Menu Of Shackleton Expedition

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 14

Menu Of Shackleton Expedition

On January 13. 1908, a dinner was given aboard Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship Nimrod on the edge of the Anarctic Circle in honour of Mr George Buckley, a wealthy sheep farmer, of Ashburton, and a keen yachtsman. The picture above is a reproduction of a photograph of the menu given to ifiw F. H. Pyne, of Helmares lawe, by Mr Buckley. Ur Buckley, who was a nephew of Mr A. McLean, of ■Holy Lea,” became friendly with Shackleton during his brief stay in New Zealand. He was a guest aboard the Nimrod until rtie reached the ice, and he returned to Lyttelton by the Koonya. Mr Buckley, according to the book "Shackleton.” by Margery and James Fisher, did magnificent work in helping to care for the ponies on the Nimrod. He thus became a member of the Cavalry Cub, the name given to the uncomfortable shelter provided for the ponies. Ude is how Commander A.. K. Harfaord describes the octfMiM in bis diary: "The table in the wardroom ?• to seat ®

vellous hpw it is done, but it is done, and we're all seated comfortably round it. Old Buckley wonders what all the fuss is about, and he’s ’ soon enlightened. There's a menu (painted by our artist) —it has got Buckley on the side of it. There is also his , watchmate getting the cocoa. “At the top the Nimrod being towed by the Koonya is . depicted; at the bottom there is a scroll which we embel- , lish with our autographs. ■ There is also a picture of the dogs, and from a beam there : hangs the stable lamp. The centre of the whole thing if ' devoted to the most impor- . tact item, tucker.’ i "The dishes were worthy of the Hotel Cecil . . ..and i be it said with truth that ■ no dinner could hare been , more enjoyable. In good time came the speeches, and they were great. After every i one, somebody would yell out ‘Who saved Zulu* and then we’d all yell ‘Buckley* at the top of our voices. His speech was like himself, be felt as we did; and when ha spoke on discipline his words didn’t fall on altogether barren '"rmJrd At midnight the was over and rleen

claimed those who were not watch keepers.” The signatories were Sir Ernest Shackleton, R. G. Eng- 1 land. A. Mackintosh, Jameson: Adams, G. Marston, Frank: Wild, Raymond Priestley.i James Murray, H. J. L. Dun-| lop, Ernest Joyce, A. F. Mackay, E. Marshall. B. Day. L. Cotton, Douglas Mawson. A. E. Harbord, W: A. R' Michell, T. W. E. David, W , Roberts, J. D. Davis. 8.. Armytage, Philip Brocklehurst, of the Nimrod, and: Fred P. Evans (s.s. Koonya) ; Miss Pyne said her family ( and the Buckley family were: friends. The original souvenir: menu would probably be to the keeping of'a member of the Buckley family in Eng-: land. Mr Buckley also farmed in England. He had a yacht, the Mollyhawk, and did a: great deal of yachting in the Mediterranean. Some years ago one of toe signatories. Sir Philip Brocklehurst. visited New Zealand, and Mias Pyne met him and his wife Mr Buckley signed the photograph of the menu and gave it to Miss Pyne soon after he returned from hie voyage 'outh.