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As a young boy Francis Edward ‘Frank’ Davies (1885-1952) was inspired
after reading ‘Farthest North‘ an account of Fridtjof Nansen’s Polar
Exploration aboard the ‘Fram’, to one day travel the world on an adventure
and explore unknown regions. On the 4th July Francis Davies reported
to the Royal Naval barracks Devonport and signed on as a shipwright for twelve years,
beginning his own lifetime of adventure and exploration. In 1910 Francis
Davies was selected as the ships carpenter aboard the Terra-Nova for Captain Scott’s
British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913, where he proved himself invaluable by keeping
the aged ship afloat, even spending nights asleep beside the Terra Nova’s ever
troublesome main pump. Francis Davies was instrumental in the preparations and
construction of the expedition’s winter quarters of ‘Scott’s Hut’
at Cape Evans on Ross Island, Antarctica and after hearing the news of the loss of
Scott and his party on the return journey from the South Pole, Francis Davies constructed
the Terra Nova memorial cross erected on Observation hill. Both structures still
stand today and are designated Antarctic Historic Monuments.
RRS Discovery II leaving London, December 1929
The friendships established on the Terra Nova Expedition were to last throughout Francis
Davies lifetime, through both World Wars and further participation in Polar Expeditions
aboard RRS Discovery II and RRS William Scoresby in the late 1920s. A
selection of Francis Davies Polar archive from his later expeditions along with a
collection of correspondence are to be included in Bearnes Hampton & Littlewoods
Maritime Auction of the 14th August 2019.
RRS William Scoresby with plane aboard for the Second Wilkins-Hearst
Polar Expedition
Among Francis Davies Polar Archive is a photograph album of the Second Wilkins-Hearst
Polar Expedition of 1929-1930 with some wonderful images of both the RRS Discovery
II and RRS William Scoresby. Also included in this Polar archive are a number of images
of the planes used during the Wilkins-Hearst Expedition and the conditions that he
men faced in Antarctica.
RRS William Scoresby with float plane in Antarctica 1929-1930
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Brian Goodison-Blanks's Blog
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Thu, 11 Jul 2019 15:18:11 GMT.
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 | Brian Goodison-Blanks BA(Hons)
Brian Goodison-Blanks is the Head of the Maritime and Sporting Department at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood. Originally from London, Brian Goodison-Blanks was educated in the South East and Hampshire obtaining an Honours degree in Archaeology, American Studies and Japanese culture from King Alfred’s College, Winchester. Following a short spell working for Canterbury and Colchester Archaeological Trusts as well as The Ambel Project in Aragon, Northern Spain, he joined a well-respected local auction house in 1995 as a trainee general valuer, rising to Auction Room Manager. In 2004 Brian joined Hampton & Littlewood with special responsibility for re-introducing the specialist Maritime Sale to the South West after a 15 Year absence. Brian’s interest in country sports has also led him to introduce the annual Sporting sale.
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