The Diary Of Thomas Orde-Lees
The Beginning....
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Thomas Orde-Lees.
'Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of compete darkness. Constant danger. Honour and regcognition in case of success.'
- Ernest Shackleton
Reading this newspaper I saw this I immediatly knew I had to go, there was no other choice I would get on my knees and beg if I had to. Adreniline coursed through my veins, I knew what I had to do: Pack, Drive and Go on the journey.
"Thomas Orde-Lees" Shackleton shouted from his office. Shaking with excitement I walked into Shackletons office. "Shackleton" I said formally shaking his hand firmly. " Take a seat and we can get this interview underway" Shackleton grunted. I sat exammining the room. Although a large bookshelf covered one wall, books were in piles on the ground. All of the books were heavy and acient looking, small journals were crammed in every nook and cranny. The walls were covered in hand drawn maps of Antarctica, and photos of unrecognisable men were pinned on the wall. "Okay then let's begin. What prompted you to come on this journey?" asked Shackleton. "Well..." I paused thinking the question over. "Well I guess.... I don't really know, but as soon as I read your message I felt it was directed at me. So naturally I had to come." I replied confidently. "Your the first man I've met who has the taste of adventure leading him" Shackleton's eyes lighting up obvious joy plastered his face."You're coming with me. Welcome to the crew." he said after a short pause."Thank you sir." I replied formally."Come meet the crew." Shackleton said abruptly. He lead me down a well light narrow hall framed paintings hung every 30cm, finally he turned to the left where a closed door greeted him. Inside the room 26 other men stood and sat waiting, anticipation crossed surprised faces.
- Ernest Shackleton
Reading this newspaper I saw this I immediatly knew I had to go, there was no other choice I would get on my knees and beg if I had to. Adreniline coursed through my veins, I knew what I had to do: Pack, Drive and Go on the journey.
"Thomas Orde-Lees" Shackleton shouted from his office. Shaking with excitement I walked into Shackletons office. "Shackleton" I said formally shaking his hand firmly. " Take a seat and we can get this interview underway" Shackleton grunted. I sat exammining the room. Although a large bookshelf covered one wall, books were in piles on the ground. All of the books were heavy and acient looking, small journals were crammed in every nook and cranny. The walls were covered in hand drawn maps of Antarctica, and photos of unrecognisable men were pinned on the wall. "Okay then let's begin. What prompted you to come on this journey?" asked Shackleton. "Well..." I paused thinking the question over. "Well I guess.... I don't really know, but as soon as I read your message I felt it was directed at me. So naturally I had to come." I replied confidently. "Your the first man I've met who has the taste of adventure leading him" Shackleton's eyes lighting up obvious joy plastered his face."You're coming with me. Welcome to the crew." he said after a short pause."Thank you sir." I replied formally."Come meet the crew." Shackleton said abruptly. He lead me down a well light narrow hall framed paintings hung every 30cm, finally he turned to the left where a closed door greeted him. Inside the room 26 other men stood and sat waiting, anticipation crossed surprised faces.
Meet the Crew
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Shackleton left to finish his interviews, I went and started a friendly conversation with the three friendliest looking men. "Thomas Orde-Lees" I said formally shaking the first man's hand. "Frank Wild" he replied mimicking my formality. Repeating the process I found that their names were: Frank Worsely and Lionel Greenstreet. They pointed out and introduced the rest of the crew, there was: Tom Crean, Alfred Cheetam, Frank Hurley, George Marston, Robert Clark, Leonard Hussey, Reginald James, James Wordie, Alexander Macklin, James Mcllroy, Huberht Hudson, Charles Green, Perce Blackburrow, Henry McNeish, John Vincent, Alfred Kerr, Louis Rickinson, Ernest Holness, William How, Timothy McCarthy, Thomas McLeod and Daniel Gooch. Gooch corrected us by saying 'a simple sir Gooch would be acquit'.
