Another interesting riff from Orde-Lees' journal...
December 15, 1914
...As a matter of fact whilst I was at the wheel, I nearly had the exciting experience of being "thrown over the wheel" for a floe did actually strike the rudder a terrific blow, and the wheel literally spun round with me holding on to it, but just as a complete somersault seemed inevitable I had the presence of foot to get that extremity on to the brake and check it, so preventing what might have been considerable damage to the steering gear. Sir Ernest was standing by me at the time and although he neither blamed nor complimented me on the feat he was good enough to congratulate me on a lucky escape!
Had I just failed to control things than I should have incurred Sir Ernest's severe displeasure if not his censure, though he is mighty good and forbearing at all times.
To serve such a leader is one of the greatest pleasures of the whole trip; he expects his orders to be literally and promptly obeyed but he knows ones limitations better than one does oneself and he invariably allows for them, he never expects one to do more than one is capable of, he trusts one implicitly and he always appears to be pleased with what one had done, this being though one may be overly aware that one had not done all or as well as he could have wished. Thus h
e gets the very best results out of all his staff. His adaptability to each of our views on our own particular subject and his tactful way of reconciling our views with his whilst giving us the impression that he is modifying his schemes to suit ours are amongst his most salient characteristics.