Shackleton's Heroes: The Epic Story of the Men Who Kept the Endurance Expedition Alive
The Unbelievable Story of Six Men Who Trekked Across the Great Ice Barrier in Support of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition

One hundred years ago, Sir Ernest Shackleton embarked on the legendary 1914–1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, defying the odds and accomplishing one of history’s most remarkable feats of endurance while narrowly escaping death, even though his crew failed in their mission to cross Antarctica. His story, inflated by time and celebrity, has come to personify the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Less well known, however, is the incredible but often forgotten tale of the Mount Hope Party (also known as the Ross Sea party)—six men who worked in the shadow of Shackleton’s greater cause. Sent to the opposite side of the Polar continent, these men dropped life-saving food and fuel depots across the Great Ice Barrier, ensuring that Shackleton had the supplies necessary to complete his mission. Unaware of Shackleton’s own failed task, the party persevered in their mission, facing insurmountable obstacles of life on the ice—exhaustion, starvation, and crippling frostbite—risking their lives for the safety of his.

Stitching together the previously unpublished diaries of these unsung heroes, McOrist documents their pain and suffering, as well as the humor and camaraderie necessary for their survival. An incomparable record of sheer heroism and tragedy, Shackleton’s Heroes tells a story that history ought to remember—one of the indomitable human spirit in the most extreme conditions.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history—books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
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Shackleton's Heroes: The Epic Story of the Men Who Kept the Endurance Expedition Alive
The Unbelievable Story of Six Men Who Trekked Across the Great Ice Barrier in Support of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition

One hundred years ago, Sir Ernest Shackleton embarked on the legendary 1914–1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, defying the odds and accomplishing one of history’s most remarkable feats of endurance while narrowly escaping death, even though his crew failed in their mission to cross Antarctica. His story, inflated by time and celebrity, has come to personify the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Less well known, however, is the incredible but often forgotten tale of the Mount Hope Party (also known as the Ross Sea party)—six men who worked in the shadow of Shackleton’s greater cause. Sent to the opposite side of the Polar continent, these men dropped life-saving food and fuel depots across the Great Ice Barrier, ensuring that Shackleton had the supplies necessary to complete his mission. Unaware of Shackleton’s own failed task, the party persevered in their mission, facing insurmountable obstacles of life on the ice—exhaustion, starvation, and crippling frostbite—risking their lives for the safety of his.

Stitching together the previously unpublished diaries of these unsung heroes, McOrist documents their pain and suffering, as well as the humor and camaraderie necessary for their survival. An incomparable record of sheer heroism and tragedy, Shackleton’s Heroes tells a story that history ought to remember—one of the indomitable human spirit in the most extreme conditions.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history—books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
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Shackleton's Heroes: The Epic Story of the Men Who Kept the Endurance Expedition Alive

Shackleton's Heroes: The Epic Story of the Men Who Kept the Endurance Expedition Alive

Shackleton's Heroes: The Epic Story of the Men Who Kept the Endurance Expedition Alive

Shackleton's Heroes: The Epic Story of the Men Who Kept the Endurance Expedition Alive

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Overview

The Unbelievable Story of Six Men Who Trekked Across the Great Ice Barrier in Support of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition

One hundred years ago, Sir Ernest Shackleton embarked on the legendary 1914–1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, defying the odds and accomplishing one of history’s most remarkable feats of endurance while narrowly escaping death, even though his crew failed in their mission to cross Antarctica. His story, inflated by time and celebrity, has come to personify the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Less well known, however, is the incredible but often forgotten tale of the Mount Hope Party (also known as the Ross Sea party)—six men who worked in the shadow of Shackleton’s greater cause. Sent to the opposite side of the Polar continent, these men dropped life-saving food and fuel depots across the Great Ice Barrier, ensuring that Shackleton had the supplies necessary to complete his mission. Unaware of Shackleton’s own failed task, the party persevered in their mission, facing insurmountable obstacles of life on the ice—exhaustion, starvation, and crippling frostbite—risking their lives for the safety of his.

Stitching together the previously unpublished diaries of these unsung heroes, McOrist documents their pain and suffering, as well as the humor and camaraderie necessary for their survival. An incomparable record of sheer heroism and tragedy, Shackleton’s Heroes tells a story that history ought to remember—one of the indomitable human spirit in the most extreme conditions.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history—books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781510710757
Publisher: Skyhorse
Publication date: 11/15/2016
Pages: 384
Product dimensions: 6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Wilson McOrist is a physicist, lawyer, and entrepreneur. His eight years of research for this book were conducted in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica and involved detailed analysis of the actual field diaries of the central characters. He lives in Australia.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, described by The Guinness Book of Records as “the world’s greatest living explorer,” is an English adventurer and prolific writer. He was the first person to completely cross Antarctica by foot and is the holder of several endurance records. He lives in England.

Table of Contents

Author's Preface vii

Foreword Sir Ranulph Fiennes xi

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 'I had not anticipated that the work would present any great difficulties' 1

Chapter 2 'But surely, Sir Ernest, this isn't going to fizzle out into a picnic' 25

Chapter 3 'I am going to write a daily account of my doings to you' 39

Chapter 4 'The other two are snoring peacefully alongside of me' 59

Chapter 5 'On Polar journeys the dogs are almost human' 77

Chapter 6 'I went on board to fetch a plum-duff presented by the cook' 107

Chapter 7 'I think the O.M, has a good solution' 127

Chapter 8 'Captain about 1½ miles ahead' 143

Chapter 9 'Feeling rather seedy. Head hot: eyes ache' 171

Chapter 10 'With the help of 2 good pals we carried it out' 191

Chapter 11 'Hope to reach Bluff Depot tomorrow' 205

Chapter 12 'Or else we shall be sharing the fate of Scott & his party' 221

Chapter 13 'We are about all in' 235

Chapter 14 'We have had the closest of close calls' 251

Chapter 15 'We are all rapidly going down with scurvy' 269

Chapter 16 'Weary, worn, and sad' 283

Chapter 17 'As happy as a Piccadilly masher' 295

Chapter 18 'So the fate of these foolish people we do not know' 307

Chapter 19 'Are Mackintosh and Hayward here?' 317

Chapter 20 'The greatest qualities of endurance, self-sacrifice, and patience' 323

Postscript Dr D. L. Harrowfield 333

Timeline 337

Sources 341

Endnotes 347

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