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When Captain Scott decide to take an extra man with him in the party which set off for the last stage of reaching the Pole, the final support party consisted of just three men. Lt Evans, Tom Crean and William. Their return journey was not as straightforward as Captain Scott had imagined and nearly ended in complete disaster when Evans came down with scurvy. It was the selfless and brave support of William and Tom Crean that saved his life and which won them the Albert Medal. The full story can be found in William's field notes which he later wrote up for Apsley Cherry-Garrard to use in his report, published as The Worst Journey in the World. (more...)
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 19th Evans began to have severe problems with his eyes and could no longer lead the group.
On the 22nd 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 18th 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.
The awarding of William's Medal was reported on the front page of the London Gazette for 29th July 1913:
"The KING was pleased, on Saturday, the 26th instant, at Buckingham Palace, to present to Chief Stoker William Lashley, R.N., and Petty Officer (First Class) Thomas Crean, R.N., Albert Medals of the Second Class, which had been conferred upon them by His Majesty in recognition of their gallantry in saving life as detailed below:" (more...)
At the end of a journey of 1,500 miles on foot the final supporting party to the late Captain Scott's expedition towards the South Pole, consisting of Lieutenant Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russeli Evans, R.N. (now Commander Evans, C.B.), Chief Stoker William Lashley, R.N., and Petty Officer (First Class) Thomas Crean, R.N., were 238 miles from the base when Lieutenant Evans was found to be suffering from scurvy. His condition rapidly became worse. When 151 miles from the base he was unable to stand without support on his ski sticks, and after struggling onward on skis in great pain for four days, during which Lashley and Crean dragged their sledge fifty-three miles, he collapsed, and was unable to proceed further.
"At this point Lieutenant Evans requested his two companions to leave him, urging that eighty-three miles lay between the party and the nearest refuge hut, and that unless they left him three lives would be lost instead of one. This, however, they refused to do, and insisted on carrying him forward on the sledge. Favoured by a southerly wind, Lashly and Crean dragged Lieutenant Evans on the sledge for four days, pulling for thirteen hours a day, until, on the evening of February 17, 1912, a point was reached thirty-four miles from a refuge hut, where it was thought possible that assistance might be obtained. During the following twelve hours, however, snow fell incessantly, and in the morning it was found impossible to proceed further with the sledge. As the party now had only sufficient food for three more meals, and both Lashley and Crean were becoming weaker daily, it was decided that they should separate, and that Crean should endeavour to walk to the refuge hut, while Lashly stayed to nurse Lieutenant Evans. After a march of eighteen hours in soft snow Crean made his way to the hut, arriving completely exhausted. Fortunately Surgeon J Edward L. Atkinson, R.N., was at the hut with two dog teams and the dog attendant. His party, on February 20, effected the rescue of Lieutenant Evans and Lashly. But for the gallant conduct throughout of his two companions Lieutenant Evans would have undoubtedly lost his life."
The Albert Medal, awarded to recognize the saving of life, was instituted in memory of Prince Albert. It was later replaced by the George Cross.
The whereabouts of William's medal is unknown. (The one shown is Tom Crean's)
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