Lot 95

PETTY OFFICER PATRICK KEOHANE, RN 'There are at least six Irishmen amongst the crew of volunteers on the Terra Nova, one of whom is Mr Robert Forde, petty officer, brother of Miss Forde, of Harbour Row, Queenstown. The other is Mr Keohane, of West Cork, also a petty officer. Those two specimens of Irish manhood were attached to the Black Prince at Queenstown for some time, and were subsequently on the cruiser Talbot, where their splendid seamanship and vigorous health greatly impressed Lieutenant Evans, who is also with the expedition party, and who selected Mr Forde and Mr Keohane from amongst the many volunteers who offered to go the whole journey.' (Cork Examiner, 12 Feb. 1913) Keohane, a Cork man, originally from Courtmacsherry, was 30 years old when he was picked by Evans, Scott's second in command, to join the British Antarctic Expedition. Nicknamed 'Patsy' on the expedition, he proved to be one of the stalwart members of the shore party. He was dextrous, working with his fellow Irishman on sewing duties in the hut at Cape Evans over the winters, and, as seen in Ponting's photograph taken on 10 August 1911, made a fine model of the Terra Nova (now at SPRI), as well as the loaded sledge included here (lot 97). He distinguished himself on sledging journeys, manhauling with Cherry-Garrard, Bowers and Crean on the Depot journey in January-March 1911 and was a member of the First Supporting Party (with Atkinson, Cherry-Garrard and C.S. Wright) on the southern journey, reaching Lat. 85o 15' on 22 December 1911, and making Hut Point safely on 26 January 1912. On 26 March 1912 he went out with Atkinson with supplies for the returning southern party, depting them at Corner Camp, and returning from there on 30 March (just a day after Scott made his last journal entry 11 miles south of One Ton Dept). He then was a member of the Northern Relief Party (with Atkinson, C.S. Wright and Williamson) in April 1912, and a member of the mule party of the Search journey which set out from Hut Point to search for the southern party on 29 October 1912.

Patrick Keohane (1879-1950)

British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-13: Keohane's sledging flag, sewn and embroidered by him in the hut at Cape Evans, and carried by him on the expedition

Details

Patrick Keohane (1879-1950)
British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-13: Keohane's sledging flag, sewn and embroidered by him in the hut at Cape Evans, and carried by him on the expedition
a standard with the Cross of St George (a red cross on a white ground) nearest the hoist, the remainder of the flag with the Irish harp embroidered in yellow thread above the motto 'ERIN.GO.BRAUCH' ['Ireland Forever'] on a green ground, the whole bordered with a cream, green and pink braid, tassels at each corner
cotton, wool and hessian
approx. 9½ x 25in. (24.1 x 63.5cm.)

Provenance

P.O. Patrick Keohane, and thence by descent to the present owner.

Lot Essay

Keohane's patriotism was noted by Scott after the Midwinter Day dinner at Cape Evans: 'By this time the effect of stimulating liquid refreshment on men so long accustomed to a simple life became apparent. Our biologist had retired to bed, the silent Soldier bubbled with humour and insisted on dancing with Anton. Evans, P.O., was imparting confidences in heavy whispers. "Pat" Keohane had grown intensely Irish and desirous of political argument ...' (Scott's Journals, 22 June 1911).

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