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Aurora Australis: Exploratory Tales from the Icy Expanse: A Journey of Adventure, Survival, and Discovery
"Aurora Australis" is a collaborative work led by Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, capturing the essence of early 20th-century exploration. This classic, penned in the 1900s, chronicles the adventures and challenges faced by explorers in the Antarctic. With contributions from various authors, this book offers a multifaceted view of historical expeditions, making it a treasure trove for history and adventure enthusiasts.
103 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2020
About the author
Frank Wild
27 books1 followerJohn Robert Francis Wild CBE, RNVR, FRGS was a seaman and explorer on five expeditions to Antarctica.
In 1901 he was a member of Robert Falcon Scott’s crew on the Discovery, along with Ernest Shackleton.
In 1908–1909 he was with Shackleton on the Nimrod Expedition and was a member of the overland team that crossed the Ross Barrier and Beardmore Glacier.
In 1911, he joined Douglas Mawson’s Aurora expedition and was in charge of the western base on the Shackleton Ice Shelf.
In 1914-1916 he was on Shackleton's famous Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition on the Endurance, which cracked up in the ice 100 miles from land, stranding the men on the ice floes. They made their way by foot and by life boat to desolate Elephant Island where Wild was left in charge of 21 men as Shackleton and a crew of 5 made their epic small craft sail 800 miles to South Georgia aboard a lifeboat to seek help.
From April 24th 'til August 30, 1916 Wild and his crew survived on a diet of seal, penguin and seaweed til Shackleton returned to take them off the island.
During World War I Wild was a Temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Later, he became the Royal Navy's transport officer at Arkhangelsk in North Russia aka Archangel.
After the war, Wild went to South Africa where he farmed in British Nyasaland.
He left to serve as second in command on the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition, and returned to South Africa after Shackleton's death. Then he embarked on a number of business ventures and tried his hand at a variety of occupations.
Frank Wild died in Klerksdorp, South Africa.
Wild was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1920. He was awarded the Patron’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society. Cape Wild on Elephant Island is named after him, as are Mount Wild and Point Wild in the Antarctic.
In 1901 he was a member of Robert Falcon Scott’s crew on the Discovery, along with Ernest Shackleton.
In 1908–1909 he was with Shackleton on the Nimrod Expedition and was a member of the overland team that crossed the Ross Barrier and Beardmore Glacier.
In 1911, he joined Douglas Mawson’s Aurora expedition and was in charge of the western base on the Shackleton Ice Shelf.
In 1914-1916 he was on Shackleton's famous Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition on the Endurance, which cracked up in the ice 100 miles from land, stranding the men on the ice floes. They made their way by foot and by life boat to desolate Elephant Island where Wild was left in charge of 21 men as Shackleton and a crew of 5 made their epic small craft sail 800 miles to South Georgia aboard a lifeboat to seek help.
From April 24th 'til August 30, 1916 Wild and his crew survived on a diet of seal, penguin and seaweed til Shackleton returned to take them off the island.
During World War I Wild was a Temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Later, he became the Royal Navy's transport officer at Arkhangelsk in North Russia aka Archangel.
After the war, Wild went to South Africa where he farmed in British Nyasaland.
He left to serve as second in command on the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition, and returned to South Africa after Shackleton's death. Then he embarked on a number of business ventures and tried his hand at a variety of occupations.
Frank Wild died in Klerksdorp, South Africa.
Wild was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1920. He was awarded the Patron’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society. Cape Wild on Elephant Island is named after him, as are Mount Wild and Point Wild in the Antarctic.
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