‘Birdie’ Bowers of the Antarctic

Henry ‘Birdie’ Bowers (1883-1913) realized his life’s ambition when he was selected for Robert Falcon Scott’s British Antarctic Expedition (1910-13) in the ‘Terra Nova’. Bowers’ boyhood obsession with travel and adventure took him round the world several times and his life appears, in hindsight, to have been a ceaseless preparation for his ultimate challenge - Antarctica. A stocky 5’4”, he was a bundle of energy: knowledgeable, indefatigable, and the ultimate team player.

Bowers participated om the Winter Journey, with Apsley Cherry-Garrard and Edward Wilson, to the Emperor Penguin rookery at Cape Crozier. The amazing tale of their experiences is described by Cherry-Garrard in his classic book ‘The Worst Journey in the World’.

Scott was so impressed with Bowers’ performance on the Winter Journey that he chose him to be a member of the Polar Party, along with ‘Teddy’ Evans, ‘Titus’ Oates, Scott, and Wilson. Together, on January 18th, 1912, they reached the South Pole, only to find that Roald Amundsen had beaten them in their quest. They then turned their backs on the Pole and began the arduous return journey to Cape Evans and safety; only to succumb 11 miles short of their supply depot. Scott regarded Bowers as one of the hardiest polar travelers he knew.

This is the first biography of ‘Birdie’ Bowers and the third of Seaver’s five books on Edward Wilson, Birdie Bowers, and Robert Scott. Uncommon.

AB-USN 29.32, Conrad pg.189, Meadows 469, Renard 1423, Rosove 298.A1, Spence 1083, Taurus 147.