Endurance Expedition

1914–1916

Shackleton’s most legendary expedition, the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, aimed to cross Antarctica by land. Instead, it became a story of survival after the ship Endurance was crushed by pack ice, leading to a dramatic, heroic rescue mission that saved every crew member.

Timeline of Events

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Departure

Endurance departs Plymouth after Admiralty signals “Proceed”.

1914

8 August
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Icebergs Sighted

Crew says farewell to land for 497 days.

5 December
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Trapped in Ice

Endurance becomes beset in pack ice in Vahsel Bay.

1915

18 January
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Abandon Ship

Shackleton gives the order to leave Endurance.

27 October
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Ship Sinks

The Endurance sinks into the Weddell Sea.

21 November
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Lifeboat Voyage Begins

Crew launches lifeboats and reaches Elephant Island.

1916

April
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James Caird Sets Sail

Shackleton and five others head to South Georgia in a 22-foot boat.

24 April
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Crossing South Georgia

After crossing glacier-covered mountains, Shackleton arrives at Stromness.

20 May
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Rescue Complete

Shackleton returns aboard the Yelcho to rescue the entire stranded crew.

30 August

Crew Members

Ernest Shackleton

Expedition Leader

Frank Wild

Second in Command

Frank Worsley

Captain of Endurance

Lionel Greenstreet

First Officer

Tom Crean

Experienced Explorer

Alfred Cheetham

third officer

Hubert Hudson

navigator

Lewis Rickinson

engineer

Alexander Kerr

engineer

Alexander Macklin

surgeon

James McIlroy

surgeon

Sir James Wordie

geologist

Leonard Hussey

meteorologist

Reginald James

physicist

Robert Clark

biologist

Frank Hurley

photographer

George Marston

artist

Thomas Orde-Lees

Motor expert and storekeeper

Harry “Chippy” McNish

carpenter

Charles Green

cook

Walter How

able seaman

William Bakewell

able seaman

Timothy McCarthy

able seaman

Thomas McLeod

able seaman

John Vincent

boatswain

Ernest Holness

stoker

William Stephenson

stoker

Perce Blackborow

steward

Highlights and Achievements

Miraculous survival and rescue without a single death.
800-mile open-boat journey in the James Caird.
First crossing of South Georgia’s interior.
Frank Hurley’s iconic Antarctic photographs

Artefacts on Display

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