CELEBRATING YOUR DISCOVERIES
The neat copperplate reads, “28 May 1847. Ships Erebus and Terror wintered in 1846 at Beechey Island. Sir William Franklin commanding the expedition. All well.” The two ships’ coordinates were logged in the same hand. But around the margins of this age-yellowed, dog-eared Admiralty form are scrawled notes added later, some faded or lost to the elements.
One, dated 25 April 1848, states, “The officers and crews consisting of 105 souls under the command of Captain F. R. M.
My father said, ‘You're related to the captain of one of Franklin's ships'
Crozier landed here… Sir John Franklin died on the 11th of June 1847 and the total loss by deaths in the Expedition has been to this date 9 officers and 15 men.” And finally: “And start on tomorrow 26th for Backs Fish River.”
This is the Victory Point Note. It gives a glimpse into the unfolding of a disaster that still has us baffled and
