Yesterday at Greenock Cemetery, a lone piper played a lament
in honour of local hero Henry 'Birdie' Bowers. It was one of those shivers down the spine
moments which I don't think I'll ever forget.
You might not have heard of Birdie Bowers, but he was part
of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica
in 1912. He was only 29 when he died and
was called 'Birdie' because of his prominent nose. He was born in Greenock, on a house on the
Esplanade and his family were from the town.
This is the family memorial in Greenock Cemetery where the ceremony was
held yesterday.
Scott and his team were beaten to the South Pole by just a
few days by the Norwegian, Amundsen. On
the way home, Scott and the four other men in his team died. Edgar Evans was first to die, having been
injured on the journey. Lawrence Oates who,
feeling that he might prevent the others from surviving, walked away from the
tent saying "I am just going outside and may be some time". I must have seen a film about that when I was
young, because I've always remembered those words! I think I remember crying too! (It was probably the John Mills version!)
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Image from Wikipedia. Birdie Bowers is seated on the left.
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Scott and the others, including Bowers, died in the tent,
weak from exhaustion and lack of food.
Ironically they were only a few miles from safety. Their frozen bodies were discovered many
months later and they remain in Antarctica.
From the photo above, I think I wear more clothes going out to the shops in January. What they are wearing doesn't look that warm! What amazing people these early explorers were - brave or foolhardy - what do you think?
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Sir Ranulph Fiennes
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It was interesting to find out about Greenock's remarable local hero - Birdie Bowers.
Love,
Liz
11 comments:
Liz
I think it must have been a little bit of both brave and foolhardy (and in that order too) - How nice to hear that he was remembered in this way xxx
Thank you for sharing Liz. That is interesting and of course tragic. Lizzie
I know what you mean by one of those 'shivers down the spine' moments Liz........
A very interesting post and as to whether the early explorers were foolhardy or brave......like Trudie said a bit of both.....
Certainly one place I wouldn't want to go exploring, such a shame they didn't make it back to safety when they were so close....
CLaire :}
Oh brave, for sure! To attempt something no-one else has succeeded in doing, knowing you may not succeed yourself, that's brave! It is a sad story. Our school is next to a Cathedral, and once when taking the children out we passed a funeral cortège with a lone piper, such a beautiful sound, I can still remember it. Definitely sends shivers up the spine.
What a great story, one I've not heard before. Thanks for sharing.
Anne xx
Such a lott of history around you i Greenock and such a hard tale about reaching the south pole first!
Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting! Of course I knew about Scott and his death in Antarctica but I had never known who the other brave AND foolhardy men were. Christa
Thank you Liz for such an interesting post. I too have seen the John Mills film, and it has always stayed with me. I believe they were brave, who knew what they would be up against?Good to know that 'Birdie' is remembered and especially that Sir Ranulph Fiennes attended.
Rose H
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Thanks for sharing such an interesting story.Those 'shivers down the spine' moments stay in our memories forever don't they?
What an interesting post. I remember watching a film about these both brave and foolhardy men. Your experience yesterday will be one of those memories you will talk about in years to come. M x
They were very very brave, no question about it. Curious and adventurous, yes. Foolhardy, no. This is such a sad story, and I think it is very sweet that your town still pauses to honor this local hero. May he, and all his team, rest in peace.
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