FRANKLIN'S ORDERLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13453, 1 June 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

FRANKLIN'S ORDERLY.

There is still living in Gillingham, Kent, h veteran who acted as orderly to Sir John Franklin, the Arctic explorer. The veteran is George Parr, who has just celebrated his ninety-first birthday. Parr joined the Royal Marines in 1834, and accompanied another famous navigator, Sir James Ross, when ho took the Erebus and Terror to the Antarctic Ocean in 1839. That was a four years' voyage, and the expedition suffered great privations. Parr vividly recalls the long days when the ships lay fixed m the ice. The monotonv was broken by seal fishing and bear hunting, and Parr had several narrow escapes from death. It is interesting to recall that this expedition touched the southernmost point up to that time, discovering Victoria Land, and naming its two volcanoes, Erebus and error, after the two ships. . ..... Parr had the distinction of going furthest south" with his intrepid commander. On his return from this voyage he. was appointed orderly to Sir John Franklin, and was keenly disappointed when the Admiralty refused him permission to go to the Arctic regions. He was ordered to New Zealand, where he fought in the Maori war, was severely wounded, and had to quit the serKin" Edward is keenly interested in Mr. Pair. When His Majesty- visited Chatham last year he had a long chat with the veteran, asking him a number of questions about bis Antarctic experiences, and he has inquired after him on several occasions since. So marked has been the King's interest that Parr regards himself as His Majesty's reticular" veteran. Many prominent officials have also exchanged a few words with tlie old soldier, among them Earl Roberts.