Casgliadau Arlein

Signatures of officers and crew of R.Y.S. TERRA NOVA on their return to Cardiff June 14/13 (Saturday). New Zealand One Penny stamp, overprinted "Victoria Land" and franked "British Antarctic Expedition Ja 18 [19]13". On reverse is a hand drawn picture entitled 'Nothing Doing', depicting man in uniform at Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital, Whitchurch, by Will Austen, Christmas 1915.

The signatures on this sheet are of interest because although they include four of the officers and scientists, the signatures are mostly those of the lower ranks, indicating that all of the crew were regarded as celebrities upon the expedition’s return. The signatures are those of - W. W. Archer - W Archer, RN (Retired). Chief Steward, Shore Party. A. Cherry-Garrard - Apsley Cherry-Garrard Assistant Zoologist. E. W. Nelson - Edward W Nelson. Biologist. E. L. Atkinson - Surgeon Edward L Atkinson RN. Main Party Surgeon and parasitologist. Wm W. Williams - C.E.R.A. 2nd Class William W. Williams, RN. Chief Engineer, Ship’s Party. W. A. Horton - E.R.A. 3rd Class William A. Horton, RN. Second Engineer, Ship’s Party. T. S. Williamson - Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas S. Williamson, RN. Shore Party. He had served with Scott on the 1901-4 Discovery Expedition. He was a member of the search party which found the bodies of Scott, Wilson and Bowers in November 1912. H. Dickason - Able Seaman Harry Dickason, RN. Northern Party. A. Balson - Leading Seaman Albert Balson, R.N. Ship’s Party. W. H. Neale - Steward W.H. Neale. Ship’s Party. F. Parsons - Petty Officer 1st Class Frederick Parsons, RN. Ship’s Party. Victor Campbell - Lieutenant Victor Lindsey Arbuthnot Campbell, RN (1875-1956). Leader of the Northern Party. Mortimer McCarthy - Able Seaman Mortimer McCarthy. Ship’s Party. Wm L. Heald - Petty Officer 1st Class William L. Heald, RN (Retired). Ship’s Party. He had served with Scott on the 1901-4 Discovery Expedition. W. Lashly (also a member of Shackleton’s Expedition) - Chief Stoker William Lashly, RN (1868-1940). Shore Party. He served with Scott on the 1901-4 Discovery Expedition and with Shackleton on the Nimrod Expedition of 1907-09. He was a member of the search party which found the bodies of Scott, Wilson and Bowers in November 1912. After the First World War, Lashly settled in Cardiff, working as a customs officer until 1932 when he retired to Hampshire. H. Pennell - Lieutenant Harry Lewin Lee Pennell, RN (1882-1916). Ship’s Party, Navigator. F. E. Davies - Leading Shipwright Francis E.C. Davies, RN. Carpenter, Ship’s Party. A. S. Bailey - Petty Officer 2nd Class Arthur S. Bailey, RN. Ship’s Party J. Lees - Able Seaman Joseph Lees, RN. Ship’s Party.

Handwritten signatures in black ink on white paper. 'British Antarctic Expidition Terra Nova R.Y.S.' stamp is attached to centre, along with a New Zealand One Penny stamp, overprinted "Victoria Land" and franked "British Antarctic Expd Ja 18 [19]13".

S.Y. TERRA NOVA. Auxiliary barque of 764 tons, was built by Messrs Alexander Stephens and Sons, Dundee in 1884 for the whaling trade. Although nearly thirty years old at the time of Captain Scott's expedition, she was chosen for it because of her suitability for work in the Antarctic ice. Her beams were fourteen ins thick, her bows were nine feet of solid wood, and her stem was sheathed with iron plating.