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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 475

A rare Chilean Medal awarded for the rescue of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition party on Elephant Island

Chilean Military Patriotic League, Shackleton Rescue Medal 1916, silver, 28mm, obverse embossed ‘A La Disciplina y Al Valor. La Liga Patriotica Militar y el Pueblo de Chile’, reverse ‘Salvamento de los Companeros de Shackleton’ with depiction of the Yelcho arriving at Elephant Island, small ring for suspension, nearly extremely fine and rare

During the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance became trapped in the ice of the Weddell Sea. Nine months later the Endurance was crushed by the ice and sank on 27 October 1915. Shackleton and his crew of 27 made their way by foot, sledge and lifeboats to Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula facing South America. On 24 April 1916 Shackleton and five of his men began an epic 800-mile open-boat voyage to the Island of South Georgia, leaving the remaining 22 men behind on Elephant Island while he sought help to rescue them. After three frustrated attempts to rescue the Elephant Island party, Shackleton persuaded the Chilean Government to lend the steam tug Yelcho, under Captain Pardo. With Shackleton aboard, the Yelcho sailed on 25 August from Punta Arenas, on the Strait of Magellan. By now the Antarctic winter was at its height, and ice conditions were difficult as the Yelcho neared Elephant Island. On 30 August 1916, however, the 22 men on Elephant Island were rescued and the Yelcho returned to Punta Arenas on 3 September 1916 to an enthusiastic reception from the population of the city, as well as Chilean Naval authorities.

The crew, under Captain Pardo, were given a hero's welcome and awarded the above Medal. Later, a Cape on the northern tip of Elephant Island was given the name Yelcho. The bow of the Yelcho is on display at Puerto Williams, a Chilean Naval base on the Beagle Channel, and a bust of Captain Pardo has been placed at the site of the Endurance crew's camp on Elephant Island.

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Sold for
£3,200