Tom Crean Biography

Tom Crean accompanies Scott on the Terra Nova expedition, bringing experience gained during the earlier Discovery Expedition.

Joins Terra Nova as an experienced Antarctic seaman.

Part of the 13-man party who laid "One Ton Depot" 130 statute miles (210 km) from Hut Point, the depot being named because of the large amount of food and equipment cached there.

Crean participates in the depot-laying journey that establishes One Ton Depot for the later southern march.

The opening stage of the southern journey requires roughly 400 miles of travel across the Barrier before the party reaches the Beardmore Glacier.

Crean joins Scott's southern party. The route crosses the Barrier, climbs the crevassed Beardmore Glacier to the Polar Plateau, then continues across the plateau toward the South Pole.

Crean begins the southern journey with the pony-supported groups travelling across the Barrier.

Crean leaves with the main southern party, contributing extensive sledging experience as the expedition advances toward the Beardmore Glacier.

The Beardmore Glacier stage covers about 120 miles and climbs to roughly 10,000 feet before the southbound party reaches the Polar Plateau.

Crean turns north with Edward Evans and Lashly when Scott reduces the southbound group to the final five.

Crean and Lashly haul the severely ill Edward Evans north after the last supporting party turns back.

Crean walks the final distance alone to Hut Point to summon help for Edward Evans and Lashly.

Crean begins a solitary 35-mile march to Hut Point to obtain help for the critically ill Edward Evans.

Crean joins the search that discovers the fate of Scott and companions, months after he last saw the southbound party alive.