The Polar Medal with four bars stands as a rare testament to a life defined by Antarctic endurance, awarded to only two men in history. John Robert Francis Wild, a cornerstone of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, served in five major expeditions, proving his resilience under the command of figures such as Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton.
Early Maritime Training
Born in 1873 in Skelton, United Kingdom, Wild followed a path into the Merchant Navy in 1889 at age 16. After training on the clipper ship Sobraon, he rose to the rank of second officer. By 1900, he had transferred to the Royal Navy, where he served as an able seaman on HMS Edinburgh during his late twenties.
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Wild participated in five significant polar journeys. He joined the 1901 Discovery expedition, followed by the 1908–1909 Nimrod expedition, reaching a record latitude of 88º23'S. He later served on Douglas Mawson’s 1911 Aurora expedition. During the 1914–1916 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, he commanded 21 men on Elephant Island for over four months, surviving on a diet of seal and penguin before their rescue. He eventually took command of the 1921–1922 Shackleton–Rowett Expedition following Shackleton's death.
Post-War Life and Migration
Following World War I service as a transport officer at Archangel, Wild moved to the Union of South Africa. He engaged in various ventures, including cotton farming, railway construction, and mining management. Despite periods of financial instability during the 1930s Depression, he maintained his career through diverse roles, including work at a gold mine near Klerksdorp.
Awards and Legacy
Recognition of his service included the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the David Livingstone Centenary Medal, and the Patron’s Medal, both awarded in 1924. Wild died in 1939 in Klerksdorp. In 2011, his ashes were interred beside those of Ernest Shackleton in Grytviken, South Georgia.
Fast facts
- Born: 1873, Skelton
- Died: 1939, Klerksdorp
- Citizenship: United Kingdom
- Member of: Royal Geographical Society
- Awards: Polar Medal (with four bars)
- Occupations: explorer, traveler
Questions readers ask
How many Antarctic expeditions did Frank Wild participate in?
He participated in five Antarctic expeditions between 1901 and 1922.
Where are Frank Wild's remains located?
Following his 1939 death and cremation, his ashes were interred in 2011 at Grytviken, South Georgia, next to Ernest Shackleton.
Achievements
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Polar Medal
- Patron’s Medal
- David Livingstone Centenary Medal
- Recorded as explorer and traveler
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