Who's in Charge
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Shackleton the leader of the journey
Shackleton stormed the air and confidence of a leader, immediately he began speaking. "Worsely is your captain. Wild is second in charge as he has been to Antarctica before." Wild nodded appreciatively. Shackleton smiled and carried on "Greenstreet, Crean and Cheetam are your officers" Although all this was said in a gruff way, excitement edged his tone. "Hurley our photographer, Marston is artist" Shackleton smirked amusement plastered his face. "Clark is a biologist. Hussey is a....." Shackleton faltered looking at Hussey. Smirking Hussey filled in "Meteorologist." Loud laughter filled the room. Shackleton chuckled heartily, then he ploughed on "James is a physicist, ask him if you want to know what that is. Wordie is a..... geologist." Shackleton said after a moment of thought. "Macklin and Mcllroy are surgeons. Hudson is our navigator so he will spend most of his time with Worsely. Orde-Lees is....... um what are you?" The question was directed at me, all eyes were on me. "Well I have had a lot of experience with skis so if we have to leave the boat I would be able to navigate across the ice" I answered, all heads nodded as if they were impressed. "Well done. Shackleton will be impressed"Wild whispered to me, grinning "I hope so" I replied. "OK then. Green is our cook, Blackburrow is our steward. McNeish or chippy as I call him is a carpenter. Vincent is a boatswain. Kerr and Rickinson are the engineers. How, McCarthy, and McLeod are seamen so the will help any of you who aren't confident on the ship or until you get your sea-legs." Shackleton took a deep breath before continuing.
"Holness and Stephenson will stoke the coal, and Gooch will be" "Sir Gooch" Gooch interrupted, "As I was saying...." Shackleton eyed Gooch his anger was obvious."Gooch will be" "Please address me by Sir Gooch" He interrupted again. "What gives you the right to question me Gooch?" Shackleton shouted every man shivered the hairs on the backs of our necks raising. "I merely thought that I should be addressed by my title I have personally informed the men of this." Gooch replied bravely. "You merely thought that we would all address you as Sir Gooch? Those words feel bitter on my tongue I to am a Sir, but do you see me insisting to be called Sir? No you don't. Sir is a man who has earned the respect of others. Let me ask the crew a question. Say aye if you respect Sir Gooch?"The last sentence was said with bitter disgust. The room stayed silent except from one pitiful aye from Gooch himself. "None shall address him as Sir then. Now where was I?" He seemed to be serious. "You where telling us his part in the mission" Wild said gesturing to Gooch. "Thank you Wild." Shackleton replied seeming slightly happier now. "Shackleton is a good man. I hope you understand his anger at Gooch" Wild whispered to me. "Of course. I wasn't sure if his last question was serious or not." I whispered back. Clearing his throat Shackleton continued " As I was saying before Gooch had to put in his two cents worth. Gooch will be in charge of the sled dogs, that involves feeding them, they can be rather vicious when they're hungry." Shackleton said smugly we all cheered and laughed Gooch was as red as a tomato.
"Holness and Stephenson will stoke the coal, and Gooch will be" "Sir Gooch" Gooch interrupted, "As I was saying...." Shackleton eyed Gooch his anger was obvious."Gooch will be" "Please address me by Sir Gooch" He interrupted again. "What gives you the right to question me Gooch?" Shackleton shouted every man shivered the hairs on the backs of our necks raising. "I merely thought that I should be addressed by my title I have personally informed the men of this." Gooch replied bravely. "You merely thought that we would all address you as Sir Gooch? Those words feel bitter on my tongue I to am a Sir, but do you see me insisting to be called Sir? No you don't. Sir is a man who has earned the respect of others. Let me ask the crew a question. Say aye if you respect Sir Gooch?"The last sentence was said with bitter disgust. The room stayed silent except from one pitiful aye from Gooch himself. "None shall address him as Sir then. Now where was I?" He seemed to be serious. "You where telling us his part in the mission" Wild said gesturing to Gooch. "Thank you Wild." Shackleton replied seeming slightly happier now. "Shackleton is a good man. I hope you understand his anger at Gooch" Wild whispered to me. "Of course. I wasn't sure if his last question was serious or not." I whispered back. Clearing his throat Shackleton continued " As I was saying before Gooch had to put in his two cents worth. Gooch will be in charge of the sled dogs, that involves feeding them, they can be rather vicious when they're hungry." Shackleton said smugly we all cheered and laughed Gooch was as red as a tomato.
