Battle of Gower

 

RRS Discovery

The first expedition to the South Pole made by Captain Scott was made during 1901 – 1904, which was known as the Discovery Expedition.  The expedition having been named after the ship, RRS Discovery.

Some of those who accompanied Captain Scott to the South, were, Ernest Shackleton, Frank Wild, Tom Crean and William Lashly.  Also in the party was junior doctor, Edward Wilson and seamen Edgar Evans and Ernest Joyce.

Map of Victoria Land

During 1903, Captain Scott, Edgar Evans and William Lashly undertook their “Farthest West” journey exploring Victoria Land, Antarctica

Victoria Land is the eastern regions of Antarctica which fronts the western end of the Ross Sea and the Ross Ice Shelf. Captain James Clark Ross discovered it January 1841 and named it after Queen Victoria.  The southernmost point of Victoria Land, the rocky promontory is known as Minna Bluff. 

Terra Nova

Both men during the expedition proved themselves and they were followed Scott again to the South during the Terra Nova Expedition.

During this expedition, Lashly was put in charge of the two motor sledges, they were initially used to haul supplies south, in support of the polar party.  Sadly, the sledges broke down and the supplies had to be hauled manually.

Lashly was the last support member to be sent back by Scott on his way to the Pole.

William Lashly,
1911

So, who is Lashly?

William Lashly was born Christmas Day, 1867, Hambledon, Hampshire.   At the time of the 1901 Discovery Expedition, the then 33-year-old Lashly was serving as a stoker with the Royal Navy.  He was a teetotaller and a non-smoker. During this first expedition, Reginald Skelton, the chief-engineer and expedition photographer stated that Lashly was “the best man by far and away in the ship”.  during the two expeditions, Lashly served as a instructor at the Royal Naval College, Isle of Wight.  

As Lashly was the last support member to be told to return to base by Scott during the final push to Pole. Lashly along with Lieutenant Edward Evans and Tom Crean travelled the 730-miles back.  During this return trip and with only 100 miles to Hut Point, Evans had collapsed from seriously being ill and suffering from scurvy.  Evans, trying to persuade the two men to leave him behind, they however, strapped him to a sledge, and pulled him for days with only two days’ ration left.  With only 35-miles left, Crean walked the remaining miles to Camp, to fetch help, whilst Lashly stayed with Evans.

The two men were awarded the Albert Medal, for saving Evans’ life.

HMS Amethyst

HMS Irresistible

Lashly retired from the Royal Navy after returning from Antarctic.  He received a pension.  At the time of the First World War, he joined the reserves and served on HMS Irresistible and HMS Amethyst.

The Captain of HMS Amethyst was Edward Unwin.  Previously Unwin, had been captain of HMS River Clyde.  Unwin, along with 3 other men, including Welsh man William Charles Williams were awarded the Victoria Cross. 

25^th April 1915, during the landing on V Beach, Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, Williams along with other three men, George Leslie Drewy, Wilfred S. Aubryn Malleson and George McKenzie Samson who were assisting the commander, Edward Unwin, of their ship, HMS River Clyde at the work off securing the lighters.  The men held on the rope over an hour, standing chest deep in the sea, under continuous fire.  Williams was eventually seriously wounded by a shell, and later died whilst his rescue was being affected by the commander.

Unwin took command of HMS Amethyst.  Unwin died 1950, and his ashes are interred in St. Luke’s church, Hindhead.

Also buried here is Arthur Conan Doyle’s children,  Captain Arthur Alleyne “Kingsley” Conan Doyle and Mary Louise Conan Doyle.

"Minna Bluff"
Hambledon, Hampshire 

After the First World War, Lesly served as a Customs officer at Cardiff.  When he finally retired, 1932, he returned to Hambledon, where he built a house, naming it “Minna Bluff”,  the house is still called that today.  June 1940, Lashly died, and he is buried in an unmarked grave at St. Peter & St. Paul church.