Walking into a freezing blizzard on his thirty-second birthday, Lawrence Oates ended his participation in the Terra Nova expedition to avoid further slowing his companions. Suffering from severe frostbite and gangrene during the difficult return from the South Pole, he chose to sacrifice himself on the Ross Ice Shelf, leaving behind a legacy of endurance and finality.
Early Life and Education
Born in Putney in 1880, Oates was the eldest son of a landed gentry family. He attended Willington School and later enrolled at Eton College, though he departed after less than two years due to health concerns. Following his time at Eton, he prepared for a military career at South Lynn School in Eastbourne. His father passed away from typhoid fever in 1896.
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Commissioned into the 3rd Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1898, Oates eventually transferred to the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons. During the Second Boer War, he saw action across the Transvaal and Cape Colony. He sustained a serious gunshot wound to his thigh in 1901, an injury that left one leg shorter than the other. Despite being ordered to surrender during this engagement, he famously refused to concede. His service record includes promotions to lieutenant in 1902 and captain in 1906, with deployments in Ireland, Egypt, and India. He received the Queen's South Africa Medal for his efforts.
The Terra Nova Expedition
In 1910, Oates joined Robert Falcon Scott’s Antarctic venture, contributing £1,000 toward the costs and taking charge of 19 ponies used for initial supply transport. Tensions existed between Oates and Scott regarding the logistics and management of the animals, which Oates considered ill-suited for the harsh conditions. By January 1912, he was part of the five-man team that reached the South Pole, only to find that Roald Amundsen had arrived thirty-five days earlier.
Final Days
The return journey from the Pole proved catastrophic. Edgar Evans died in February 1912, and the remaining men faced plummeting temperatures, food shortages, and physical decline. As gangrene set in, Oates’s condition hindered the group’s progress. On 17 March 1912, he exited their tent into the snow to die, hoping his absence would increase the survival chances of his companions. He was posthumously awarded the Polar Medal.
Fast facts
- Born: 1880, Putney
- Died: 1912, Ross Ice Shelf
- Military Rank: Captain
- Expedition: Terra Nova
- Awards: Queen's South Africa Medal, Polar Medal
- Education: Eton College, Willington School
- Citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Questions readers ask
Why was Lawrence Oates selected for the Terra Nova expedition?
He was chosen primarily for his extensive experience with horses and his ability to provide a £1,000 financial contribution to the project.
What happened to Oates on the return journey from the South Pole?
He suffered from severe frostbite and gangrene, which hampered the mobility of the five-man party before he eventually walked into a blizzard to sacrifice himself.
Achievements
- Polar Medal
- Queen's South Africa Medal
- Recorded as explorer, military personnel and military officer
