With Scott Before The Mast. Francis H. Davies
one occasion they went shopping somewhere in Petticoat Lane and York Road. Taff wanted a ‘civvy’ suit and naturally did not want to pay too much for it, more clothes meant less beer. He spotted a suit on one of the barrows and thought it just what he was looking for. He tried the coat on as the barrow man, gathering a fathom in his hand at the back, told him it fitted him like ‘ de paper on de vall.’ The salesman wrapped it in paper and off they sailed, very pleased with themselves. It was rather late that night when they reached their digs, even so, Taff wanted to admire his new suit. When he opened the parcel all he found were two potato sacks. Either the barrow man, or somebody had rung the changes on him in one of the many pubs they had visited.
My most important job before the ship sailed was to see that the huts to be erected in the Antarctic as Winter Quarters for the shore parties were complete in every detail. Huts they styled, but they were more like Parish halls. The larger of the two for the Southern party was fifty by twenty five feet and the other for the Eastern party twenty five by twenty five feet. They were not made in sections as this would take up too much storage in the ship but the frames were mortised and tenoned as far as possible for easy erection. The framework was being made and erected, temporarily, on some waste ground at Poplar. This I could see was all in order, but the timber for cladding the huts was being supplied from the sawmills direct to the ship and this was not so satisfactory. I had asked the firm’s representative, a rather garrulous old gentleman on several occasions to let me have a copy of the orders so that I could check on it, but he always put me off with the assurance that there was plenty, and to spare of boarding, and invariably added that he had erected this class of building in every country in Europe.
I did not intend, however, to take any chances and eventually went to the sawmills myself and got a copy of the order. On checking it I found it was being supplied in squares (100 superficial feet) irrespective of the precise length of boards required. This meant a loss of at least 10% in cutting, just waste. I spoke first to the foreman on the job about the shortage and I could see he more or less agreed, but I suppose it was more than his job was worth to tell me so. Then I tackled the representative when next he came on the job. He still tried the old assurance subterfuge but this time it wasn’t going to work, and as I could not persuade him to do anything about it and the ship was due to sail in a few days, I reported the matter to Captain Scott.
The following day I received a wire from Captain Scott to appear at the office. There I found the garrulous old gentleman and his foreman. Captain Scott went into the matter very carefully and at first told me he was quite satisfied there was sufficient boarding. I again pointed out the amount of waste in cutting, due to the boards not being supplied in proper lengths and said I could not take any responsibility for erecting the huts unless I had the material I required. Captain Scott then saw what I was driving at and told the old gentleman that unless he was able to satisfy me there was sufficient material, before the ship sailed, the firm would not get a penny piece for the job.
I got what was necessary and apologies from the old chap, who admitted he had made a mistake not a serious one where a few hundred feet was easily obtainable, but rather so, in the Antarctic. He came down to see me before we sailed and tried to slip me half a sovereign, but I told him I wasn’t that sort of chap. He then promised to send me a box of cigars for Christmas perhaps he did, anyhow I never received them. During a conversation towards the end of the expedition, Lieutenant Pennell said to me, ‘You have done some fine jobs from time to time, Davies, which do you consider your best?’ I replied, ‘getting the huts away complete from London.’
Up to within a day or two of the ship sailing I felt the whole show as far as I was concerned might come unstuck, and this caused me great anxiety for up to that time I had not been medically examined by the expedition doctors and I really did not fancy my chances. However, my fears were groundless, I managed to get by all right.
Before we departed some members of a learned society calipered our heads and took the colour of our eyes and skin, presumably to note if these were affected in any way by the intense cold. They were elderly people and as we did not see them when we returned I suppose they had passed on to where these matters are of little concern.
All the stores were collected in a warehouse close to where the ship lay, and were sorted out for loading in their proper order. These had in many cases been supplied by the firms who manufactured them, free of charge, and were packed in light three ply Venesta cases, each about fifty pounds in weight for easy handling, the contents being stencilled on the outside with a distinctive band either red, green or black to indicate whether the case was for the Southern Party, Eastern Party or ship’s party.
We were all working like beavers to get the ship ready by the appointed date, but it was not all work and no play, our evenings were generally free and we made the best of them seeing the sights of London.
Being sailors it is hardly necessary to mention that the famous taverns came in for more than a fair share of attention. Beer was beer in those days, unlike the present “near water” infliction of today, and at a price that even the common folk could afford.
In this atmosphere the crew got to know each other and happy memories of those hilarious evenings were often recalled during the hard years that followed.
At last sailing day, 1 June1910, hove round. Captain Scott had been elected a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron and the hoisting of the white Ensign for the first time was made the occasion of a little ceremony on the poop, Lady Bridgeman, wife of Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman, a Lord of the Admiralty, breaking the flag at the peak.
Copy of list of materials for construction of huts. Davies argued with suppliers and was adamant about ensuring sufficient quantities were acquired
Many of the stores were still on deck, there had been such a rush in the last hour or two to get everything on board. On the day of departure there was a very big crowd to bid the farewell and God speed, also much cheering. As the ship cast off from the jetty the crowd struck up ‘All The Nice Girls Love A Sailor’. The girls from ‘The North Pole’ were there too, right in front shedding tears as large as gooseberries. Many of the ships in port were dressed over all (flying strings of flags) and blew their sirens as we passed down the river.
Our first port of call was Portsmouth to pick up some special Navigational instruments which were being loaned by the Admiralty. Leaving Portsmouth, on our way down Channel en route for Cardiff, we steamed into Portland harbour and through the fleet which was assembling for a review at Spithead in honour of a visit from the King of Spain. It was a grand sight, Britain’s sure shield, the Royal Navy. As we passed through the lines of ships their crews cheered us on our way, it was a wonderful send off.
At Cardiff we loaded thirty tons of coal briquettes, fuel for the shore parties, and about four hundred tons of coal, gifts from the shipowners of Cardiff. We were entertained right royally at Cardiff. I remember one rather amusing incident which happened at a reception given in honour of Captain Scott by the Lord Mayor at the City Hall, to which the ship’s company was invited. As one of the seamen, accompanied by a lady friend was ascending the marble stairs behind a lady wearing a train, he accidentally stepped on it.
The lady turned round and in very dignified and haughty manner, fixed him with her lorgnette. He was so caught aback he almost forgot to apologise.
Cardiff also did the expedition proud in the matter of funds. One night at a dinner given by the shipowners to which we were all invited, Mr. Dan Radcliff, the shipowner, gave a fairly large sum and ragged his brother, Henry, to follow suit.
Things got rather hectic towards the end of the evening, most of us were well oiled when Mr. Dan, in a burst of exuberance got on the table and walked from end to end. Dodging the bottles just to show us he was still able, I suppose. We were also entertained at the Stock Exchange to lunch and the hospitality of its members wanted some standing up to.
Captain Scott, to show his appreciation of the exceptionally practical help and interest in the expedition