Stunning slides capturing Captain Scott’s ill-fated mission to the Antarctic – featuring frostbitten hands and family of penguins – go under the hammer
Fateful expedition ended in tragedy after Norwegians beat British to pole
A COLLECTION of slides casts a fascinating light on Captain Scott’s ill-fated mission to the Antarctic.
The 38 snaps were taken by Herbert Ponting - the official photographer of the iconic expedition that ended in tragedy.
Scenes captured include Scott’s last birthday in a hut, the men sheltering from a blizzard in a tent and a dead whale being dragged across the snow.
Other images show Captain Scott waving, Captain Oates and even a frost-bitten hand, the Terra Nova ship and penguins.
They are coming up for sale at Henry Aldridge and Son of Devizes for £600 tomorrow.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "The slides come in a period wooden box many are titled.
“They show most elements of the ill-fated expedition."
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Celebrated polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott was hailed a national hero after his Antarctic Expedition between 1901 and 1904 reached further south than anyone had ever gone before.
The acclaim made him determined to become the first person to reach the South Pole.
In 1910 he embarked on the mission, which was to be his last.
Appalling weather conditions and tough terrain meant that by January 1912 only five remained - Scott, Wilson, Oates, Bowers and Evans.
Only January 17 they finally reached the pole only to find that a Norwegian party led by Roald Amundsen had beaten them there.
On the 1,000-mile return journey Evans died in mid-February.
The following month Oates, knowing his severe frostbite was holding his companions back, left his tent never to be seen again.
The remaining three men died of starvation and exposure in their tent on March 29, only 12 miles from a pre-arranged supply point.
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