Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans Biography

Birth of Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans

Seconded from the Navy to be second officer aboard the relief ship, the Morning

Evans is seconded from the Navy to be second officer aboard the relief ship, the Morning, an ageing ex-whaler, The Morning sails from London in July

After working steadily south-east from Cape Adare and along the ice-front to Cape Crozier, the limit of their search range, they found a message from the expedition, directing them back towards McMurdo Sound, the two ships are separated by fifteen miles of ice, requiring long sledge journeys with Evans among the first party to greet the Discoverys crew

The Morning sails from London in July 1902, and after a severe storm and a refit in Christchurch, New Zealand, heads for the Antarctic on 6 December to search for the expedition in their winter quarters.

somewhere in the Ross Sea. after a severe storm and a refit in Christchurch, New Zealand, headed for the Antarctic on 6 December to search for the expedition in their winter quarters, somewhere in the Ross Sea.

At the end of March 1903 the Morning is ordered to return, leaving supplies with the Discovery, still sealed in the ice, several crew are exchanged, including Shackleton, who was considered not healthy enough to remain for the winter

While the Morning is refitted for another relief voyage, this time organised by the Admiralty rather than the Royal Geographical Society, she sails south again in November, in company with a second relief ship, Terra Nova.

In recognition of his work with the expedition, Scott names a mountain overlooking the Sound as Mount Evans

The Terra Nova relief ship meets Discovery. Evans leads men laying explosives to blast a channel through eight miles of ice, helping free Discovery shortly before a heavy gale strikes.

At the same time, Robert Falcon Scott began planning a new expedition after Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition.

Evans succumbs to the lure of the Antarctic, and announces, with Markhams blessing, that he will organise an expedition to explore King Edward VII Land.

Scott and Edward Evans were then rivals, but Evans abandoned his own project and transferred its funding and support to Scott.

Abandons his separate Antarctic project and joins Scott.

Scott appoints Evans second-in-command, as well as Captain of the Terra Nova.

Transfers supporters and resources to the Terra Nova expedition.

Evans sails aboard Terra Nova when the expedition ship leaves London for the outward voyage.

Sails as Scott's second in command.

Evans supervises shipboard duties while Terra Nova calls at Cape Town on the outward voyage.

The expedition lands at Cape Evans on 4 January. Evans joins the shore party while Lieutenant Harry Pennell takes command of Terra Nova.

Evans joins the shore party during the landing and establishment of the Cape Evans base.

Scott names Cape Evans in honour of his second in command while selecting the winter-quarters site.

Cape Evans is named in his honour.

Scott names the west Ross Island winter-quarters site Cape Evans in honour of Edward Evans.

After wintering at Cape Evans, Evans is given command of the Motor Party, which is scheduled to leave before the main southern expedition.

The Motor Party takes four men and two tracked motor sledges south onto the Barrier carrying supplies for the following dog and pony groups.

Leads the motor party south from Cape Evans.

Evans leads the Motor Party south ahead of the main expedition to move supplies toward the polar route.

Leaves first with motor sledges and supplies.

Evans leads the advance motor party onto the Barrier ahead of the main southern expedition.

Motor sledges carry supplies ahead of the main polar party.

The motor sledges prove unreliable, often refusing to start until heated or stopping after short distances. The first machine fails permanently on 30 October.

The second motor sledge fails the following day. The four men reorganise their loads and continue south, pulling a single sledge carrying about 740 pounds of supplies.

The motor party maintains its pace after the breakdowns and reaches the rendezvous six days early, where the main party catches up on 21 November.

Motor party meets Scott's main party ahead of schedule.

Leads a man-hauling party after the motor sledge failure.

The Motor Party becomes the Man-hauling Party under Evans with Lashly, Atkinson and Wright. On 5 December a four-day blizzard halts their progress.

At the foot of the Beardmore Glacier, the last ponies are killed and the expedition prepares for the glacier ascent.

After the dog teams turn back, the remaining southbound groups continue by man-hauling their sledges up the Beardmore Glacier.

Turns back with the first supporting party.

Evans falls into a crevasse during the upper glacier ascent and receives a severe shake.

The remaining teams continue man-hauling their sledges after the first supporting party turns north.

The first four-man supporting party turns back from the Beardmore Glacier, leaving eight men to continue south.

The southbound expedition reorganises after the first supporting party turns back on the Beardmore Glacier.

Turns back with Crean and Lashly from 87 degrees south.

Evans leads Crean and Lashly north after Scott orders the final supporting party to turn back.

Evans starts the return journey with Lashly and Crean after the last supporting party is dismissed from the southbound expedition.

Evans, Lashly and Crean turn north on 4 January, about 160 miles from the Pole, while Bowers remains with Scott's final party.

Scott orders Evans and the Last Supporting Party to turn back. Evans is physically exhausted after hauling a loaded sledge for much of the southward journey.

Turns north with Crean and Lashly as the last supporting party.

The three begin a difficult return journey toward Hut Point.

Evans reaches safety after severe scurvy and is later evacuated from Antarctica aboard Terra Nova for medical recovery.

Collapses with scurvy near One Ton Depot.

Returns in Terra Nova for the expedition's final relief.

Evans oversees the final departure from Cape Evans as Terra Nova takes the remaining expedition members north from Antarctica.

Brings Terra Nova back to Cardiff after the Antarctic expedition.

Death of Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans