The Antarctic Letters, written from the British Antarctic ex...

Hammer

£5,000

The Antarctic Letters, written from the British Antarctic expedition of 1901-1904 Captain William Colbeck (1871-1930) Letter 6 November 27th 1903 To: Mrs F Waymouth, Karewa From William Colbeck (Captain of the expedition relief ship SV ‘Morning’) Written from: Hobart On National Antarctic Expedition SY ‘Morning’ headed paper & with envelope. One sheet folded into four pages, two pages fully filled with handwriting. “Valedictory letters are never very cheerful, nor can one express on such material as we use one’s actual thoughts and ideas, much must therefore be taken for granted, according to our knowledge of the writer." "That we have all your good wishes, we all know and are also certain that no one will welcome us more heartily than our friends at Karewa. I cannot tell you how we all appreciate the many kindnesses and hospitality extended to us in Ch-ch (Christchurch) and the happy hours spent at Karewa will always be amongst our happiest reminiscences.” Note: William Colbeck was born in Hull in 1871 and educated at Hull Grammar School. Colbeck served a merchant navy apprenticeship between 1886 and 1890, and became a Master Mariner in 1894. In 1989, he was invited by the Norwegian Carsten Borchgrevink, to join the Southern Cross Expedition to the Antarctic. This was the first expedition to overwinter on the Antarctic mainland. After returning to England in 1900, Colbeck was given command of the relief ship Morning, which was sent to sent to resupply Captain Scott's Discovery, which was trapped in the ice at McMurdo Sound in the Antarctic. In January 1904, Colbeck returned with Morning to rescue Scott and Discovery. In a race against time, and with a shift in ice conditions, Discovery was freed and sailed safely home. After this, Colbeck resumed his job with the Wilson line in Hull. Captain Colbeck became a founder member of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, and in 1930 he was elected President of the Antarctic Club. He died the same year. His work in the Antarctic was commemorated by the naming of Colbeck Bay at 71°38′S 170°5′E, and Cape Colbeck on the King Edward VII peninsula, at 77°07′S 158°01′W. (Biography & photo of Colbeck courtesy of Carnegie Heritage Centre, Hull) From the estate of the Lamorna artist Eleanor Hughes, née Waymouth, thence by descent. Mr & Mrs. Frederick Waymouth and their family lived in Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand, in their grand home 'Karewa' now known as 'Mona Vale,' an important historic homestead. Mr Waymouth, a successful businessman, was the managing director of Canterbury Frozen Meats, and with his wife Alice, were prominent members of Christchurch society. The 'Discovery' docked in Lyttelton, the port for Christchurch, on 29th November 1901. The Waymouth family entertained members of the expedition in their beautiful home 'Karewa' and Frederick Waymouth also provisioned them with supplies. On December 21st, after a three-week stay in New Zealand, the 'Discovery' set sail and headed south for Antarctica. The correspondence that followed their visit is a testament of affection towards Alice Waymouth, and the warmth and hospitality she showed them is gratefully reflected back in the light-hearted conversational nature of these letters even when discussing the hardships of extreme cold and being locked long-term within the ice pack. In the introduction to his account of the 1901 expedition ‘The Voyage of the Discovery’ Robert F Scott writes about the kindness his team received from the people of New Zealand. He goes on to list nine men who provided particular assistance and this includes Frederick Waymouth. “In considering such general kindness it is almost invidious to mention particular names, but the following gentlemen are among those who must be especially remembered by us for the manner in which they were ever ready to assist us: His Excellency the Governor Lord Ranfurly, the Premier Mr Sedden, the Hon. C C Bowen, Captain Hutton of the Christchurch Museum, Mr Kinsey, Mr Waymouth, Mr A Rhodes, Mr Coleridge Farr of the Christchurch Observatory and Mr H J Miller of Lyttelton.” Further information in our blog