Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans Biography and Timeline

Birth of Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans

Birth of Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans

Discovery Expedition

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

Discovery Expedition

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.

Discovery Expedition

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.

Discovery Expedition

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

Discovery Expedition

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

Discovery Expedition

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

Discovery Expedition

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.

Discovery Expedition

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.

Discovery Expedition

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

Expedition Merger with Scott

Abandons his separate Antarctic project and joins Scott.

Role range: 1910-1913

Terra Nova Support Transferred

Transfers supporters and resources to the Terra Nova expedition.

Role range: 1910-1913

Edward Evans Antarctic Expedition Proposal

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

Edward Evans Expedition Proposal

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.

Edward Evans Support Transfer

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

Second-in-Command Appointment

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

Terra Nova Leaves London

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Terra Nova Departure

Sails as Scott's second in command.

Role range: 1910-1913

Cape Town Ship Operations

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Cape Evans Named

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Cape Evans Landing Support

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Cape Evans Landing

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Cape Evans Naming

Cape Evans is named in his honour.

Role range: 1910-1913

Terra Nova Expedition

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Motor Party Command

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Motor Party Preparation

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Motor Party Departure

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Motor Party Departure

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Motor Party Departure

Leaves first with motor sledges and supplies.

Role range: 1910-1913

Motor Party Departs

Leads the motor party south from Cape Evans.

Role range: 1910-1913

Southern Motor Sledge Journey Begins

Motor sledges carry supplies ahead of the main polar party.

Role range: 1910-1913

First Motor Sledge Failure

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Second Motor Sledge Failure

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.

Role range: 1910-1913

Motor Party Rejoined

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.

Role range: 1910-1913

Rendezvous with Scott

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Man-Hauling Party

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Motor Party Blizzard

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.

Role range: 1910-1913

Last Ponies Killed

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

Role range: 1910-1913

Glacier Man-Hauling Begins

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

Role range: 1910-1913

First Support Party Return

Turns back with the first supporting party.

Role range: 1910-1913