Antarctic exploration · permanent subject timeline

Final Relief and Return, 1913

The expedition's final Antarctic season and the return north. This page combines historical context with 6 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Terra Nova archive.

6 matching archive records 1912–1913 record span Open full 89-record archive

Historical context

Final Relief and Return, 1913: overview and significance

What happened?

Terra Nova returned for the expedition's final relief in January 1913, recovered people and scientific material, and left Cape Evans with the surviving expedition members. News of the polar party's deaths then reached the wider world.

Why was it important?

The final relief transformed the expedition from an active Antarctic programme into a story of scientific return and national mourning. Terra Nova ultimately returned to Cardiff later in 1913.

World History Database records

Final Relief and Return, 1913 timeline

The records below are selected from the 89-record Terra Nova archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.

1912

1912 22nd February

Terra Nova Returns to Cape Evans

Lieutenant Terra Nova Commander Harry Lewin Lee Pennell · Great Britain · Cape Evans · Terra Nova Commander

Terra Nova returns to Cape Evans during the expedition's second season.

1913

1913 18th January

Terra Nova Return

Lieutenant Ship Commander Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans Mountevans, 1st · Great Britain · Cape Evans · Ship Commander

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

1913 19th January

Final Cape Evans Departure

Lieutenant Expedition Commander Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans · Great Britain · Cape Evans · Expedition Commander

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

1913 January

Western Party Specimen Recovery

Geologist Frank Debenham · Australia · Victoria Land · Geologist

Geological specimens cached during the Western Party journeys are recovered as Terra Nova completes the expedition's final Antarctic season.

1913 10th February

News of Polar Party Losses

Robert Falcon Scott · Great Britain · Oamaru

The world was informed of the tragedy when Terra Nova reached Oamaru, New Zealand.

1913 June

Terra Nova Returns to Cardiff

Lieutenant Terra Nova Commander Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans · Great Britain · Cardiff · Terra Nova Commander

Brings Terra Nova back to Cardiff after the Antarctic expedition.

Editorial provenance

Sources and editorial review

Compiled and edited by World History Database.

Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Terra Nova records.

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Royal Museums Greenwich · Antarctic Heritage Trust

Continue exploring