{"id":180,"date":"2023-11-18T05:54:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-18T05:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/?p=180"},"modified":"2024-03-15T14:33:47","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T14:33:47","slug":"i-have-been-dreaming-of-you-antarctic-lovebirds-redux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/2023\/11\/18\/i-have-been-dreaming-of-you-antarctic-lovebirds-redux\/","title":{"rendered":"“I have been dreaming of you” \u2014\u00a0Antarctic Lovebirds Redux"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(If you haven\u2019t read <\/em>my first blog post<\/em><\/a> about these guys, please start there!!!!)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of my first round of research about Pennell and Atkinson, I had a LOT of questions. The two big ones: Why hadn\u2019t I heard about their relationship before? and did Atkinson feel the same way about Pennell?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer to the first one was fairly simple. The small number of people who had read Pennell\u2019s diary in full had, for various reasons which are completely valid, refrained from spotlighting the details publicly. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be the first one to do that, and I take it very seriously as an important responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That leads me to the answer to the second question. Having had some incredibly enlightening and encouraging discussions after the publication of my first post, I decided to pursue further research\u2014well, not decided, <\/em>really. It felt natural to keep going, to be able to try and draw as vivid and real a picture of them as possible, which meant doing more digging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first order of business was to try and track down some of Atkinson\u2019s writings, in order to get his side of the story. This involved accessing the digital archives of the National Library of New Zealand (freely available, like the Canterbury Museum) and the Royal Geographical Society (accessed through my school), followed by an in-person visit to the SPRI archives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letters held at the RGS were donated by Pennell\u2019s niece Naomi \u2014 credited as his daughter for some reason, but he didn\u2019t have a daughter and the name matches genealogical records for his brother Reginald\u2019s daughter. They include my holy grail \u2014 3 letters from Atkinson to Pennell written at Cape Evans during the winters of 1911 and 1912 \u2014 as well as a long letter from Pennell to Atkinson written during the Terra Nova\u2019s voyage home in 1913. In late 1918, shortly before he was wounded on in the explosion of the HMS Glatton, <\/em>Atkinson forwarded these onto Pennell\u2019s mother-in-law for her to read and choose whether to pass on to Pennell\u2019s widow, Katie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separated in the Antarctic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>In the first letter dated October 26th, 1911, shortly before setting out on the Southern Journey, Atkinson thanks Pennell for the long letter that he had left with him before the Terra Nova <\/em>departed in March of that year. The letter \u201ctravelled the round at least certain portions of it did and was a great source of enjoyment to all. I had to do this as it was a bit comfortless to the others not having any news to read.\u201d1<\/sup><\/a> Pennell, well liked by all, was greatly missed by more of the shore party than just Atkinson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI may not see you but I hope I do as I have a very great deal to say to you, things that one cannot write,\u201d Atch continues. This could quite possibly refer to gossip about Scott\u2019s leadership, seeing as it follows on shortly from Atkinson remarking that \u201cTeddy Evans is a very great failure in everyway conceivable […] unsuited for the job in every way and is very stupid.\u201d Conversely, according to Atch, Birdie, Cherry, Bill, and Titus are \u201cthe pick of the whole lot\u201d and Silas is \u201calso a top notcher.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell old dear I am one of the 12 going up the Beardmore and the 8 or 4 fittest at the top will be chosen. Good luck to \u2018em,\u201d Atkinson signs off. Two postscripts are attached, one at the top of the first page:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

About the second year I have let the Owner know your wishes off my own bat and he told me that \u201che had been considering it, would like it very much, but that it was a very difficult question.\u201d You would like the life it is good and hard.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

And one at the top of the second:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

If I don\u2019t see you give my love to every pretty girl you see in New Zealand. ELA<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Pennell would have been handed this letter by \u201cMarie\u201d Nelson when the Terra Nova arrived in early January 1912, with all the sledging parties still out. He was looking forward to potentially exchanging billets with Teddy Evans on his arrival, and becoming part of the shore party\u2014as Atkinson had proposed to Scott\u2014and it might well have happened, as Teddy planned to return to New Zealand after his return from the Southern Journey (per the wishes of his wife, according to Pennell). But the dreams of all were dashed when Evans came off the Barrier desperately ill with a bad case of scurvy, and Pennell had no choice but to remain in command of the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Atch stayed onboard the ship caring for poor Teddy for a few days while Pennell led the attempt to relieve Campbell\u2019s Northern Party in Terra Nova Bay, being thwarted by the ice conditions at every turn. But as Pennell wrote to Wilson in a letter included in the RGS materials, with Atkinson on board it wasn\u2019t all bad: \u201cOld Jane has been spinning me all the shore yarns, it is delightful to have him again to talk to, though one could wish him on the Southern Plateau with you people.\u201d2<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually the Northern Party were given up for the winter, and Teddy\u2019s condition was deemed stable enough for Atch to return to base, entrusting him to the temporary care of Bernard Day for the journey home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Pennell and the Terra Nova <\/em>left for New Zealand in early March 1912, it was still assumed that the Polar Party would be returning safely by the end of the month before winter set in. There was no reason to believe otherwise. But as April passed and winter set in with no sign of them, it was apparent to all that something had gone very wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next letters from Atkinson to Pennell are from the beginning and end of that winter, although Pennell wouldn\u2019t receive them until January 1913 when the Terra Nova <\/em>returned (at which point Atkinson might have delivered them personally).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cAs regards the Polar Party I believe they have gone down a crevasse at the bottom or middle of the Beardmore,\u201d Atch tells him in the first of these letters, dated May 9.3<\/sup><\/a> He reassures Pennell that he believes Campbell\u2019s party is safe and that is why he has decided to go south in search of the Polar Party at the start of summer\u2014 \u201cThis will be openly discussed but that is what will be done.\u201d (This open discussion occurred after Midwinter dinner on June 22, according to Atkinson\u2019s narrative of the second winter in Scott\u2019s Last Expedition.<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the austral winter of 1912, Pennell was surveying in New Zealand with the ship\u2019s crew, dealing with the mysterious death of stoker Brissenden, and spending time with the Dennistoun family at their home at Peel Forest, trading in his naval uniform for civilian clothes, complete with his characteristic starched stand-up collar\u2014a good few years out of fashion by then. He attended a dinner given in honor of Roald Amundsen at the Kinseys\u2019 home on April 26th, which was also attended by Teddy Evans (by then much recovered but soon to depart for England to convalesce), his wife Hilda, and Oriana Wilson. That must have been an interesting evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few weeks before that dinner, Oriana Wilson had written effusively to Pennell\u2019s mother in Devon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

