Orde-Lees riffs on interest in polar exploration...

Orde-Lees' Journal

New Year's Day 1915

New Year's Day at last, exactly one year has elapsed since I first applied to Sir Ernest for a post on this expedition, though it is now some 18 years since I first heard Nansen lecture and read his book and came to the conclusion that I would go polar exploring one day.

It is also nearly 5 years ago since I applied to Captain Scott and was rejected by him after being on the fair way to being selected, so I understood.

How little did I think a year ago that I should actually be now so near to the pole as I am at this moment. ...