BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION (1910-1913) A PINE PANEL FROM A COLMAN'S FLOUR PACKING CASE

A later note on the verso explains that, having served its original purpose, this short plank formed part of Henry Robertson 'Bertie' Bowers' annex to the Cape Evans hut. Bowers was the storekeeper for the expedition and his shore list (in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge) records 5 tons of Colman's wholemeal and plain flour amongst the food supplies for the Terra Nova Expedition store party. Packing cases were used both for the construction of furniture in the hut and formed Bowers' annex: 'On the south wall of the hut, Bowers, who was responsible for all stores, built an annex. This comprised a wall of cases extending around to the porch, each of which could be opened from the inside and filled with gravel when emptied.' (D.L. Harrowfield, Sledging into History, Auckland, 1981, p. 45).