Antarctica, the Terra Nova Expedition/British Antarctic Expe...

Hammer

£150

Antarctica, the Terra Nova Expedition/British Antarctic Expedition - a sailor's marine ivory turned carving, worked by Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class William Ault Horton, Royal Navy, Ship's Party, while serving onboard the Terra Nova RYS, either en route with Captain Scott and his team to the South Pole or returning with the Terra Nova's crew to Cardiff, via New Zealand, 11cm long

William Ault Horton (1883-1939) was born in Derby, on 14th January 1883 the son of John Edward Thomas Horton. The family were once resident at 116, City Road, Derby and Commander Horton had an address in Leopold Street, Derby. He joined the Royal Navy on 7th June 1904 for a 12 year engagement at the age 21 having been in his previous civilian life an engine fitter and turner, and was almost certainly an ex-apprentice at Rolls Royce.

At the pinnacle of his career, Horton was a world famous figure as he held the undisputed world record for the number of Antarctic voyages completed. At the time of his death in November 1939, being only 56 years of age, William Horton had spent no less than 10 seasons including winter voyages in the Antarctic, which was more often than any other man alive.

Provenance: By direct family descent.