Category Archives: Polar Exploration

St Paul's Church, Whitechapel, London, England

Memorial at St Paul’s Church, Whitechapel, London commemorating Rear-Admiral William Edward Parry d. 1855

Location

St Paul's Church, Whitechapel, London, England

Details

Position: Aisle wall
Materials: Tiles

People

Parry, William Edward
Age:
Date of Death: 8/7/1855
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Rear Admiral
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: One of founders of church, and a polar explorer.
Recorder: R. P Dulling

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Beechey Island, Nunavut, Canada, Rest of the World

Memorial at Beechey Island, Nunavut, Canada commemorating John Hartnell, RN, d. 1846

Location

Beechey Island, Nunavut, Canada, Rest of the World

Transcript

‘Sacred / to the memory of / John Hartnell, A.B. of HMS EREBUS / Died January 4th 1846 / Aged 25 Years. / Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts / Consider your Ways. / Haggai C.I.V 7'

Details

Type: Headboard
Materials: Wood
Vessel: HMS Erebus

People

Hartnell, John
Age: 25
Date of Death: 4/1/1846
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Able Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Able seaman HMS 'Erebus', Arctic exploration, died on Franklin's last expedition 1845. John Hartnell was buried alongside John Torrington, 1846; William Braine, 1846 and Thomas Morgan, 1854. The current headboards are replicas. The originals are now at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, NWT, 1993.

Bibliography: Peter C. Sutherland 'Journal of a voyage in Baffin's Bay and Barrow Straits, in the years 1850-1851...' (London, 1852) p. 305.

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Cenotaph, Beechey Island, Nunavut, Canada, Rest of the World

Cenotaph, Beechey Island, Nunavut, Canada commemorating Thomas Mobley, RM, d. 1852 George Drover, RN, d. 1852

Location

Cenotaph, Beechey Island, Nunavut, Canada, Rest of the World

Transcript

‘Sacred / TO THE MEMORY OF / THOMAS MOBLEY / PRIVATE ROYAL MARINE / WHO DIED SUDDENLY ON BOARD / H.M.S. RESOLUTE, AT DEALY ISLAND, / OCTOBER 19TH, 1852, AGED 40 YEARS; / ALSO / TO THE MEMORY OF / GEORGE DROVER / CAPTAIN OF THE FORECASTLE / WHO DIED ON BOARD / H.M.S. TENDER INTREPID / AT DEALY ISLAND / DECEMBER 12TH, 1852, / AGED 28 YEARS'

Details

Description: Lead plate fixed to an actagonal wooden memorial surmounted by a ball.
Type: Memorial
Materials: Wood, lead
Vessel: HMS Intrepid, Resolute

People

Drover, George
Age: 28
Date of Death: 12/12/1852
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Captain of the Forecastle
Organisation: Royal Navy
Mobley, Thomas
Age: 40
Date of Death: 19/10/1852
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Transcript in account of Belcher expedition 1852-4. 'Inscriptions on the Cenotaph in Beechey Island.'
Bibliography: Sir Edward Belcher 'The Last of the Arctic Voyages: being an narrative of the expedition in HMS Assistance under the command of Sir Edward Belcher, CB, in search of Sir John Franklin, during the years 1852-53-54' (London, 1855). 'Further papers relative to the recent Arctic expedition in search of Sir John Franklin and the crews of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror' (HMSO, 1855) p. 63.

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Cenotaph, Beechey Island, Nanuvut, Canada, Rest of the World

Cenotaph, Beechey Island, Nanuvut, Canada commemorating Captain Isaac Barnett, RN and George Harris, RN, d. 1854

Location

Cenotaph, Beechey Island, Nanuvut, Canada, Rest of the World

Transcript

‘Sacred / TO THE MEMORY OF / ISAAC BARNETT / CAPTAIN OF THE MAIN TOP / AND / GEORGE HARRIS, A.B., SEAMAN, / OF H.M.S. ASSISTANCE / THE LATTER ATTACHED TO H.M.S. / TENDER PIONEER / ISAAC BARNETT / DEPARTED THIS LIFE / ON 28TH JANUARY 1854 / AGED 28 YEARS / GEORGE HARRIS / DEPARTED THIS LIFE / ON THE 9TH JANUARY, 1854 / AGED 30 1/4 YEARS / Both fell victim to scurvy, although / the former laboured primarily under / scorbutic affection [sic] of the ankle / Their remains lie interred on shore at / Disaster Bay, where H.M.S. Assistance / and tender wintered, 1853-54 / Blessed are those who die in the Lord'

