A SUCCESSFUL FAILURE

Perce Blackborow joined an expedition with Sir Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica on the ship Endurance in 1914.Shackleton was one of the most famous explorers of his day and it was considered a great honour to be part of his expeditions. Below are some of Blackborow’s diary entries.

31 Oct 1914

...Well, it so happened that one morning I bought a newspaper and read the advertisement about the Antarctic expedition.

An expedition to the South Pole with the great Sir Ernest Shackleton — this is the adventure that I have been dreaming of. And I was ready for it. At the age of 19, I am fit and full of vigour. However, when I applied to join the expedition, Shackleton turned me down because he thought I was too young and wasn’t qualified. But I was so enthusiastic about the idea of going along with them that I secretly went aboard his ship, the Endurance, and hid in a small cupboar. Unfortunately, three days after we set off I was discovered. Shackleton did not want to turn back so he offered me a job, but only after he promised me, “If anyone has to be eaten, then you will be the first!” He assigned me to be a steward, and I now serve meals for twenty­eight men, three times a day.

How everyone will envy me when I come back and tell them about the amazing places I have been to!

21 Nov, 1915

The journey has not been easy. Endurance became stuck in the ice as we approached Antarctica. The ice froze around us and we were well and truly stuck! We saw the ship get crushed by the ice. And when the ship sank, our hearts sank with it.

Before we abandoned the ship, Shackleton calmly called us together and told us to rescue our most essential supplies — the small boats, our food, the cook stove, candles, clothes, and blankets.This was no time to panic. We were not allowed to take most of our personal belongings, and Shackleton himself threw away all his gold. But to our surprise, he allowed Hussey to keep his banjo. Hussey often plays it to keep our spirits up.

We are now camped on the ice and we have been managing to survive, but spring is coming, and the ice will soon begin to melt.

20 May 1916

We have been struggling for days, but things on Elephant Island are going from bad to worse. We are now crowded together under one of our boats on the rocky shore of this miserable place. Soon after we arrived, Shackleton left us to find help on South Georgia Island, 1,320 kilometres away — the voyage was too dangerous and difficult for all of us to make it in our small boats. If Shackleton fails, will we have any hope of rescue? No. No navy in the world ever stops at Elephant Island, and no one else knows that we are here.

I feel low. It’s cold and windy. The island has no plants. Sometimes we are able to catch a seal or a penguin to eat. Otherwise, there is no food. I try to think of happier things: decent food, warm and dry clothes, a cosy bedroom, sunny days, and my mother’s face ...However, these happy memories are soon interrupted by a sudden cold rush of air.

I shouted, “Shut the door!”

“Hold on now, Perce. Don’t you go turning into another Tom,” came the reply. “We’ve caught another penguin, so it’s penguin soup tonight!”

Bless Frank Wild, the kindest man there is after our leader, Ernest Shackleton. How could I become as selfish and bad­tempered as Thomas Orde­Lees!

Without Frank and Ernest, we’d all be dead by now. Their genuine concern for others, their perseverance, and their resolve fill me with hope.

Perhaps there is a chance we will return home, after all.

When I applied to join an expedition, Shackleton turned me     120    .But I secretly went aboard his ship, the Endurance.

The journey had not been easy. Endurance became     121     (stick) in the ice and we had to abandon the ship. Shackleton     122     (calm) called us together and told us to rescue our most essential     123     (supply).We were camped on the ice and we had been managing to survive, but spring     124     (come), and the ice would soon begin to melt. Things on Elephant Island were going from bad to     125    . Shackleton left us to find help on South Georgia Island, 1,320 kilometers away—the voyage was too dangerous and difficult for all of us     126     (make) it in our small boats. If Shackleton failed, would we have any hope of rescue? No.

Bless Frank Wild, the kindest man there was after our leader, Ernest Shackleton. Without Frank and Ernest, we’d all be     127     (die) by now. Their genuine concern for others, their     128     (persevere), and their resolve filled me     129     hope.

Perhaps there was a chance we would return home, after all.