Lawrence Oates - the Explorer

On November 1, 1911, Captain Lawrence Oates and 15 other members began their 895 mile journey from their Cape Evans base camp to the South Pole. As the journey progressed, members of the expedition began turning around and heading back to base camp in groups. By January 18, Oates along with 4 other men were the only ones that remained.

 

When they reached the South Pole, they had discovered what was left of the Norwegian explorer Ronald Amundsen’s camp. They began their journey back as only the second group of people to make it to the North Pole.

The five men were suffering from scurvy, and their cases of frostbite began getting worse and worse, especially for Oates. He was slowing the group down and he knew it, but the other men refused to leave him behind and give him the cold shoulder. One night, Oates left his tent without his boots and began to walk. When asked where he was going, all he said was ‘I am just going outside and may be sometime’. His body was never found.

Although Oates made the ultimate sacrifice by walking in -40F weather; the remaining four men never made it back to base camp. They died just 11 miles away from their base camp. One of the members of the expedition, Captain Scott kept a journal of the events that occurred throughout their journey. It was recovered with their bodies.