A Brief History of Tom Crean's Life

Tom Crean was born in Gurtachrane, Annascaul,Co.Kerry in 1877.

Tom Crean's Birthplace

When 15 he joined the Royal Navy.
His intrepid sense of adventure involved him in notable expeditions to the Antarctic region.
He worked with Sir Ernest Shackelton, a County Kildare man, on the remarkable voyage of Endurance.
Previous to this,the frozen wastes lured him twice, each time with Captain Robert Falcon Scott.
The first of Scott's expeditions, the voyage of Discovery, lasted from 1901 to 1904.
The second, and fatal one, began in 1910 and went on for three years.
On this voyage,Tom Crean was petty officer on the ship"Terra Nova" which navigated Ross Sea, Mc Murdo sound, Cape Evans and Hut Point.
Scott and his party reached the Pole on January 17th 1912, but perished on the return trek.
Crean was in the relief party that found Scotts frozen body.
Crean himself had been within 180 miles of the pole.
He retired from the Navy as a Warrant Officer,was decorated with sword at Buckingham Palace and was awarded several medals including the Albert medal for saving the life of Evans. He built the south Pole Inn in Annascaul where he lived out his days with his wife Nell and daughters Eileen and Mary.
He died in 1938 and is buried in Ballinacourty.

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Tom Crean Antarctic Hero