British Antarctic Expedition under Robert Scott (1910-1913)--Gran, Tryggve.

4 black-and-white negatives (each approx. 100 x 123mm.)

see Geoffrey Hattersley-Smith, ed., The Norwegian with Scott: Tryggve Gran's Antarctic diary, 1910-1913 (National Maritime Museum, 1984)

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an extremely rare photographic record of scott's last expedition, taken by tryggve gran, including a scarce image of the famous 'snow cairn' erected over the tent containing the bodies of scott, wilson and bowers.

The Norwegian Tryggve Gran (1889-1980) was the skiing instructor for the expedition, and the team’s youngest member. Along with Apsley Cherry-Garrard, he was also a member of the search party who eventually found the bodies of Scott, Wilson and Bowers.

Upon discovery of the doomed party's tent, a cairn was erected in their memory. The construction of the monument is described by Cherry-Garrard in his diary: "A great cairn has been built over them, a mark which must last for many years. That we can make anything that will be permanent on this barrier is impossible, but as far as a lasting mark can be made it has been done. On this a cross has been fixed made of ski. On either side are the two sledges fixed upright and dug in. The whole is very simple and most impressive" (Apsley Cherry-Garrard, The Worst Journey in the World, 1922).

The skis used to form the cross were in fact Gran's: he fashioned them into a cross while the other members of the search party went inside the tent. He then made the return journey on Scott's own skis.

Another negative shows the early stages of the ascent of Mount Erebus in 1912. After the ascent had been completed Gran returned to the summit to retrieve a canister of exposed film which he had forgotten. His return to the summit was cut short by an untimely volcanic eruption, the resulting sulphur dioxide fumes rendering him nauseous for some time afterwards.

The four negatives in the group comprise:
1. Terra Nova at Scott Base, 1910
2. Daily life at camp, showing husky, tent and waywiser
3. Climbing Mount Erebus, 1912
4. The snow cairn, 1912