Greg Lewis

Perce Blackborow is one of the most fascinating Antarctic explorers. An accidental hero. A stowaway who became a key part one of the great stories of survival…

“If anyone has to be eaten, then you will be the first!” the expedition leader said.

The words might have been a dark joke but, with what was about to unfold, they could have easily become a terrifying prophesy.

For the expedition leader was Ernest Shackleton and this was the 1914-1916 ‘Endurance’ mission, an exploration of Antarctica which would turn into one of the most amazing feats of survival the world has ever seen.

Shackleton was talking to teenager Perce Blackborow, a Welshman with a thirst for adventure – and the only man to ever stow away on an Antarctic expedition.

Merchant seaman Blackborow had not set out to make history.

Stranded in Beunos Aires after his ship was damaged in a collision, he heard that Shackleton’s expedition had docked in Argentina on its way to Antarctica.

He tried to volunteer but Shackleton felt 20-year-old Blackborow was too young. The Newport man refused to give up and stowed away on the ship.

He was not discovered until the ‘Endurance’ was three days out of South Georgia. By then, there was no turning back.

An angry Shackleton confronted Blackborow with the jibe about eating stowaways. The stowaway stared back at the well-built team leader and quipped: “They’d get a lot more meat off you, sir!”

With the help of Perce’s family, I’ve been able to tell his story in this new book for children and teenagers aged 9 to 14. It’s called Heroes at the South Pole.

I’ve also been lucky enough over the years to meet the family of Edgar Evans, who went with Captain Scott to the South Pole and died on the return journey. Edgar and Scott’s story is also told in Heroes.

In September 1915 the tightening ice caused ‘Endurance to “literally [jump] into the air and [settle] on its beam.”

The crew tried to march to safety but failed. Throughout, they remained faithful to Shackleton.

In April 1916, they made it to Elephant Island on three lifeboats – where Blackborow would receive a major but painful honour.

As Shackleton later wrote: “It was the first landing on Elephant Island, and I thought the honour should belong to Blackborrow, the youngest member of the expedition, but I had forgotten that his frost-bitten feet would prevent him from appreciating the honour thrust upon him.”

Shackleton and a handful of others eventually rowed for help and in August 1916, 22 months after he stowed away, Blackborow and his comrades were rescued.

Blackborow’s toes had been amputated on Elephant Island. On his return to Britain, he avoided attention and tried to join the Royal Navy to fight in the Great War. He was turned down because of his injuries.