ROBERT F. SCOTT'S MEMORIAL IN CARDIFF

Robert Scott nd his expedition ship, Terra Nova

On 1910 the SS Terra Nova left Cardiff docklands, heading for the South Pole, with Captain Robert Falcon Scott and members of the British Antarctic Expedition. The previous year, William Davies, editor of the Western Mail  Wales newspaper was planning his own Antarctic Expedition  along with  the naval officer Lieutenant E.R.G.R.Evans and thought they would find support for their project from Cardiff businesses.

Later on, Evans met and joined Robert F. Scott's expedition, bringing with him the support of the editor of The Western Mail. Thanks to  William Davies' influence , Scott's expedition would obtain the government sponsorship and the Welsh shipowners support.

Another Welsh Evans was also in the crew, Petty officer Edgar Evans from Rhossili, Gower. He had been to Antarctica with Scott on his Discovery expedition of 1901-4. He was the first to die on the return march from the South Pole.

The Terra Nova  had arrived in Cardiff from London  to finish preparations for the voyage and take on fuel.They got donations from the coal companies in Cardiff; cooking equipment was supplied by the Welsh Tin Plate Company of Llanelli;  2,500 pounds were raised in the city of Cardiff and more money was accepted from shipowner donors such as Daniel Radcliffe and William J.Tatem. They both helped to raise sponsorship and funds. Cardiff also provided dock facilities for the Terra Nova. For all this Welsh support, Cardiff was declared the Terra Nova's home port and it was there that the vessel returned at the end of the expedition on June 14, 1913

In the collection of the Amguedda Cymru, National Museum Wales, there are three documents, two dating from the start of the expedition and one from the end, bearing the signatures of 27 of the officers, scientists and crew of Scott's expedition
.In 2003 a commemorative sculpture was unveiled in Cardiff Bay, designed by the Cardiff-based sculptor Jonathan William. This  snow-white Scott's Memorial shows Scott on the front point of his ship and his co-explorers half buried in snow. The monument succeeds to depict these explorers' endeavour to follow their goals.

Scott's Memorial in Cardiff Bay

It stands on a compass rose looking at Cardiff Bay from where the ship left. A Norwegian church rises behind, as a poignant reminder that Scott was beaten to the Pole by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen. It was built in 1868 to minister to Norwegian sailors and remained a place of worship until1974.

Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay

Scott's Memorial and Norwegian church

Captain Scott's memorial commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 'Age of Antartic Discovery' It seems the monument was inspired by modernist architect Gaudí, by using pieces of ceramic tiles.
The Welshman, Edgard Evans, who was in charged of the sledging equipment is depicted wearing glasses.