Shackleton's gravestone

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Shackleton's gravestone

 

Sir Ernest Shackleton, British explorer, died at Grytviken in South Georgia in 1922. Shackleton is most famous for his expedition on the 'Endurance', and the resulting dramatic rescue after their ship was crushed in the ice in 1916. His body was buried in a whalers' cemetery at Grytviken; this is his gravestone. The man standing next to it is Tommy Laurenson on skis,from Bressay, Shetland. Tommy was in charge of the defence gun at South Georgia throughout the Second World War. For years a rough cross marked the grave, and this carved gravestone was later put up. On the back of the gravestone
is a quote from the poem 'The Statue and the Bust' by Robert
Browning, "I hold that man should strive to the uttermost, for his life's
set prize".

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