"GETTING TO KNOW THE MEN" 13 



were old friends, and had travelled together in many Eastern 

 countries. Indeed, this fore-knowledge was a usual thing 

 among members. Simpson had almost accompanied Scott 

 in 1902. Wilson, of course, made his name on that expe- 

 dition ; and had been chiefly connected with the Grouse 

 Commission since. 



Cherry-Garrard was making an extended tour of the 

 world when the expedition was started, and volunteered from 

 Australia. He was the sole representative sent by the 

 University of Oxford. He came out from home on the 

 Terra Nova, and was one of the landsmen who took kindly 

 to a sailor's life. A characteristic of Cherry's was his never- 

 ending series of gifts to his mates. A most acceptable pair 

 of huge Jaeger socks brought about our real introduction ! 



Captain Oates had seen service in many parts of the 

 Empire. With difficulty one could get him to talk of his 

 experiences in India (in the province of Indore) or in the 

 South African war, where he served with distinction. He 

 was very busy with the ponies during the voyage south, and 

 I hardly spoke to him until we were marooned together in 

 the Old Discovery Hut. One heard that he was a keen 

 yachtsman, but his strong character and real sense of humour 

 were hidden under a very quiet exterior. Our naval surgeon, 

 Dr. Atkinson, and myself had no work in common until 

 the same month of March at Hut Point brought us together 

 when the Western and Depot parties joined forces. 



Perhaps the most interesting career among the younger 

 officers was that of Tryggve Gran. He was only a few years 

 over age, and yet he had seen more of the world than any 

 member except Captain Scott. Born in Bergen, and educated 

 in Switzerland, he had travelled all his life. He knew 

 Europe from Turkey to Iceland, and shared with Simpson 

 and Campbell a knowledge of Arctic life. He had fought 

 rebels in Venezuela, tramped across South America, spent 

 several years in the merchant service and navy of Norway, 

 and was now a sub-lieutenant and a B.A. of Christiania. 

 His chief record hitherto had been that of winning the Blue 

 Ribbon of Norway, the Holman-Kol cup for ski-running. 

 This narrative will have much to say of him, and will show 

 that his versatility and willingness to help were remarkable even 

 among the group of men who were my mates in Antarctica. 



