Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

‘We have felt that our last act before leaving the region which has been our home for so long should be one of homage to the shipmate who sacrificed his life to our work. We have had a large wooden cross prepared for sometime; it bears the simple carved inscription to the memory of poor Vince, and yesterday it was erected on the summit of Hut Point, so firmly that I think in this undecaying climate it will stand for centuries. Today our small company landed together for the last time, and stood bareheaded about his memorial whilst I read some short prayers.’

Captain Scott’s entry for 16 February 1904, The Voyage of the Discovery.

A rare and poignant Boer War and Polar Medal pair awarded to Able Seaman G. T. Vince, Royal Navy, who died in Scott’s first Antarctic expedition in March 1902, after slipping down a steep ice slope during a blizzard while employed in a sledging party under Frank Wild

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (G. T. Vince, A.B., H.M.S. Beagle); Polar Medal 1904, E.VII.R., bronze, no clasp (A.B. G. T. Vince, H.M.S. “Discovery”), edge bruise to last, very fine or better (2) £5000-6000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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Of the 60 Polar Medals in bronze issued for Scott’s first Antarctic expedition 1902-04, just five were awarded to members of the Discovery’s crew.

George Thomas Vince was born in Blandford, Dorset in September 1879 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in October 1895. Advanced to Able Seaman in March 1899, he served off South Africa in H.M.S. Beagle in the period May-October 1901, and, shortly thereafter, joined the National Antarctic Expedition under Scott at Simon’s Town.

The following extracts from Scott’s Voyage of the Discovery confirm the sad loss of Vince while serving in a sledging party under Frank Wild:

[4 March 1902]:

'The five who now remained submitted themselves to the guidance of Wild and followed him in single file as he again struck out for the direction in which they supposed the ship to lie. As they proceeded they found the slope growing steeper and the difficulty of foothold increased, especially for Vince, who was wearing fur boots, but they never doubted they would soon come to the bottom and find themselves in one of the valleys which would guide them to our winter quarters. In this manner they must have proceeded about 500 yards, when the leader suddenly saw the precipice beneath his feet, and far below, through the wreathing snow, the sea. Another step would have take him over the edge; he sprang back with a cry of warning and those behind him, hearing it, dug their heels instinctively into the slippery surface and without exception all succeeded in stopping. What followed was over in an instant. Before his horror-stricken companions had time to think, poor Vince, unable to check himself with his soft fur boots, had shot from amongst them, flashed past the leader and disappeared.'

[13 March 1902]:

'We had now finally and sadly to resign ourselves to the loss of our shipmate, and the thought was grievous to all. From the moment when he joined us at the Cape of Good Hope, Vince had been popular with all; always obliging and always cheerful. I learnt that he had never shown these qualities more markedly than during the short sledge journey which brought him to an untimely end. His pleasant face and ready wit served to dispel the thought of hardship and difficulty to the end. Life was a bright thing to him and it was something to think that death must have come quickly in the grip of an icy sea.'

Vince’s Queen’s South Africa and Polar Medals were despatched to his father, the former in September 1903. He is also commemorated in Blandford Parish Church; sold with copied research.

“H.M.S.” does not appear as part of the naming on the Polar medal