Robert Falcon Scott was a British naval officer and is one of the most revered explorers in Antarctic history. He was born in Devonport, England and joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14, training aboard the HMS Britannia. Scott made two of the most historical expeditions in Antarctic history - the first of which was named the ‘Discovery?Expedition.

The party of Discovery expeditioners left England in August 1901, and stopped en-route in New Zealand, finally reaching Cape Adare on the edge of the Ross Sea, Antarctica in January 1902. Included in the Discovery team was Ernest Shackleton ?a man who was later to embark upon his own legendary Antarctic journeys.

When the expedition arrived in Antarctica in February 1902, Scott and his men built the Discovery Hut as a base. Despite the effort and toil that was needed, the hut was never used as a form of accommodation. It served as a centre for storage, preparations, repairs and sometimes the odd spot of evening entertainment. This landmark became a resting point and a place of use for many Antarctic expeditions afterwards, and still stands today. Stoves and other pieces of equipment still lie where they were placed so many years ago, and in aid of the preservation of history, only eight visitors are allowed in to the hut at any one time.

Scott’s second expedition was named the ‘Terra Nova? Throughout the two years that this expedition spent in the Antarctic, Scott’s base at Cape Evans was a safe haven from which short exploratory parties ventured out during the summer months. One memorable departure was made from that hut by a team of 16 men, led by Scott himself. On 01 November 1911, equipped with 10 ponies, 233 dogs and 13 sleds, this team set out to conquer the South Pole ?a journey that came to be one of the most remarkable polar expeditions ever undertaken. It is vividly described in Apsley Cherry-Garrard's book "The Worst Journey in the World".

The difficult snow conditions proved to be a problem for the ponies and within a short time the animals were exhausted. During the first week of December five had to be shot. The remaining five were later despatched at Shambles Camp near the bottom of the Beardmore Glacier.

The 193 km (120nm) uphill climb of the Beardmore Glacier proved exhausting for the men and their dogs. The soft snow created anxiety and frustration between all concerned and very soon the dogs had turned back with 4 of the original team. 12 men now took turns in hauling the 3 remaining sleds.

The British team embraced the very conditions that ‘rival?polar expeditioner Roald Amundsen’s planning had avoided. Both on the polar plateau and back in England, where Amundsen’s achievement would be belittled, the notion died hard that it is only through suffering that a goal is really worth attaining.

On the final leg of the journey, everyone began to feel colder than they should have, which was a sure sign of exhaustion. On 12 January 1912, Scott wrote: "It is going to be a close run thing". Then, three days later on 15 January, he wrote "…the only appalling possibility, the sight of a Norwegian flag forestalling ours." The very next day Scott and his men were just 32 km (20nm) from the South Pole. It was then that ‘Birdie?Bowers caught sight of a fluttering black speck in the distance. The worst had happened - Amundsen and his men had beaten the Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole.

It was a despondent group that faced up to the long journey of 1290 km (800nm) back to Cape Evans. Scott wrote in his diary: "..I wonder if we can do it". As they descended the Beardmore Glacier, Evans, in severe discomfort and almost helpless, fell behind. When the group returned to help him he was foundering on his knees with his hands exposed. That night he died in his sleep.

By now it was late in the season. Food and fuel were only adequate if the team travelled 16 km (10nm) each day. In four days, the men had only managed a total of 39 km (24nm).

On what is thought to be 16 March, Oates, whose feet were completely black with frostbite and now gangrenous, walked out into a blizzard and uttered the unforgettable phrase "I am just going outside, I may be some time". He never returned.

By 21 March, with a party of three men remaining, and only 18 km (11nm) to go to the One Ton depot containing provisions and fuel, the weather had become impenetrable. The remaining men were unable to continue and all fuel supplies were diminished by 22 March.

The frozen bodies of Scott, Wilson and Bowers were found eight months later by a search party. A memorial cross was raised by the remaining members of the Terra Nova expedition before setting sail for New Zealand. This cross bears the carving of the ultimate line of Tennyson’s "Ulysses" - ‘To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield?

It is sometimes thought that Scott, who described man-hauling as a more "noble" method of exploration as opposed to Amundsen’s use of dogs, was the factor that ultimately led to his heroic death and those of his brave companions. Nevertheless, it is with respect and admiration that the Antarctic explorers of today think of Robert Falcon Scott. He was a man whose bravery and dedication lit a flame of hope that burns brighter with every traveller who treads his path across the Antarctic continent.