Images Dated 16th August 2004

The Theatre on board HMS Alert, British Arctic Expeditio

Engraving showing the theatre on board HMS Alert during the British Arctic Expedition of 1875-1876. Plays were staged aboard the ship to keep up morale during the cold, dark winter months. In the summer of 1875 the British Admiralty sent Captain George Nares with two ships, HMS Alert and HMS Discovery, to make an attempt to reach the North Pole via Smith Sound. Although the attempt was unsuccessful, a new furthest North record was set, the coasts of Greenland and Ellesmere Island were charted and much scientific data gathered

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10217640

The Western Sledge Party of the British Arctic Expedition, 1

Engraving showing Western sledging party setting out from HMS Alert to explore the coast of Ellesmere Island, April 1876. Led by Lieutenant Aldrich this party explored 220 miles of the northern shore of Ellesmere Island. In the summer of 1875 the British Admiralty sent Captain George Nares with two ships, HMS Alert and HMS Discovery, to make an attempt to reach the North Pole via Smith Sound. Although the attempt was unsuccessful, a new furthest North record was set, the coasts of Greenland and Ellesmere Island were charted and much scientific data gathered

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10217618

Ginger the dog attempting to board the ship, British Arctic

Engraving showing the dog Ginger attempting to board one of the ships of the British Arctic Expedition of 1875-1876. Ginger, like all the dogs of the expedition, was not allowed aboard either of the ships and the quartermaster (on left) was there to keep watch and prevent the dogs entering. In the summer of 1875 the British Admiralty sent Captain George Nares with two ships, HMS Alert and HMS Discovery, to make an attempt to reach the North Pole via Smith Sound. Although the attempt was unsuccessful, a new furthest North record was set, the coasts of Greenland and Ellesmere Island were charted and much scientific data gathered

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10217639