Details

Description: Lead plate fixed to octagonal wooden memorial surmounted by a ball.
Type: Memorial
Materials: Wood, lead
Vessel: HMS Assistance

People

Barnett, Isaac
Age: 28
Date of Death: 28/1/1854
Cause of Death: Scurvy
Rank / Occupation: Captain of the Main top
Organisation: Royal Navy
Harris, George
Age: 30
Date of Death: 9/1/1854
Cause of Death: Scurvy
Rank / Occupation: Able Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Bibliography: Sir Edward Belcher 'The Last of the Arctic Voyages: being an narrative of the expedition in HMS Assistance under the command of Sir Edward Belcher, CB, in search of Sir John Franklin, during the years 1852-53-54' (London, 1855). 'Further papers relative to the recent Arctic expedition in search of Sir John Franklin and the crews of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror' (HMSO, 1855) p. 63.

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Waterloo Place, London, England

Statue in Waterloo Place, London commemorating Sir John Franklin d. 1847

Location

Waterloo Place, London, England

Transcript

'FRANKLIN / TO THE GREAT ARCTIC NAVIGATOR / AND HIS BRAVE COMPANIONS / WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN COMPLETING / THE DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE / A.D.1847-8. / ERECTED BY THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF PARLIAMENT'

Details

Description: Full-length statue of Franklin depicted at the moment of hearing of the discovery of the N W passage. On the front of the plinth, a relief of Franklin's burial service, with expedition members in furs and the coffin on a sledge. The names of the crews of 'Erebus' and 'Terror' are listed on the sides of the plinth, a relief map of the Arctic Archipelago is on the back.
Type: Statue
Materials: Bronze (statue), granite (plinth)
Date Erected: 1866
Artists: Matthew Noble

People

Franklin, John
Age: 61
Date of Death: 11/6/1847
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Rear Admiral
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Bibliography: Arthur Byron 'London Statues: a guide to London's outdoor statues and sculpture' (London, 1981) pp.115-6.
Recorder: B. Tomlinson
Photographer: ©RMG E9052-1

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St James's Church, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England

Wall plaque in Splisby, Lincolnshire, dedicated to Eleanor Anne Porden d. 1825

Location

St James's Church, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England

Transcript

'Eleanor Anne Porden, first wife of Sir John Franklin a Poetess endeared to many by her gentle virtues and for her gifts of intellect enrolled a member of the Institute of France, who smitten by mortal illness yet speeded her husband on his Second Arctic Expedition, and surviving his departure only six days Died 1825 aged 29 years and was buried at St John's Wood and of their only child Eleanor Isabella wife of John Philip Gell of the County of Derby sometime warden of Christ's College Tasmania Vicar of Notting Hill and Rector of Huxted who died 1860 aged 36 and was buried at Tredunnoc Monmouthshire leaving seven children and of John Franklin Gell MA the eldest son of the above who died at Madras 1884 aged 33. This tablet is dedicated in commemoration of Sir John Franklin's death in the Arctic Sea by his surviving grandson, Philip Lyttelton Gell June 11th 1897'

Details

Type: Wall plaque
Position: Nave
Materials: Brass

People

Franklin, Eleanor Anne
Age:
Date of Death: 1825
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation:

Extra

Recorder: Reverend William Henry Donnan

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Emmanuel Church, Exeter, Devon, England

Window in Emmanuel Church, Exeter, Devon dedicated to Captain Robert Falcon Scott, RN d. 1912

Location

Emmanuel Church, Exeter, Devon, England

Details

Description: The window features a portrait medallion of Captain Scott.
Type: Window

People

Scott, Robert Falcon
Age: 43
Date of Death: 3/1912
Cause of Death: Starvation and exposure
Rank / Occupation: Captain RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: The Scott memorial window, dedicated to Scott of the Antarctic, was unveiled in 1924, by Captain Evans, second-in-command to Scott.
The window was damaged by a bomb in 1942, during WWII; it was repaired in 1948.

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St Stephen's Church, Bristol, England

Burial place in St Stephen’s Church, Bristol of an Inuit couple and a baby, 1577.

