CONNECTING BOTH POLES
[An archive of letters].
[c. 1882-1907]
Including: nine ALS within stamped envelopes, eight addressed to George Le Clerc Egerton, and one to Lady Egerton; seven stamped envelopes variously addressed to Egerton and Lady Egerton; six postcards; two receipts from Curtiss & Sons, Royal Pantechicon, Portsmouth; and a copy of E. M. Tenison's The Legend of Saint Christopher (Plymouth, 1922?), inscribed by the author to Egerton.
A modest yet captivating archive of letters addressed to Royal Navy officer George Le Clerc Egerton (1852-1940); one including a reference to Scott of the Antarctic.
Egerton entered the navy in 1866, serving early in his career on the British Arctic Expedition of 1875-1876, the near-disastrous attempt by the Admiralty to reach the North Pole. In 1893 he was promoted captain and appointed a naval attaché before serving with the Naval Brigade in Mombassa. In 1897, he was chief of staff under Vice-Admiral Harry Holdsworth Rawson (1843-1910) during the punitive Benin Expedition. By the turn of the century Egerton had the command of the pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Majestic, serving as flagship to Rawson, then commander-in-chief of the Channel Fleet. In 1906 he was appointed second-in-command of the Atlantic Fleet, commanding the HMS Victorious, notably appointing as his flag captain Captain Robert Scott (1868-1912), later immortalised as Scott of the Antarctic.
A letter within this archive addressed to Egerton from Rawson, dated 2nd August, 1906, references not only his new command but the resolute Scott: 'Your Flag will be up in a day or two and I wish you all happiness & success. You have two good men in Scott & Measham with you. How I envy you being afloat in a squadron.'
Another letter of note, dated 30th March, 1905, by sometime consul of Senegal Captain Charles Cromie, applauds a recent promotion received by Egerton and relates, albeit succinctly, an eight-month journey through the valley of the Niger 'visiting Timbuktu en route'; and a third letter, dated 18th February, 1904, from fellow officer Leonard Donaldson (1875-1956) congratulates Egerton on this appointment as aide-de-camp to King Edward VII.
In 1908, Egerton was appointed commander-in-chief, Cape of Good Hope Station, and in 1911 was promoted Second Sea Lord. He served in the First World War as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, before retiring in 1916.
A remarkable collection of letters exhibiting the meteoric rise of one of Britains foremost naval officers of the early twentieth century.
£ 1,500.00
On Sale:
£ 1,200.00
Antiquates Ref: 31490
Egerton entered the navy in 1866, serving early in his career on the British Arctic Expedition of 1875-1876, the near-disastrous attempt by the Admiralty to reach the North Pole. In 1893 he was promoted captain and appointed a naval attaché before serving with the Naval Brigade in Mombassa. In 1897, he was chief of staff under Vice-Admiral Harry Holdsworth Rawson (1843-1910) during the punitive Benin Expedition. By the turn of the century Egerton had the command of the pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Majestic, serving as flagship to Rawson, then commander-in-chief of the Channel Fleet. In 1906 he was appointed second-in-command of the Atlantic Fleet, commanding the HMS Victorious, notably appointing as his flag captain Captain Robert Scott (1868-1912), later immortalised as Scott of the Antarctic.
A letter within this archive addressed to Egerton from Rawson, dated 2nd August, 1906, references not only his new command but the resolute Scott: 'Your Flag will be up in a day or two and I wish you all happiness & success. You have two good men in Scott & Measham with you. How I envy you being afloat in a squadron.'
Another letter of note, dated 30th March, 1905, by sometime consul of Senegal Captain Charles Cromie, applauds a recent promotion received by Egerton and relates, albeit succinctly, an eight-month journey through the valley of the Niger 'visiting Timbuktu en route'; and a third letter, dated 18th February, 1904, from fellow officer Leonard Donaldson (1875-1956) congratulates Egerton on this appointment as aide-de-camp to King Edward VII.
In 1908, Egerton was appointed commander-in-chief, Cape of Good Hope Station, and in 1911 was promoted Second Sea Lord. He served in the First World War as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, before retiring in 1916.
A remarkable collection of letters exhibiting the meteoric rise of one of Britains foremost naval officers of the early twentieth century.
