POLAR EXPLORATION: The following archive was given to a Maj...

Hammer

£30,000

POLAR EXPLORATION:

The following archive was given to a Major Woods in the early 1930s by Leonard Duncan Albert Hussey, OBE (6 May 1891 – 25 February 1964) who was an English meteorologist, archaeologist, explorer, medical doctor and member of Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic (Endurance) and Shackleton–Rowett (Quest) Expeditions. During the latter, he was with Shackleton at his death and transported his body part-way back to England and then to his final resting place.

Unique Short and Mason aneroid barometer that hung in Ernest Shackleton’s cabin onboard R.Y.S. Quest 1921-22, it is accompanied by a signed letter that states “This aneroid barometer was taken to the Antarctic on the Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition 1921-22 and was screwed up in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Cabin on R.Y.S. Quest, given to me by Dr L.D.A. Hussey” A unique piece of memorabilia that was present at the very end of Shackleton’s life, 4½ins.

On 17 December 1921, the day before Quest was due to leave Rio, Shackleton fell ill. He may have suffered a heart attack; Shackleton refused to be examined and declared himself "better" the next morning. On the ensuing voyage to South Georgia he was, from the accounts of his shipmates, unusually subdued and listless. He also began drinking champagne each morning, "to deaden the pain", contrary to his normal rule of not allowing liquor at sea. A severe storm ruined the expedition's proposed Christmas celebrations, and a new problem with the engine's steam furnace slowed progress and caused Shackleton further stress. By 1 January 1922, the weather had abated: "Rest and calm after the storm – the year has begun kindly for us", wrote Shackleton in his diary. On 4 January, South Georgia was sighted, and late that morning Quest anchored at Grytviken. After visiting the whaling establishment ashore, Shackleton returned to the ship apparently refreshed. He told Frank Wild that they would celebrate their deferred Christmas the next day and retired to his cabin to write his diary. "The old smell of dead whale permeates everything", he wrote. "It is a strange and curious place ... A wonderful evening. In the darkening twilight, I saw a lone star hover, gem-like above the bay." Later he slept and was heard snoring by the surgeon McIlroy, who had just finished his watch-keeping duty. Shortly after 02:00 on the morning of 5 January, Macklin, who had taken over the watch, was summoned to Shackleton's cabin. He found Shackleton complaining of back pains and severe facial neuralgia and asking for a painkilling drug. In a brief discussion, Macklin told his leader that he had been overdoing things and needed to lead a more regular life. Macklin records Shackleton as saying: "You're always wanting me to give up things, what is it I ought to give up?" Macklin replied, "Chiefly alcohol, Boss, I don't think it agrees with you." Immediately afterwards Shackleton "had a very severe paroxysm, during which he died". The death certificate, signed by Macklin, gave the cause as "Atheroma of the Coronary arteries and Heart failure" – in modern terms, coronary thrombosis. Later that morning, Wild, now in command, gave the news to the shocked crew and told them that the expedition would carry on.

Hussey was asked by Frank Wild, following Shackleton's death in harbour in South Georgia, to escort the body to England while Wild himself assumed command of the Quest. Hussey arrived in South America and cabled England with news of the explorer's passing. Shackleton's widow responded that the explorer should be buried at Grytviken in South Georgia, and Hussey carried out these instructions. Hussey took the body back to Grytviken, where Shackleton was buried on 5 March in the Norwegian cemetery. Quest had meantime sailed, so only Hussey of Shackleton's former comrades was present at the interment. A rough cross marked the burial site until it was replaced by a tall granite column six years later.