Edgar Evans

Petty Officer Edgar Evans (1876 - February 17, 1912) was one of Robert Falcon Scott's companions on his ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in 1911-1912.

Related Topics:
1876 - February 17 - 1912 - Robert Falcon Scott - South Pole - 1911

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Evans was born in Wales, the son of a seaman. He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1891, and in 1899 began service on HMS Majestic, where Scott was serving as a torpedo lieutenant. Evans then

Related Topics:
Wales - 1891 - 1899 - HMS ''Majestic''

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joined Scott's first Antarctic expedition in Discovery in 1901-1904. Along with William Lashly, he accompanied Scott on his "Furthest West" sledge journey to the interior of Victoria Land in 1903.

Related Topics:
Antarctic - ''Discovery'' - 1901 - 1904 - William Lashly - Victoria Land - 1903

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Scott's biographer Roland Huntford described Evans as "a huge, bull-necked beefy figure" and a "beery womanizer" who was "running a bit to fat" by the time of Scott's second expedition in Terra Nova. Evans was nearly left behind in New Zealand when he drunkenly fell into the water while boarding the ship. However, Evans was a favorite of Scott, who decided to overlook the incident.

Related Topics:
Roland Huntford - ''Terra Nova'' - New Zealand

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Scott chose Evans as a member of his polar party, together with Lieutenant Henry Robinson Bowers, Lawrence Oates, and Dr. Edward Adrian Wilson. They reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912, but their return journey became a desperate affair. Evans had cut his hand in an accident as they were nearing the pole, and due to the effects of scurvy the wound did not heal properly. All of the party were suffering from cold and lack of food, but as the largest of the men Evans was afflicted more acutely. He began to deteriorate mentally as well as physically, and may have suffered a head injury in a fall into a crevasse on February 4 which caused his condition to worsen rapidly. By this time he was also suffering badly from frostbite in his fingers and nose.

Related Topics:
Henry Robinson Bowers - Lawrence Oates - Edward Adrian Wilson - South Pole - January 17 - 1912 - Scurvy - Crevasse - Frostbite

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On February 16, nearing the base of the Beardmore Glacier, Evans collapsed. The next morning, unable to keep up, he was left behind while the others went ahead man-hauling the sledge towards the next supply depot; they had to make a return journey to fetch him on the empty sledge. He died in the tent that night. It was not recorded what was done with his body, and none of the other members of the polar party survived the return journey.

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Edgar Evans is not to be confused with Lieutenant E.R.G.R. "Teddy" Evans, Scott's second-in-command on the Terra Nova expedition.

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