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

Hammer

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The Antarctic Letters, written from the British Antarctic expedition of 1901-1904 Reginald Koettlitz (1860-1916) Letter 8 14th July 1904 To: ‘My dear Mrs Waymouth’ From Reginald Koettlitz (Expedition physician and botanist) Written from: ‘The Discovery’ Port Stanley, Falkland Islands On Discovery Antarctic Expedition 1901 headed paper, no envelope. One sheet folded into four pages, two and half pages covered in handwriting. Excerpts: “I am so pleased to hear that you and Miss Waymouth are having so nice a time in England, but it seems to me that you with your happy spirit would always have a good time anywhere” “Of all the places that civilised man ever came to live in, unless parts of northern Siberia or West Greenland (and even they are better) be excepted, the Falkland Islands seem the most out of the world dreary of places that they ever did so in, certainly that British people ever settled in. A more or less flat, barren looking, often rocky expanse, without a tree or shrub to vary the monotony, and that to the dim distance. A bleak windswept spot, and yet there are people who have lived here for 22 years!” “I presume by now you will have heard that the spoon I promised you is in Miss McKay’s (?) possession, I hope you will like it. She thinks it, she tells me, a rather nice one.” Biographical note: Reginald Koettlitz was born on 23 December 1861. Of German extraction, he trained at Guy's Hospital and went into practice as a physician in Dover. In 1894 he volunteered as surgeon for the 1894-1897 Jackson-Harmsworth Arctic Expedition to Franz Josef Land and spent nearly three years in the Arctic Circle. He learned valuable lessons in Arctic survival, undertook dog sledging expeditions and kept the party free of scurvy. The British expedition also met the Norwegian North Polar Expedition, 1893-1896, led by Fridtjof Nansen who became a lifelong friend to Koettlitz. In 1900 he travelled to Somaliland and Abyssinia with Herbert Weld Blundell. He also journeyed to the Amazon. His polar experience gained him a place on the 1901 British Antarctic Expedition, where he doubled the role of senior surgeon with that of botanist. His assistant was E.A. Wilson, later surgeon on Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition. At 41, he was one of the oldest men in the expedition and had the most polar experience, however he and Scott clashed and his scientific contributions to the Discovery Expedition were not recognized on their return. Koettlitz’s position wasn’t recognised in Scott’s book ‘The Voyage of the Discovery’ and none of his painstaking work featured in the expedition’s final scientific reports. Even a report to the British Medical Journal was presented by Koettlitz’s deputy, Wilson. Also, groundbreaking colour photographs taken by Koettlitz, the first ever taken in the Antarctic, seem to have been ignored, and they have now been lost to history. He took part in several sledging expeditions, including an attempt on Cape Crozier in March 1902. On a trip he led across McMurdo Sound, Koettlitz discovered two glacial features later named after him: the Koettlitz Glacier and the Koettlitz Neve. Other than the honour of these names, his important role has been rather airbrushed from history. After the expedition he returned to his practice in Dover but in 1911 emigrated to South Africa and continued to practice medicine. He and his wife died of dysentery on the same day in 1916. 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