The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917 is considered to be the last major expedition of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Conceived by Sir Ernest Shackleton, the expedition was an
Endurance under sail, Antarctic Ocean, c. 1915 Paget colour photograph by Frank Hurley
Corporate sponsorship for the expedition; Aurora is loaded with paraffin provided by Shell.
Ernest Shackleton, leader of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
Crew members working to free the ship from the ice
Voyage of the James Caird
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The voyage of the James Caird was a journey of 1,300 kilometres from Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands through the Southern Ocean to South Georgia, undertaken by Sir Ernest Shackleton and
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
…the inhospitable, uninhabited Elephant Island. Shackleton and five other members of the group then made an 800-mile (1,300 km) open-boat journey in the James Caird, and were able to reach South Georgia. From there, Shackleton was eventually able to arrange a rescue of the men who had remained on Elephant Island…
Launching the James Caird from the shore of Elephant Island, 24 April 1916
Endurance, listing at a steep angle, shortly before being crushed by the ice, October 1915; photograph by Frank Hurley
Shackleton's party arriving at Elephant Island, April 1916, after the loss of Endurance
Elephant Island party waving goodbye to sailors on the James Caird, 24 April 1916