Shackleton by Smith Michael

Author:Smith, Michael [Smith, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Published: 2017-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

Shackleton at his old school, Dulwich College, July 1909. Shackleton was an undistinguished scholar but made a triumphant visit for a prize-giving ceremony after returning from the Nimrod expedition. COURTESY: GOVERNORS OF DULWICH COLLEGE

A more meaningful event occurred on 27 July at the Robert Browning Settlement in the slums of Walworth. The Settlement Hall, established on the site where Browning was baptised, was run by Herbert Stead, a noble Edwardian champion of the poor whose tireless campaigning was largely responsible for introducing the old-age pension to Britain’s elderly. By coincidence, the first pensions were paid on 1 January 1909, the day Shackleton stood nearer to either geographical pole than anyone before.

Both Shackleton and Stead were familiar with the theme of struggle, albeit from different standpoints. But the occasion had a special meaning for Shackleton. Although he was no radical, Shackleton acknowledged the assembled working men as brothers and gratefully accepted the Settlement’s badge as a token of mutual respect. Inscribed on the badge were the words from ‘Prospice’ which Shackleton had summoned from his memory during the march south: ‘Sudden the worst turns the best to the brave.’

The most notable invitation came on 12 July when Shackleton and Emily went to Buckingham Palace at the personal invitation of King Edward and Queen Alexandra. Shackleton was rewarded by being installed as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, an honour in the personal gift of the monarch which he had previously given to Scott. A knighthood was next. Whatever was being whispered elsewhere, royal patronage placed him beyond reproach.

Shackleton’s fame paid immediate dividends as he was quickly drawn closer to society’s inner circle. Less than three months after visiting Buckingham Palace, Shackleton went alone to Balmoral Castle in Scotland to spend a private weekend with Edward and Alexandra and a small coterie of hand-picked guests.

Shackleton dined in style close to the King’s elbow and moved freely among the assembled gathering of aristocrats, statesmen and dignitaries. Among the guests was Sir Allen Young, an 89-year-old survivor of the Fox expedition which, half a century before, had discovered the fate of Sir John Franklin in the Arctic.

Shackleton delivered his lecture, showed his captivating lantern slides and kept the audience enthralled until 11.30 p.m. Soon afterwards, he was given membership of the exclusive Marlborough Club in London, founded by the hedonistic King as a bolthole for his elite circle of friends. Membership was strictly limited to just 450 people. Shackleton had joined society’s upper table in much the same time as it took to cross the Barrier.

In October, shortly after visiting Balmoral, Shackleton went to Scandinavia to give a series of lectures. Places like Christiania, Copenhagen and Stockholm were the capital cities of polar exploration and the Scandinavians, more than anyone, understood the enormity of Shackleton’s feats.

Nansen and Amundsen were among the enthusiastic audience in Christiania (renamed Oslo in 1925) who came to pay their respects in boisterous Scandinavian style. Local students, led by Amundsen, conducted Shackleton in a torchlit procession from his hotel to the lecture theatre and afterwards carried him through the streets on their shoulders.

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