(11 of 11) Endurance, Shackleton and the Antarctic.

1914 Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• endurance
• ernest
• shackleton
• antarctic
• leadership

[MFES04]

I just finished the book. Great to see it on video. Thanks a million!!

[blatttman]

Your welcome, is that Alfred Lansings book you refer to?

[charliesinglefin]

when men were men, an amazing documentry, endurance, it is now impossible for us to believe what feelings and hardship they went through, our soft world now has lost its soul.. i was glued to the screen watching this program many thanks for putting this out, im off now to ride 2km up a slight hill to go to the boulangerie my only risk is being hit by a Porsche, but i must go.. wish me luck

[jonasjar]

I think Shackleton was a bit harsh when he didnt endorse McNish for the medal. Yes, he refused to do his work once, but he was 56 yrs and the conditions were awful and the cargo pulling must have seemed futile at times. McNish did a great job with eg the boat and the improvised crampons, without him I doubt the expedtion would have been so successful in terms of survival.

[tutoroconnor]

@jonasjar Sure, maybe it seems harsh. But most accounts celebrate Shackleton's leadership, his constant optimism, his unfailing faith. He would not rest until his men were rescued, grew grey while he worried when they were on Elephant Island and he was safe. If once he had panicked, men would have faltered and been lost. So, he punished those that despaired, because his men's lives depended upon faith. When McNish voiced his frustration he gave into weakness, and threatened everything.

[argie1940]

The crossing of South Georgia was the last leg to reach civilisation and also the first and only time that the fourth person made Himself 'available' to the spirits of both Shackleton and one of his crew, and this made all these heroes learn that even when everything appeared as 'lost for good' He was always around to tell them what to do. The book makes my hair stand on end every time I open it.

[argie1940]

The crossing of South Georgia was the last leg to reach civilisation and also the first and only time that the fourth person made Himself 'available' to the spirits of both Shackleton and one of his crew, and this made them all these heroes learn that even when everything appeared as 'lost for good' He was always around to tell them what to do. The book makes my hair stand on end every time I open it.

[mrmalade]

they wouldn't have made it without mcnish

[royefarol]

thank you .thank you for sharing this. i was reading alfred lansing's book, 'endurance, when i saw your video post. i said to myself that i would finish reading the book first before watching your video. here i am finishing your video and still in the middle of the book. that anticipation i cannot help. thank you so much.

[ohworldgirl]

@ohworldgirl Having said all of that. It's hard to imagine there is a survival story more amazing than this. Shakleton was amazing and so, even with the personalities of his men in the face of some seriously trying situations all showed brilliance and spirit in their own right --in the entire scheme of the matter deserve and un-tainted respect. Months of darkness, bitter cold, starvation, toss around in a frozen sea like and ant on a cracker. All I can say is I couldn't imagine..1914 no less!

[ohworldgirl]

@ohworldgirl Con't Shakleton, clearly was an effective leader- if he wasn't, there would have been a real uprising agnst him but his orders were followed overall, even in the face of his own mistake. U get the feeling that McNish probably did hve a lot of attitude & was resistant in subtler ways the way pple can be in a group project, but he was a tough guy too. He kept a log through that last leg of the wretched trip in that small boat for 9 days. He should be judged by his peers only.

[ohworldgirl]

@ohworldgirl cont: McNish you may also remember, offered to Shackleton to build a "Sloop" from the remains of the Endurance. This is after many months of hopeless conditions on the Ice. So again, I feel we should be more gentle in our judgement of just saying McNish was a pessimist. If you haven't been in this type of situation also, it's tough to as an observer to just write-off a McNish off like that especially when he was present for the most difficult parts of the whole ordeal to the end.

[ohworldgirl]

@666lbSquid I think the right to really judge these men lies with their peers who went through the same long and ongoing ordeal in the Antarctic. It was my instinct to think that Shackleton was just a little hard on McNish for withholding the medal from him particularly- but, I was not there. I don't think it's accurate to slap on McNish as necessarily being "a Pessimist" . He may have been difficult but if it weren't for his capentry in very key areas they would not have made it. cont'

[jasonhillery123]

Mindblowing video. In total awe of these men!