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| Stark images of Shackleton's struggle | Stark images of Shackleton's struggle |
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| A century ago a ship sank beneath the ice of the Weddell Sea off Antarctica. Sir Ernest Shackleton had been counting on Endurance to help him make it ashore, ahead of a trek across the continent past the South Pole. | A century ago a ship sank beneath the ice of the Weddell Sea off Antarctica. Sir Ernest Shackleton had been counting on Endurance to help him make it ashore, ahead of a trek across the continent past the South Pole. |
| Now, newly digitised images capturing the last days of Endurance, and the crew's subsequent struggle to stay alive, are on show at the Royal Geographical Society in London. | Now, newly digitised images capturing the last days of Endurance, and the crew's subsequent struggle to stay alive, are on show at the Royal Geographical Society in London. |
| "Frank Hurley's beautiful image of Endurance confuses people because the sails are up," says the Antarctic historian, Meredith Hooper, who has curated the exhibition, Enduring Eye. | "Frank Hurley's beautiful image of Endurance confuses people because the sails are up," says the Antarctic historian, Meredith Hooper, who has curated the exhibition, Enduring Eye. |
| "And yet she is beset in the ice. The sails are up because they had reached a moment when the crew thought they could break free." | "And yet she is beset in the ice. The sails are up because they had reached a moment when the crew thought they could break free." |
| Shackleton - with the help of his 27-man crew - had planned to cross Antarctica from coast to coast, picking up supplies left by a second team as he neared the other side. | Shackleton - with the help of his 27-man crew - had planned to cross Antarctica from coast to coast, picking up supplies left by a second team as he neared the other side. |
| "He minded very much that he wasn't the first at the South Pole," says Hooper. | "He minded very much that he wasn't the first at the South Pole," says Hooper. |
| "He saw the Endurance expedition as the last great Antarctic achievement." | "He saw the Endurance expedition as the last great Antarctic achievement." |
| But he never made mainland Antarctica. After a six-day gale in January 1915, the Norwegian-built ship became trapped in ice in the Weddell Sea. | But he never made mainland Antarctica. After a six-day gale in January 1915, the Norwegian-built ship became trapped in ice in the Weddell Sea. |
| She would then drift in the ice for ten months - with Shackleton and his men living on board. | She would then drift in the ice for ten months - with Shackleton and his men living on board. |
| Their daily lives were recorded by Australian photographer Frank Hurley. | Their daily lives were recorded by Australian photographer Frank Hurley. |
| Hurley's images show how the crew survived during that uncertain period - when they were at the whim of the shifting pack ice. | Hurley's images show how the crew survived during that uncertain period - when they were at the whim of the shifting pack ice. |
| The photograph above shows a football match on the ice. | The photograph above shows a football match on the ice. |
| Meredith Hooper says it was taken in mid-February 1915, after the men had tried to release Endurance for one last time, but then had to accept they were stuck - with the cold and dark Antarctic winter approaching. | Meredith Hooper says it was taken in mid-February 1915, after the men had tried to release Endurance for one last time, but then had to accept they were stuck - with the cold and dark Antarctic winter approaching. |
| "Shackleton saw the match as a good way to let off steam. They had even flattened the ice to create a pitch." | "Shackleton saw the match as a good way to let off steam. They had even flattened the ice to create a pitch." |
| Endurance's role changed from that of a ship to that of a shore station. Many of the crew were assigned new sleeping quarters in the hold - mockingly they called it The Ritz. | Endurance's role changed from that of a ship to that of a shore station. Many of the crew were assigned new sleeping quarters in the hold - mockingly they called it The Ritz. |
| The tradition of scrubbing the floor remained, and everyone - except perhaps Shackleton himself - took their turn. | The tradition of scrubbing the floor remained, and everyone - except perhaps Shackleton himself - took their turn. |
| In this photo we see Jock Wordie the expedition geologist on the left - with Third Officer Alfred Cheetham in the centre - and Alexander Macklin the ship's doctor on the right. | In this photo we see Jock Wordie the expedition geologist on the left - with Third Officer Alfred Cheetham in the centre - and Alexander Macklin the ship's doctor on the right. |
