Orde-Lees Journal, October 30, 1915
The order went forth that we should start the march at 3 p.m. and that we were to each carry only the following articles: six pairs socks, one spare pair of boots or finnesko, one pair fur mits, one pound tobacco or cocoa and one pound personal gear such as soap, brush, toothbrush, etc. ...
As earnest of what he said, our leader proceeded to set an example by deliberately throwing away all he possessed; away went his watch, about fifty golden sovereigns, silver brushes & dressing case fittings, books & a dozen other things, whereupon we all did likewise until there was a heap of clothing & private property probably of many hundreds of pounds value lying about all over the floe. I threw away my old silver watch, my Cygnet stylographic pen & the entire contents of my suitcase. ...
Besides the private gear which was thrown away in this manner there was a far greater collection of apparatus scientific & navigating instruments and sundries of all sorts.
In the first place there was a large collection of portmanteaux, bags, suitcases & kit bags & their contents, for as each of us had brought at least one bag of clothing & travelling things with us off the ship. Then there was all the polar clothing that we had just discarded in exchange for brand new articles and also a large quantity of perfectly new garments which could not have been taken along. Littered about amongst all this were several sextants, prismatic compasses, sets of drawing instruments, a quantity of cooking utensils, ropes, tools, oars, wood, books, blankets, diaries, flags, plates, cups, knives & forks, petrol tins and two 50 guinea chronometer clocks. ...
Several members lost really valuable things in this way; others lost the whole of their personal outfits through having left them in the ship. Captain Worsley lost the whole of his R.N.R. uniform. Rickinson said it would cost him 150 pounds to replace all the clothing, etc. he lost. Greenstreet 100 pounds ditto; I lost about 10 pounds worth of clothing at the most, having been careful to leave my few good things at home, but in addition to this I left my gold watch chain, Gillette razor in ship by mistaking the box they were in and my greatest sentimental loss was my dear old bicycle which I have had for 16 years, the best Rudge-Whitworth that ever lived.
Had I had an upper deck cabin instead of living in the hold for choice until the last, I should have been able to rescue my watch chain at least. My cabin was far under water the last time I went on board before marching, even the wardroom was full of ice."