Polar Exploration

Memorial: M1288

Memorial at Disaster Bay, Nunavut, Canada, commemorating Isaac Burnett and George Harris, RN, d. 1854

Location

Disaster Bay, Nunavut, Canada, Rest of the World

Transcript

'SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF / ISAAC BURNETT, / CAPTAIN OF THE MAINTOP, H.M.S. 'ASSISTANCE', / AND / GEORGE HARRIS / ALSO OF THAT SHIP, DOING DUTY ON BOARD H.M.S. TENDER / 'PIONEER' / BOTH DEPARTED THIS LIFE UNDER SCORBUTIC AFFECTION, AS UNDER / GEORGE HARRIS / ON THE 10TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1854, AGED 33 YEARS; / ISAAC BARNETT / ON THE 27TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1854, AGED 27 YEARS; / DESERVEDLY LAMENTED BY THEIR SHIPMATES. / A FURTHER MEMORIAL WILL BE DEPOSITED AT BEECHEY ISLAND, / CONTAINING THE NAMES OF ALL WHO / HAVE UNFORTUNATELY YIELDED / TO THE EFFECTS OF / ARCTIC SERVICE IN THIS EXPEDITION’ / ‘OFF THIS SPOT H.M.S. ‘ASSISTANCE’ AND TENDER WINTERED, / IN 1853-54, AGROUND.

Details

Description: Lead plate over double grave
Type: Plaque
Materials: Lead
Vessel: HMS Assistance

People

Barnett, Isaac
Age: 27
Date of Death: 27/1/1854
Cause of Death: Scurvy
Rank / Occupation: Captain of the maintop
Organisation: Royal Navy
Harris, George
Age: 30
Date of Death: 9/1/1854
Cause of Death: Scurvy
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: DOSSIER: Both fell victim to scurvy, although the former laboured primarily under scorbutic affection of the ankle. / Their remains lie interred on shore in Disaster Bay, where H.M.S. Assistance and tender wintered, 1853-4. / Blessed are those who die in the Lord.

Bibliography: George F McDougall 'The eventful voyage of H.M. Discovery ship 'Resolute' to the Arctic Regions' p. 427.

The last of the Arctic voyages; being a narrative of the expedition in H. M. S. Assistance, under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher, C. B., in search of Sir John Franklin, during the years 1852-53-54, Lovell Reeve, Covent Garden, London, 1855
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