| Photographer Frank Hurley has placed himself in this picture - which shows him playing chess to fill the long dark winter days of mid-1915. | Photographer Frank Hurley has placed himself in this picture - which shows him playing chess to fill the long dark winter days of mid-1915. |
| "We know this was taken before May 1915," says Meredith Hooper. | "We know this was taken before May 1915," says Meredith Hooper. |
| "Because in May they all had a fit of madness and decided to shave their heads. And in this photo, Hurley, on the left, still has his hair." | "Because in May they all had a fit of madness and decided to shave their heads. And in this photo, Hurley, on the left, still has his hair." |
| Hurley's hair is growing back in the next photo, which was taken in his cabin. Macklin the doctor is on the right. | Hurley's hair is growing back in the next photo, which was taken in his cabin. Macklin the doctor is on the right. |
| For the first time, Hurley's images have been scanned digitally direct from the original glass plates on which they were taken - revealing details never seen before. The mid-ground and background in each shot is crisper and sharper. | For the first time, Hurley's images have been scanned digitally direct from the original glass plates on which they were taken - revealing details never seen before. The mid-ground and background in each shot is crisper and sharper. |
| "You can see the Australian flag, a penguin picture and a boomerang," says Hooper. | "You can see the Australian flag, a penguin picture and a boomerang," says Hooper. |
| "But I particularly like the Carsons chocolates by Hurley's bed. On Saturday nights the crew would toast sweethearts and wives - and for those who didn't want alcohol, like Hurley, Shackleton had provided chocolates." | "But I particularly like the Carsons chocolates by Hurley's bed. On Saturday nights the crew would toast sweethearts and wives - and for those who didn't want alcohol, like Hurley, Shackleton had provided chocolates." |
| Back in "The Ritz", this photo shows the midwinter dinner to celebrate the shortest day of the year - 22 June 1915. | Back in "The Ritz", this photo shows the midwinter dinner to celebrate the shortest day of the year - 22 June 1915. |
| The cabin is adorned with the UK, Australian and New Zealand flags. | The cabin is adorned with the UK, Australian and New Zealand flags. |
| "They had peas," says Hooper. "But no one had yet started eating. Knives and forks are poised." | "They had peas," says Hooper. "But no one had yet started eating. Knives and forks are poised." |
| "On the left is Perce Blackborow, a stowaway who was given the job of steward." | "On the left is Perce Blackborow, a stowaway who was given the job of steward." |
| The same space is transformed for this posed image which shows what Endurance's crew did on a typical day. Scientific experiments, typing and reading. | The same space is transformed for this posed image which shows what Endurance's crew did on a typical day. Scientific experiments, typing and reading. |
| The steward, Blackborow, is again in shot on the left. He is carrying a large block of ice to be turned into drinking water. | The steward, Blackborow, is again in shot on the left. He is carrying a large block of ice to be turned into drinking water. |
| Here, a group of men are gathered around the ship's stove during the night watch. | Here, a group of men are gathered around the ship's stove during the night watch. |
| "There would normally be only one or two men on the night watch," says Hooper. "But people on that shift got extra food, and so your mates would suddenly appear. | "There would normally be only one or two men on the night watch," says Hooper. "But people on that shift got extra food, and so your mates would suddenly appear. |
| "Hurley is expressing intimacy and comradeship." | "Hurley is expressing intimacy and comradeship." |
| Looking at the next two images, Hooper says they were both taken on the same day - possibly 1 September 1915. | Looking at the next two images, Hooper says they were both taken on the same day - possibly 1 September 1915. |
| First, Hurley is shown taking a photo with his heavy equipment - under the prow of Endurance and standing on big chunks of crumbling ice. | First, Hurley is shown taking a photo with his heavy equipment - under the prow of Endurance and standing on big chunks of crumbling ice. |
| And then there is an image of the rest of the crew. | And then there is an image of the rest of the crew. |
