Edgar Evans (1876-1912), Polar explorer; member of British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913

Sitter in 2 portraits
Strongly built, practical and cheerful, Petty Officer Evans was a natural choice to join Captain Scott on the 1660-mile return trek to the Pole. Following the disappointment of their arrival and suffering from malnutrition, a deep cut to the hand and severe frostbite, he collapsed on 17 February. He died later that day from a suspected brain haemorrhage. Shortly before the final push for the Pole, Scott wrote affectionately: 'Edgar Evans has proved a useful member of our party; he looks after our sledges and sledge equipment with a care of management and a fertility of resource which is truly astonishing - on 'trek' he is just as sound and hard as ever and has an inexhaustible store of anecdote.'