Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T07:30:30.405Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Captain Scott changed his mind: The dogs shall not go to the South Pole

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2021

Bill Alp Open the ORCID record for Bill Alp [Opens in a new window]
Bill Alp*
Affiliation:
Independent Researcher, Wellington, 6035, New Zealand
*
Author for correspondence: Bill Alp, Email: bill.alp@xtra.co.nz
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In September 1909 Captain Scott announced his intention to utilise dog transport in his dash for the Pole - this being his intention until as late as February 1911. In May 1911, Scott lectured expedition members about a new plan for their Southern Journey. His lecture notes include detailed calculations, based solely on ponies and men hauling the sledges – dogs and motor sledges were now surplus to requirements. In less than three months, Scott had supplanted his published scheme of advance. This article investigates evidence relating to Scott’s change of mind. A substantial amount of research has been undertaken and a credible explanation emerges. The First Depot Journey, with its loss of ponies, inadequate animal nutrition (both dogs and ponies) and crevasse incident wrecked Scott’s original scheme of advance. When he commenced detailed planning in April 1911, it became apparent his dogs could not reach the Pole. Scott’s leadership technique for getting his men to understand and support the new transport plan is examined and its influence on current perceptions of the expedition and its men is investigated.

Keywords

Dogs to the South PoleScott’s transport strategyAntarctic sledge dogsScottCaptain Scott’s plans
Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 57 , 2021 , e26
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alp, W. J. (2019). Dogs of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910–13. Polar Record, 55(6), 476–496. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247420000182 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowers, H. R. (1913). Handwritten transcript of six diaries [Possibly made by Caroline Oates] [page numbers restart with each volume]. Wellington, New Zealand: Alexander Turnbull Library Micro-MS-0383.Google Scholar
Bruce, W. M. (1911). Letter to his sister 27 February 1911. Cambridge, England: Scott Polar Research Institute MS 1488/2.Google Scholar
Cherry-Garrard, A. G. B. (1913). Typescript copies of four diaries [withcontinuouspagenumbering]. Wellington, New Zealand: Alexander Turnbull Library Micro-MS-0754.Google Scholar
Cherry-Garrard, A. G. B. (2010). The Worst Journey in the World. London, England: Vintage Books.Google Scholar
Debenham, F. (1992). The Quiet Land: The Diaries of Frank Debenham. Debenham Black, J. (Ed.). Huntingdon, England: Bluntisham Books Google Scholar
Dennistoun, J. R. (1913). Journal. Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury Museum MS90Google Scholar
Evans, E. R. G. R. (1961). South with Scott. London, England: Collins.Google Scholar
Fiennes, R. (2003). Captain Scott. London, England: Hodder & Stoughton.Google Scholar
Gran, J. T. H. (1984). The Norwegian with Scott: Tryggve Gran’s Antarctic Diary 1910–1913. Hattersley-Smith, G. (Ed.). London, England: HMSO.Google Scholar
Griffith Taylor, T. G. (1916). With Scott: The Silver Lining. London, England: Smith, Elder & Co.Google Scholar
Huntford, R. (2002). Scott and Amundsen. London, England: Abacus.Google Scholar
Jones, M. (2003). The Last Great Quest. New York, USA: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Oates, L. E. G. (1911a). Letter to his mother 22 January 1911. Cambridge, England: Scott Polar Research Institute MS 1317/1/1.Google Scholar
Oates, L. E. G. (1911b). Notebook. Cambridge, England: Scott Polar Research Institute MS1317/2.Google Scholar
Oates, L. E. G. (1911c). Letter to his mother 24 October 1911. Cambridge, England: Scott Polar Research Institute MS 1317/1/1.Google Scholar
Scott, R. F. (1909). Antarctic Expedition for 1910. Cambridge, England: Scott Polar Research Institute MS280/28/3.Google Scholar
Scott, R. F. (1910). Plans of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910. The Geographical Journal, 36(1), 11–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, R. F. (1911a). Letter to J.J. Kinsey, 12 January 1911. Wellington, New Zealand: Alexander Turnbull Library, Kinsey Collection, MSPapers0022.Google Scholar
Scott, R. F. (1911b). Letter to J.J. Kinsey, 22 January 1911. Wellington, New Zealand: Alexander Turnbull Library, Kinsey Collection, MSPapers0022.Google Scholar
Scott, R. F. (1911c). Letter to J.J. Kinsey, 31 January 1911. Wellington, New Zealand: Alexander Turnbull Library, Kinsey Collection, MSPapers0022.Google Scholar
Scott, R. F. (1911d). Lecture notes, 8 May 1911. Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury Museum 2010.102.1.Google Scholar
Scott, R. F. (1911e). The Diaries of Captain Robert Scott, Vol. III. [Facsimile of British Museum Add MS 51036, 51037, 51038]. Tylers Green, England: University Microfilms Ltd. (1968).Google Scholar
Scott, R. F. (2006). Robert Falcon Scott Journals. Jones, M. (Ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press Google Scholar
Scott, R. F. (2009). The Voyage of the Discovery. Ware, England: Wordsworth Editions Ltd.Google Scholar
Simpson, G. C. (1912). Journal, 15 June 1910 to 10 April 1912. Cambridge, England: Scott Polar Research Institute MS 1097/49.Google Scholar
Solomon, S. (2001). The Coldest March. New Haven, USA: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Thomson, D. (1977). Scott’s Men. London, England: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Wilson, E. A. (1972). Diary of the Terra Nova Expedition to the Antarctic 1910–1912. King, H. G. R. (Ed.). London, England: Blandford Press.Google Scholar
Wright, C. S. (1993). Silas the Antarctic Diaries and Memoir of Charles S. Wright. Bull, C. & Wright, P. F. (Eds.). Columbus, USA: Ohio State University Press.Google Scholar