Dare-Devil Exploits

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 64, 13 September 1940, Page 5

Dare-Devil Exploits

OMMANDER Frank Worsley’s dare-devil exploits have often been flashed over the cables to New Zealand, where as a boy he acquired his passion for the sea in the old sailing ships of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Later, as Chief Officer of the old Government steamer Hinemoa and commander of the auxiliary schooner Countess of Ranfurly (trading to the Pacific Islands), his ambition for a life on the ocean wave and a home on the rolling deep received fresh stimulus. Worsley crowned an adventurous career when, as master of Shackleton’s vessel, the Endurance, on the illfated Polar expedition of 1914-16, he made the epic voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia, a distance of 800 miles, in an open boat. Nothing daunted, he was again with Shackleton in the 1921-22 Antarctic expedition as chief navigator of the

Quest when Shackleton died at sea. His war record as commander of mystery ships and association with many expeditions of an adventurous nature since has kept his name before the public. One of his daring exploits was when the motor auxiliary schooner Katherine Anne was wrecked in a gale on the Orkney Islands. Worsley jumped with a rope from the bowsprit into the raging sea in the darkness and struggled ashore, thus saving the lives of all the crew just: before the vessel: went to pieces. Then doubtless many listeners may recall that very ambitious Arctic expedition organised by Captain Alrarson Algarsson in 1925. Here again we hear of Frahk Worsley being appointed to command the vessel, The Island. On this occasion we also find another New Zealander, Gordon Burt, a native of Dunedin, as chief engineer. This expedition intended to go as far north as possible. by ship and then make an aeroplane. dash for the Pole. Things did’ not go at all well, and the expedition failed in its objective. The two New Zealanders, even in their disappointment, never forgot their country, for when the ship had reached its farthest north point, Worsley and Burt landed on the ice, mounted a pole on a. hammock and hoisted the N.Z. flag, the latitude being the farthest north the flag of our country has ever been. ("New Zealand Brains Abroad: A Review of Our Achievements," by Bernard Magee and Major F. H. Lampen, 2YA).