Edward Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans

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Admiral Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans of Chelsea KCB DSO (October 28, 1881 - August 20, 1957), known as "Teddy" Evans, was a British naval officer and Antarctic explorer. He served as second-in-command on Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in 1910-1913 and as captain of the expedition ship Terra Nova.

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[edit] Early life

Edward Evans was born in London in 1881, the son of a barrister. Although expelled from Merchant Taylors' School, London for truancy he eventually completed sufficient schooling to make his way onto the Mercantile Marine training ship HMS Worcester and obtain, two years later, a naval cadetship. He attended the Royal Naval College from 1900-1902. In 1900 he was promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant, then Sub-Lieutenant in 1902 and the same year served as second officer of the Morning, the relief vessel of Scott's first Antarctic expedition in 1901-1904.

[edit] Scott's Second Antarctic Expedition (1910-13)

Scott offered Evans the position with his second expedition as a means of persuading him to drop plans for his own competing expedition to explore King Edward VII Land. However, it was an uneasy working relationship, as Scott continued to regard Evans as a rival[citation needed].

In Antarctica, Evans was initially in charge of Scott's motor-sledge party. After the sledges broke down, he continued south, man-hauling, as the leader of the last supporting party to accompany Scott to the pole. Evans turned back on January 4, 1912, within 150 miles of the pole. On the return journey, Evans became seriously ill with scurvy and had to be pulled on the sledge. His declining condition was chronicled in the journal of one of his companions, William Lashly, who observed that Evans was "turning black and blue and several other colours as well", and later that he was in great pain and unable to stand. Evans later wrote: "Very seriously and sadly they re-erected our tent and put me once again inside. I thought I was being put into my grave...." At this point, the other member of the party, Tom Crean, had to walk alone the remaining 35 miles to the expedition's base camp to fetch assistance. Altogether, the three had marched about 1500 miles.

Because of his illness, Evans was sent home in the expedition's ship Terra Nova in March, 1912, but he recovered and returned the following year in command of the ship to take off the expedition's survivors.

[edit] Post-Antarctic service

Following his Antarctic service, Evans had a successful naval career. At the break out of the First World War in 1914 he was promoted to Commander. On 20 April 1917, while on night patrol, he commanded the destroyer HMS Broke in an action against six German destroyers of the Kaiserliche Marine that had started to bombard Dover. Along with HMS Swift, Evans engaged the German destroyers in what became known as the Battle of Dover Strait. A torpedo from HMS Broke sank one of the enemy destroyers. Then the Broke deliberately rammed one of the destroyers, G.42, almost breaking it in two. The two ships became locked together and for a while there was close-quarters fighting on Broke's deck until the Broke managed to break free and the German destroyer sank. A third German destroyer was also torpedoed and sank before the remaining three German destroyers made their escape. The action made Evans a popular hero and he was promoted to Captain. He received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) the following month. In 1928 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral commanding the Royal Australian Navy, In 1932 he was made Vice-Admiral. He was made a Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1935 and was commander-in-chief of the Africa station and deputy high commissioner of the British Protectorates. Recalled in 1939, he served as London Royal Commissioner during the Second World War. In December 1945, he was created a baron, Lord Mountevans of the Broke and finally achieved the rank of Admiral in July, 1946. He retired from the Royal Navy in 1949. He was Rector of Aberdeen University from 1936-1942.

He wrote several books about Antarctica. South with Scott (1921); British Polar explorers (1944); The desolate Antarctic (1950).

[edit] Footnote

E.R.G.R. "Teddy" Evans is not to be confused with Petty Officer Edgar Evans, who was a member of Scott's polar party and died with his companions on the return journey from the pole.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Academic offices
Preceded by
Walter Elliot		 Rector of the University of Aberdeen
1936–1942		 Succeeded by
Stafford Cripps
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
New Creation		 Baron Mountevans
1945–1957		 Succeeded by
Richard Andvord Evans