FOR THE ANTARCTIC

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1930, Page 5

FOR THE ANTARCTIC

Commander Worslev, D. 5.0., 0,8. E., has been selected to lead a British Antarctic expedition in the near future. He has had considerable experience of polar exploration. Now nearly sixty years old, ' Commander Worsley .was educated in New Zealand, and has always been attracted by the call of the wide white spaces of Antarctic. He was, of course, captain of the Endurance in the Shackleton Expedition and navigated Shackleton’s boat from Elephant Island to South Georgia under difficult conditions. During the war, in which he gained the Russian Order of St. Stanislaus, Commander Worsley’s invaluable knowledge of polar conditions were turned to good account. He was lent to the War Office as Director of Arctic Equipment and Transport in connection with certain military expeditions at Archangel and other parts of Northern Russia. But his war experience was by no means confined to expeditions amid the desolate snows and frosts of Russia. He saw service in all manner of jobs. At one period or another lie was in command of a monitor, a gunboat, and no lees than two mystery ships. After the war he turned his attentions once more to the Antarctic and became sailing master apd hydrogjrapher on the Quest in 1921. He has written several publications, including one well-known book called “Under Sail in the Frozen North.” His recreation is perhaps typical of a man who has spent long periods of his life far from civilisation and. its attractions—r chess.