Leaving Lyttelton on January 1, 1908, the Nimrod reached the ice-pack on the 15th, and arrived in the open Ross Sea in lat. 70deg. 43’ S., long. 178deg. 58’ E. The Ross Barrier was sighted on January 23.  The original intention was to follow this, and try to land the shore party in Barrier Inlet, which was practically the beginning of King Edward VII.  Land; but it was found that Barrier Inlet had disappeared, owing to miles of the Barrier having calved away.  In its place was a long, wide bay, which Shackleton named the Bay of Whales.  This discovery determined him not to attempt to winter on the Barrier, but on solid land.  At this part of the voyage the course of the Nimrod coincided very nearly with that of the Fram on her second outward trip.

After an unsuccessful attempt to reach King Edward VII.  Land, Shackleton turned to the west and took up his winter quarters on Ross Island in McMurdo Sound.

The southern party, composed of Shackleton, Adams, Marshall, and Wild, started on October 29, 1908, with four sledges, four ponies, and provisions for ninety-one days.  On November 26 Scott’s farthest south, 82deg. 17’ S. was passed.  By the time lat. 84deg. was reached all the ponies were dead, and the men had to draw the sledges themselves.  They were then faced by the long and difficult ascent of Beardmore Glacier, and it was not until seventeen days later that they came out on the high plateau surrounding the Pole.  At last, on January 9, 1909, they were compelled to return by shortness of provisions, having planted Queen Alexandra’s flag in lat. 88deg. 23’ S., long. 162deg.  E.

Everyone who reads Shackleton’s diary must feel a boundless admiration for these four heroes.  History can scarcely show a clearer proof of what men can accomplish when they exert their full strength of will and body.  These men have raised a monument, not only to themselves and their achievement, but also to the honour of their native land and the whole of civilized humanity.

Shackleton’s exploit is the most brilliant incident in the history of Antarctic exploration.

The distance covered, out and back, was 1,530 geographical miles.  The time occupied was 127 days —­ 73 days out and 54 days back.  The average daily march was about 12 miles.

Meanwhile the other party, composed of Professor David, Mawson, and Mackay, had set off to determine the position of the South Magnetic Pole.  They had neither ponies nor dogs, and had therefore to depend solely on their own powers.  It seems almost incredible, but these men succeeded in working their way on foot over sea-ice and land-ice, cracks and crevasses, hard snow and loose snow, to the Magnetic Pole, and making observations there.  What was better still, they all came back safe and sound.  The total distance covered was 1,260 geographical miles.

It must have been a proud day for the two parties of the expedition when they met again on the deck of the Nimrod, and could tell each other of their experiences.  More than any of their predecessors, these men had succeeded in raising the veil that lay over “Antarctica.”