out.
On the following Saturday, August 8, the 'Endurance' sailed from
Plymouth, obeying the direct order of the Admiralty. I make particular
reference to this phase of the Expedition as I am aware that there was a

certain amount of criticism of the Expedition having left the country,
and regarding this I wish further to add that the preparation of the
Expedition had been proceeding for over a year, and large sums of
money had been spent. We offered to give the Expedition up without
even consulting the donors of this money, and but few thought that the
war would last through these five years and involve the whole world.
The Expedition was not going on a peaceful cruise to the South Sea
Islands, but to a most dangerous, difficult, and strenuous work that has
nearly always involved a certain percentage of loss of life. Finally,
when the Expedition did return, practically the whole of those members
who had come unscathed through the dangers of the Antarctic took
their places in the wider field of battle, and the percentage of casualties
amongst the members of this Expedition is high.
The voyage out to Buenos Ayres was uneventful, and on October 26 we
sailed from that port for South Georgia, the most southerly outpost of
the British Empire. Here, for a month, we were