Antarctic story to be told through Clydebank exhibition

“Antarctic Witness” is a photographic record of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew’s heroic exploration of the Antarctic from 1914-17, and is running in the town until Saturday, June 1.

The exhibition is on loan from the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) and has been described as one of the greatest ever photographic records of human survival.

Images taken by expedition photographer Frank Hurley were selected and saved from the sinking Endurance by Hurley and Shackleton – and have been preserved from the original, fragile glass plate negatives by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

The vessel was completely trapped in ice in early 1915 and sank ten months later with all crew forced to move onto the floating ice. Shackleton then began an extraordinary 800-mile voyage in little more than a rowing boat to a whaling station before returning to save his crew.

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The photographic plates vividly capture the spirit of endurance, trust, courage and judgement shared by Shackleton and his team. Their adventure and the ultimate survival of all the men remains unsurpassed in Antarctic history.

Bailie Denis Agnew, convener of cultural services, said: “The story of Shackleton and his crew is regarded as one of the most heroic feats of navigation. These photographs bring to life the sheer determination and fight for survival which has been beautifully captured through the lens of expedition photographer Frank Hurley.

“The exhibition also highlights the extreme challenges faced by the men and the story of their will to survive in the most unimaginable conditions. I would like to thank the Royal Geographical Society for bringing this exhibition to West Dunbartonshire and I would encourage the public to come along and see the determination, struggle, survival and rescue of the great explorer and his crew.”