Crozier. Capt (HMS Terror)
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:13 pm
The memory of explorer Capt. Francis Crozier, who died during an expedition to the Canadian Arctic 140 years ago, has been honoured at last, thanks to the perseverance of his great-nephew.
Mr Francis Rawdon Crozier, of Wickham Market received the specially struck Arctic Medal during a ceremony at the Ministry of Defence. The presentation followed two years of effort by Mr Crozier.
Rear Admiral R O Morris who presented the medal said that Capt. Crozier took part in five Arctic expeditions between 1821 and 1848, his last being the doomed Franklin expedition of 1845 when he sailed as Captain of HMS TERROR and second in command to Sir John Franklin who sailed in HMS EREBUS.
Definite information about the Franklin expedition was discovered in 1859 in a tin cylinder placed in a cairn on King William island, said Mr Crozier.
A message revealed that Franklin had died in 1847 and both the TERROR and EREBUS becamed beset by ice in September 1846. The crews dwindling because of the ravages of scurvy, hung on until April 1848, when Capt. Crozier led the survivors on foot in a search for fresh food. None of them lived and the entire expedition cost the lives
of about 130 men.
Mr Crozier said the Public Records Office's medal rolls showed that his ancestor's relatives had never claimed the Arctic Medal to which Capt. Crozier was entitled. The medal was instituted in 1857 and was granted to everyone engaged in Arctic discovery expeditions between 1818 and 1855. Alongside Captain Croziers name in a column headed 'When delivered or sent' no entry had been made, it was simply blank, said Mr. Crozier.
First I had to prove the medal was not presented and then I had to prove that I was the rightful person to have it. Captain Crozier was not married. His eldest brother was his sole executor and he was my great-grandfather.
I persevered and now I feel honoured to have this medal. I feel it gives some recognition to Captain Crozier, who must have been a very brave man.
"He had born the brunt of the expedition after Franklin had died. He had all the worry of it and he had to make some very difficult decisions. He tried to lead his men back to civilisation, but the weather and scurvy probably finished them, his body has never been found"
Mr Crozier said he would keep and treasure the medal, which was specially struck by the Royal Mint from the original one.
The interesting article in Log Book re EREBUS and TERROR has coincided with a local man claiming a relatives Arctic Medal. This exerpt has been taken from a local newspaper, and I hope that you find it of interest, bringing to a conclusion the facts related to the story of this ill-fated Arctic expedition.
FRANK BRANNILL Log Book March 1989.
For further information please see-
http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=2&t=7909
Mr Francis Rawdon Crozier, of Wickham Market received the specially struck Arctic Medal during a ceremony at the Ministry of Defence. The presentation followed two years of effort by Mr Crozier.
Rear Admiral R O Morris who presented the medal said that Capt. Crozier took part in five Arctic expeditions between 1821 and 1848, his last being the doomed Franklin expedition of 1845 when he sailed as Captain of HMS TERROR and second in command to Sir John Franklin who sailed in HMS EREBUS.
Definite information about the Franklin expedition was discovered in 1859 in a tin cylinder placed in a cairn on King William island, said Mr Crozier.
A message revealed that Franklin had died in 1847 and both the TERROR and EREBUS becamed beset by ice in September 1846. The crews dwindling because of the ravages of scurvy, hung on until April 1848, when Capt. Crozier led the survivors on foot in a search for fresh food. None of them lived and the entire expedition cost the lives
of about 130 men.
Mr Crozier said the Public Records Office's medal rolls showed that his ancestor's relatives had never claimed the Arctic Medal to which Capt. Crozier was entitled. The medal was instituted in 1857 and was granted to everyone engaged in Arctic discovery expeditions between 1818 and 1855. Alongside Captain Croziers name in a column headed 'When delivered or sent' no entry had been made, it was simply blank, said Mr. Crozier.
First I had to prove the medal was not presented and then I had to prove that I was the rightful person to have it. Captain Crozier was not married. His eldest brother was his sole executor and he was my great-grandfather.
I persevered and now I feel honoured to have this medal. I feel it gives some recognition to Captain Crozier, who must have been a very brave man.
"He had born the brunt of the expedition after Franklin had died. He had all the worry of it and he had to make some very difficult decisions. He tried to lead his men back to civilisation, but the weather and scurvy probably finished them, his body has never been found"
Mr Crozier said he would keep and treasure the medal, which was specially struck by the Royal Mint from the original one.
The interesting article in Log Book re EREBUS and TERROR has coincided with a local man claiming a relatives Arctic Medal. This exerpt has been taken from a local newspaper, and I hope that you find it of interest, bringing to a conclusion the facts related to the story of this ill-fated Arctic expedition.
FRANK BRANNILL Log Book March 1989.
For further information please see-
http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=2&t=7909