| "Personally I think the group shot was taken as a morale booster," says Hooper. "You can see the light is back, spring is coming, and all the men are dressed in new kit. It's very much a posed photo." | "Personally I think the group shot was taken as a morale booster," says Hooper. "You can see the light is back, spring is coming, and all the men are dressed in new kit. It's very much a posed photo." |
| Dogs were on board ship with the crew. Shackleton had planned to cross Antarctica with them. | Dogs were on board ship with the crew. Shackleton had planned to cross Antarctica with them. |
| But in time, as feeding the animals becoming an issue, the dogs had to be put down. | But in time, as feeding the animals becoming an issue, the dogs had to be put down. |
| "They found it very difficult," says Hooper. | "They found it very difficult," says Hooper. |
| Endurance was subjected to huge pressure from the ice - and there were moments when she listed, but then righted herself. | Endurance was subjected to huge pressure from the ice - and there were moments when she listed, but then righted herself. |
| But by the end of October 1915, with water leaking in, the crew took the decision to decamp on to the ice. | But by the end of October 1915, with water leaking in, the crew took the decision to decamp on to the ice. |
| "They described a terrifying experience," says Hooper. | "They described a terrifying experience," says Hooper. |
| "They had to move their tents twice in one night, with the ice cracking and squealing. And then there was the sound of the ship suffering - it was crying like a wounded animal." | "They had to move their tents twice in one night, with the ice cracking and squealing. And then there was the sound of the ship suffering - it was crying like a wounded animal." |
| Endurance sank on 21 November 1915. | Endurance sank on 21 November 1915. |
| Here, outside their tent on the ice, Hurley on the left and Shackleton on the right. | Here, outside their tent on the ice, Hurley on the left and Shackleton on the right. |
| Hurley is cutting fine strips of seal blubber - fuel for the portable stove which sits between them, and which he invented. | Hurley is cutting fine strips of seal blubber - fuel for the portable stove which sits between them, and which he invented. |
| "It was also endlessly wet," says Hooper. "And when the right day came - with some wind and some sunshine - they tried to dry all their stuff." | "It was also endlessly wet," says Hooper. "And when the right day came - with some wind and some sunshine - they tried to dry all their stuff." |
| Hurley was forced to become more selective with his subject matter as time went on - and in the end he destroyed 400 of his negatives, keeping only 120, of which the Royal Geographical Society now looks after 68. | Hurley was forced to become more selective with his subject matter as time went on - and in the end he destroyed 400 of his negatives, keeping only 120, of which the Royal Geographical Society now looks after 68. |
| By April 1916, in three small boats which had been taken off Endurance, Shackleton and his crew left the floating ice and started an arduous voyage to uninhabited Elephant Island. | By April 1916, in three small boats which had been taken off Endurance, Shackleton and his crew left the floating ice and started an arduous voyage to uninhabited Elephant Island. |
| It took them seven long days - but miraculously, everyone survived. | It took them seven long days - but miraculously, everyone survived. |
| Then - from Elephant Island - Shackleton took five of his crew on a 750-mile journey to South Georgia, where there were whaling stations. Finally he managed to raise the alarm. | Then - from Elephant Island - Shackleton took five of his crew on a 750-mile journey to South Georgia, where there were whaling stations. Finally he managed to raise the alarm. |
| This last image shows the Yelcho - a Chilean steamer - returning to pick up the remaining 22 men from Elephant Island at the end of August 1916. | This last image shows the Yelcho - a Chilean steamer - returning to pick up the remaining 22 men from Elephant Island at the end of August 1916. |
| "The story ended successfully but at any point - almost daily - it could have ended in disaster," says Hooper. | "The story ended successfully but at any point - almost daily - it could have ended in disaster," says Hooper. |
| "The story which had to be told was the success of survival - and Frank Hurley's images are terribly important in that narrative." | "The story which had to be told was the success of survival - and Frank Hurley's images are terribly important in that narrative." |
| Enduring Eye: The Antarctic Legacy of Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Hurley can be seen at the Royal Geographical Society in London from 21 November 2015 until 28 February 2016. | |
| All images subject to copyright. | All images subject to copyright. |