This unique piece of history is very special as it contains the autographs of iconic Antarctic explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton, Frank Worsley and Joseph Stenhouse.
Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922), was a junior officer in Scott's National Antarctic Expedition (1901-03) & nearly reached the South Pole in his own expedition of 1909. In 1915 his ship 'Endurance' was crushed in the ice & he and five others made a perilous journey of 1,300km to bring relief for the crew. Knighted in 1909, he died at South Georgia during a fourth expedition.
Frank Arthur Worsley DSO OBE RD (1872-1943) New Zealand sailor and explorer who served on Shackleton's Trans Antarctic Expedition of 1914-16 as Captain of the 'Endurance'. After the 'Endurance' was trapped in ice and wrecked, he and the rest of the expedition sailed three lifeboats to Elephant Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. From here, he along with Shackleton and four others sailed the 22.5 ft lifeboat 'James Caird' some 1,300km across the stormy South Atlantic Ocean eventually arriving at their intended destination South Georgia. His navigation skills were crucial to the safe arrival of the 'James Caird'. Shackleton, Worsley and seaman Tom Crean then hiked and climbed through snow and ice. in a 36 hour march to fetch help from Stromness Whaling Station. He and Shackleton returned to Elephant Island to rescue the remaining members of the expedition all of whom survived.
Joseph Russell Stenhouse DSO, OBE, DSC, RD, RNR (1887-1941), commanded the expedition vessel 'SY Aurora' during the 283 day drift in the ice while on service with the Ross Sea component of Shackleton's Imperial Trans Antarctic Expedition of 1914-17. After Aurora's escape from the ice he brought her safely to New Zealand.
This item is also signed by the previous owner 'Kilby - Bank of Australasia & dated 20.12.34'