Location

St Stephen's Church, Bristol, England

Details

Type: Place of burial

People

Calichough
Age: Unknown
Date of Death: 1577
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Unknown
Organisation: Unknown
Ignorth
Age: Unknown
Date of Death: 1577
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Unknown
Organisation: Unknown

Extra

Notes: Inuit brought to England by Frobisher. Ignorth not her proper name, Baffin Inuit name for woman.

Bibliography: 'Archivaria' No 10, p. 23 (1980).

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St Mary's Church, Totnes, Devon, England

Wall tablet in St Mary’s Church, Totnes, Devon commemorating William Harvey Hooper, RN d. 1833

Location

St Mary's Church, Totnes, Devon, England

Transcript

'In Memory of / WILLIAM HARVEY HOOPER / (OF THE ROYAL NAVY) / SECRETARY OF THE ROYAL HOSPITAL GREENWICH, / SECOND SON OF THOMAS HOOPER, OF THIS TOWN, / HE SERVED IN THE EXPEDITION EMPLOYED IN THE CAPTURE / OF JAVA; AND IN FOUR VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY IN THE / POLAR SEAS UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN PARRY, / DIED AT PAIGNTON NOV 8TH 1833 AET 41. / HIS REMAINS ARE INTERRED IN THIS CHURCHYARD / Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. / Luke ii 20'

Details

Description: Rectangular tablet with moulded cornice and plain pediment on a black marble ground which stands on two brackets
Type: Wall tablet
Position: South aisle south wall
Materials: Marble
Artists: Blackler

People

Hooper, William Harvey
Age: 41
Date of Death: 8/11/1833
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Purser
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: DOSSIER. Removed from north chapel in 1896

Recorder: The Arts Society (NADFAS)

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Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland

Celtic Cross in Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh commemorating Lieutenant John Irving RN, d. 1848

Location

Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland

Transcript

'IN MEMORY OF / LIEVT JOHN IRVING R.N. / H.M. SHIP TERROR / BORN 1815 / DIED IN KING WILLIAM'S LAND / 1848-9 / HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS / EREBUS AND TERROR / LEFT ENGLAND IN MAY / 1845 UNDER COMMAND / OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN K.C.B. TO EXPLORE A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE / TO THE PACIFIC / AFTER WINTERING / 1845 AT BEECHEY ISL / AND THEY SAILED SOUT / H DOWN FRANKLIN ST / RAIT AND ENTERED THE / N.W. PASSAGE / HAVING BEEN THERE BESET WITH ICE FOR TWO YEARS SIR J. FRANKLIN / 8 OTHER OFFICERS AND / 15 SEAMEN HAVING DIED / THE SURVIVORS 105 IN / NUMBER LIEUT IRVING / BEING ONE LANDED ON / KING WILLIAM LAND A / ND ATTEMPTED TO MARC / H TO CANADA BUT ALL D / IED FROM COLD AND WAN / T OF FOOD. / IN 1879 LIEVT SCHWAT / KA OF THE AMERICAN SE / ARCHING EXPEDITION DI / SCOVERED LIEVT IRVING / S GRAVE. THROUGH HIS / KINDNESS THE REMAINS / OF THIS BRAVE AND GOO / D OFFICER WERE BROUGH / T AWAY AND WERE DEPOS / ITED HERE ON 7TH JANUA / RY 1881 / "WHO SHALL SEPARATE US / FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST/ SHALL TRIBULATION OR / DISTRESS - OR - FAMINE"' {Base} 'DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI'

Details

Description: Celtic cross carved with interlaced decoration. The inscription is placed on the shaft. Two carved rope bands run round the top of the base. The base is carved with a relief showing crew members preparing to bury Irving as his body is dragged across the ice to the shore. The two expedition ships are shown beset in the background. The two sides of Irving's silver mathematics medal are shown above. This was found near his original grave and was the principal means by which the remains were identified.


Type: Celtic cross
Position: Block G
Materials: Sandstone
Artists: Stewart McGlashen
Vessel: HMS Terror

People

Irving, John
Age:
Date of Death: 1848
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Lieutenant RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Died on Franklin Arctic expedition.
Bibliography: Ann Savours 'Franklin Memorial at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich', 'Mariners Mirror' vol. 72, p. 481, (Greenwich, 1986); R.J. Cyriax 'Sir John Franklin's Last Arctic Expedition' (London, 1939) p. 204.
Recorder: B. Tomlinson
Photographer: B. Tomlinson

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