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Francis Davies (1885-1952) was a sailor who had a remarkable career participating
in many expeditions to the Antarctic regions during what can only be described as
‘The Heroic Age of Polar Exploration. Francis Davies began his apprenticeship
in the Royal Navy in 1900 at the Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport and no doubt took
with him his silver cigarette case engraved with his initials ‘FD’(MA19/9)
Francis Davies silver cigarette case and vesta case taken
on the Terra Nova and Discovery II Expeditions
Francis Davies travelled to China and Japan during
the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1906, joined Captain Scott aboard RYS Terra Nova during
The British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913 and saw service with the Grand Fleet and
Operations in the White Sea, Archangel and Baltic 1914-1918. During 1927-1934
he was part of the Discovery II Expeditions aboard RRS Discovery II and RRS William
Scoresby undertaking scientific research of the whaling industry in the Antarctic
and the Circumnavigation of the Antarctic during the winter of 1933. The RRS
Discovery II and RRS William Scorseby also undertook planktonic and hydrographical
surveys off the coast of Argentina, Chile, Peru and South Africa for the Colonial
Office on behalf of the Falkland Islands. Francis Davies also served during World
War II in many theatres including the evacuation of Norway in 1940 and in the post
–war period took passage as ship’s mate on a trawler to Cape Town in 1947. Throughout
that time Francis Davies carried his silver cigarette case made in Birmingham in 1900. A
small piece of the Francis Davies Polar Archive it is possibly the most travelled
Antarctic cigarette case there is.
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Brian Goodison-Blanks's Blog
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Mon, 05 Aug 2019 15:41:26 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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