The Discovery Expedition
The Last Support Group
When the time came for the final stage of the attempt on the Pole, Captain Scott decided to take an extra man in his chosen group of four. Lieutenant Evans’ support party was therefore reduced to three men – himself, Tom Crean and William Lashly. Scott was optimistic about the returning party reaching base safely, despite the fact that the sledge-hauling team was a man short and Evans was the only trained navigator. It was only at this point that William began keeping detailed notes. In an entry for 3 January 1912 he wroteof how Captain Scott had explained to them that not everyone could continue to the Pole and that his selection of the men to accompany him was no reflection on the abilities or fitness of the three who were returning. Lashly wrote: ‘We wished them every success and a safe return, and asked each one if there was anything we could do for them when we got back…I think we all felt it very much'.
At first, Lieutenant Evans’ party made good progress, although not without some early problems with snow blindness, crevasses and blizzards. On the 17 January they had a remarkable escape from ice ridges and crevasses on the glacier. Even the usually unflappable Lashly wrote: ‘We have to-day experienced what we none of us ever wants to be our lot again’.
On the 19 January Evans began to have severe problems with his eyes and could no longer lead the group.
On the 22 January he started to have symptoms which Lashly immediately recognised as those of scurvy. Evans soon developed diarrhoea and his general physical condition began to deteriorate. Lashly reports in his diary entry for 8 February, ‘I have now to do nearly everything for him’. A few days later they had no choice but to place him on the sledge and pull him along. Progress was inevitably very slow.
‘This morning,’ writes Lashly, ‘he wished us to leave him, but this we could not think of. We will stand by him to the end one way or other.’
On the 18 January Evans was so ill he could travel no further. Lashly and Crean agreed together that Lashly would remain and nurse him as well as he could while Tom set out alone to try to cover the 30 mile journey to Hut Point and get help. If Crean failed, Lashly would starve to death as there was very little food left.
On the evening of 20 February, Lashly and Lieutenant Evans heard the sound of dogs outside their tent. Tom Crean had made it back to base and, despite appalling weather, Dr Atkinson and the dog driver Dimitri had reached them. Lashly gladly handed over his patient to a medical professional, who later commented on the superb care that had kept him alive. Lashly wrote in his diary:
‘It seems to me we are in a new world, a weight is off my mind and I can once more see a bright spot in the sky for us all, the gloom is now removed’.
They returned safely to Hut Point and under the expert care of Dr Atkinson, Evans began his slow recovery. He was invalided out on the Terra Nova when the ship returned to Britain after resupplying the expedition. Back in England, Evans made a full recovery and went on to follow a distinguished career in the Royal Navy. After the survivors of the expedition returned to Britain in 1913 Lashly and Crean were invited to meet the King and to be presented with the Albert Medal for their bravery and dedication in saving Lieutenant Evans’ life.