THE LATE MR ARMYTAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7078, 16 March 1910, Page 3

THE LATE MR ARMYTAGE

• SrEOlii TO THE " TIMES." CHFJSTCHUKCH, March 14. Mr Bertram Armytage, who committed suicide in Melbourne- on SatiiTday, joined Lieut. Shackleton's polar expedition for general work. He was born in Australia in 1860. He served several years with the Victoria Militia and one year with the Victoria Permanent Artillery, o.fter which he was a-ppointed to the Carabineers' when on active service in. South Africa. During the winter sojourn of the expedition at the base hut, Mr Annytago took over tho entire responsibility of tho stables and tho ponies. Early in the spring, ho started with Sir Ernest Stuackleton and Professor David, on a prolimiuary journey on the barrier surface, in order to gain an. idea of the condition likely to be encountered by the party malrirug the southern dash towards tho pole. In December, Mr Armytage set out in a westerly direction with Mr Priestly and Sir Philip BrocklehuTst, to lay a depot at Butter Point for Professor David's party, which, was expected to reach that point on its return- from the Magnetio Pole. Sir Ernest Shacldeton, on liis return from the Antarctic, epoto in the highest terms of Mr Armyt•ago'e pluck and energy. He joined tho expedition from a sheer love of adventure, this being the crowning point of Ids life as a sportsman and explorer. Ho endeared himself to all the other members of the expedition by his genial good mature, his willingness to tackle the hardest as well as the most menial tasks, and his tireless energy throughout the arduous sojurn in the southern wildg.