Up close with J Caird

I took my class to see the J Caird on Monday 14th March.
Many thanks to the Archives Department in Dulwich College who gave us an excellent Shackleton and Endurance themed tour around the college (lasting roughly an hour), before seeing the famous boat. This tour is available to all schools on Monday and Thursdays only and it is free. Well worth it for any class studying this period of history.

5BK had an interesting day @DulwichCollege finding out about Sir Ernest Shackleton and his epic adventure. pic.twitter.com/sAlBMZZNBb

— St Martin's School (@stmartinsprep) March 14, 2016

One boy's very genuine question made it very worthwhile - "Is this really the actual boat that they sailed in? Wow!"

Shackleton's famous ad

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success."

Although it now seems probable that this ad never appeared in The Times newspaper, it is a huge part of the legend of Shackleton. Click here or here to see artists' impressions of what the ad may have looked like.

Click here for a beautiful image of what the expedition's offices at 4 (New) Burlington St looked like at the time.