“Sir Ernest likes to keep all hands employed as far as possible, so today he decided to unpack my motor-crawler—sledge tractor—which has been in a huge packing case all this time on the fore-deck. It was like meeting an old friend after a long separation to once more have a motor in my hands. As soon as it was out, I filled it up with petrol and water and in a very short time had it running entirely to Sir Ernest’s and my satisfaction. To add to my joy I found the interior of the crawler entirely full of spare parts and all of them wrapped up in old motor papers! Congenial reading for weeks!”

— Thomas Orde-Lees