What to wear......
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Gear was handed out. A large bundles filled our arms. Mine was heavy, next large bags were placed at our feet. " Three hours" Shackleton said leaving the room with the same equipment
we had recently obtained. I picked up my bag with great difficulty, leaving to find an empty room to pack in peace. "I had a feeling that you would understand my command. Wild is staying to help those who's minds are slower, if you get what I mean." Shackleton whispered making me jump. " Do you always lurk around corners like that?" trying to shake off my surprise. "Of course not I wanted to see who understood my command"
"Naturally. I was going to find an empty room so I could pack in pace away from prying eyes"
"Follow me" I followed with a blind obedience. He lead me down a dark hallway, keys jingled as he walked. I hadn't noticed them until no. Gesturing towards a door on the left Shackleton spoke "There's an empty room. I hope you can find your way back" his eyes twinkled in the dark hallway. "Thank you Sir" I replied secretly wondering if he intended to lock me in. But he walked back down the hallway keys jingling as he disappeared from sight like a ghost. I turned the knob and stepped into the room.
I gladly let the bundle fall to the fall and I closed the door soundlessly behind me. Carefully I unravelled the tight bundle of clothing.The bundle included numerous items. There was: a Burberry cloth top coat, Finnesko boots which were made out of reindeer hair, 7-10 pairs of the thickest woolliest socks I had ever seen they were roughly as thick as my index finger, a muffler, a fleecy travelling cap, woollen mittens, fur mittens, a Burberry gaberdine, a winter suit which consisted of: A double-breasted jacket, vest and trousers made from heavy pilot cloth, it was lined with Jaeger fleece. After all of those items were securely packed into the bag we had been given. I found there were still items on the ground I safely packed those away too. There was: a repair kit containing spare pieces of Burberry cloth. Hidden under the kit was one pair of snow goggles, they had green and red lenses so everything was tinted in yellow if you look through them. With those things safely packed there was one last thing a leather bound book, carefully opening the book, a blue ballpoint pen rolled out. With further inspection I found the book empty and I began writing, after I had recorded my version of events I stowed the book away and zipped up the bag and set off to find my way out.
we had recently obtained. I picked up my bag with great difficulty, leaving to find an empty room to pack in peace. "I had a feeling that you would understand my command. Wild is staying to help those who's minds are slower, if you get what I mean." Shackleton whispered making me jump. " Do you always lurk around corners like that?" trying to shake off my surprise. "Of course not I wanted to see who understood my command"
"Naturally. I was going to find an empty room so I could pack in pace away from prying eyes"
"Follow me" I followed with a blind obedience. He lead me down a dark hallway, keys jingled as he walked. I hadn't noticed them until no. Gesturing towards a door on the left Shackleton spoke "There's an empty room. I hope you can find your way back" his eyes twinkled in the dark hallway. "Thank you Sir" I replied secretly wondering if he intended to lock me in. But he walked back down the hallway keys jingling as he disappeared from sight like a ghost. I turned the knob and stepped into the room.
I gladly let the bundle fall to the fall and I closed the door soundlessly behind me. Carefully I unravelled the tight bundle of clothing.The bundle included numerous items. There was: a Burberry cloth top coat, Finnesko boots which were made out of reindeer hair, 7-10 pairs of the thickest woolliest socks I had ever seen they were roughly as thick as my index finger, a muffler, a fleecy travelling cap, woollen mittens, fur mittens, a Burberry gaberdine, a winter suit which consisted of: A double-breasted jacket, vest and trousers made from heavy pilot cloth, it was lined with Jaeger fleece. After all of those items were securely packed into the bag we had been given. I found there were still items on the ground I safely packed those away too. There was: a repair kit containing spare pieces of Burberry cloth. Hidden under the kit was one pair of snow goggles, they had green and red lenses so everything was tinted in yellow if you look through them. With those things safely packed there was one last thing a leather bound book, carefully opening the book, a blue ballpoint pen rolled out. With further inspection I found the book empty and I began writing, after I had recorded my version of events I stowed the book away and zipped up the bag and set off to find my way out.