<\/a>\u201cI feel I must just write you a little letter to say how splendidly well he looks & how everyone loves to have him in the house, for he is always so cheery & always finds something nice to say about everyone on the Expedition & elsewhere – My husband writes in his journals how dreadfully sorry he is that they couldn’t keep him down South – they think so much of him, but then one can see how indispensable he is on the ship […] What an extraordinary worker and walker he is! full of energy – We all told him he looked so well & had evidently put on weight – he didn’t approve of that at all! & is doing his best to walk it off now[.]\u201d<\/em>4<\/sup><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In October of 1912, shortly before the Search Party departed, Atkinson wrote the final letter to Pennell included in the RGS collection. He expected the party to be away well into January 1913, aiming to reach the top of the Beardmore in their journey to discover what had happened to the Polar Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cYou see it really has been a devil of a winter and a very trying time. […] By Jove I shall be very pleased to see you again and shall have a good deal to say,\u201d he writes.5<\/sup><\/a> He ends the letter by telling Pennell: \u201cMind you try and throw over a few things and we shall get off into the quiet country somewhere away from people after seeing the relations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(It doesn\u2019t seem like they were ever able to go off on their own\u2014owing to pressing expedition responsibilities\u2014but a few days in late June of 1913 were indeed spent with Pennell\u2019s relations in Devon, motoring about the beautiful green country, playing tennis, exploring forest glades. That was when Pennell introduced Atkinson to his mother, who \u201c[took] him straight to her heart.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Teddy Evans returned to New Zealand, fully recovered from scurvy, in time to take command of the Terra Nova for her final journey to McMurdo Sound in the austral summer of 1912-13. Pennell was deeply frustrated at being superseded in his role as captain, which everyone agreed he excelled at, but he agreed to remain aboard the ship as navigator, serving under Evans\u2019 command. He wrote to his mother before Evans\u2019 arrival: \u201cI have heard from Evans, who evidently implies (though he does not actually say) that he wishes me to stay in the ship; on the whole – in spite of the awkwardness of the position – I am glad of this as it would be very trying to leave before the relief was effected.\u201d6<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Pennell must have been especially grateful to have been able to remain aboard when, upon arriving at Cape Evans and hearing the news, the realities of what Atkinson and the rest of the party had endured in the ship\u2019s absence sunk in. He wrote in his diary that \u201cNo one can ever know quite how much Atkinson has been through this last winter, magnificently supported by Wright & Cherry.\u201d7<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He watched as the members of the shore party, two years gone in the Antarctic, reveled in seeing the seabirds gracefully winging their way about the Terra Nova <\/em>as it steamed north. But the relief at returning to civilization must have been tempered\u2014for Atkinson and Pennell\u2014by the knowledge that they were the ones who would have to break the news to the loved ones of the Polar Party, and to the world, that the five had perished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I haven\u2019t been able to find a record of why Pennell and Atkinson specifically were chosen to go ashore with the message at Oamaru. It would have made sense for Evans to do so as he was commander of the expedition entire at that point; Campbell was also aboard and outranked Pennell. If it was expected that Atkinson would go, as he would have to be available to Kinsey and others to answer questions about the relief party in the interval between sending the message and boarding the Terra Nova again at Lyttleton, it may simply have been that Pennell volunteered to go with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>In New Zealand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After landing at Oamaru and sending the all-important telegram to the Central News agency, Pennell and Atkinson had to make the journey up the coast by train to meet the Terra Nova <\/em>in Lyttleton harbor, outside of Christchurch. But they couldn\u2019t do it in secret, the same way they had come ashore \u2013 reporters had caught the scent of the Terra Nova<\/em>\u2019s return and were on the trail, dogging them from station to station, a handful of them even boarding the train to continue their inquiries. It must have been an excruciating experience for Pennell and Atkinson, but they kept perfect poker faces\u2014they could not risk giving the game away. Exclusive news of Scott\u2019s expedition ahead of the official release promised to be an absolutely massive scoop, and would surely sell an immense number of papers\u2014unscrupulous behavior is understandable on the part of the reporters, especially given the fact that nobody had any reason to expect that by invading the privacy of the expedition members, they were being disrespectful towards grieving men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One reporter for the syndicated Press Association happened to be waiting at Christchurch station when Atkinson and Pennell alit from the train. Pennell, having spent a great deal of the past two years in New Zealand, was well-known and well-liked in the area and was recognized by the wily pressman, who at first thought the other man with him was Captain Scott.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cIt transpired, however,\u201d the reporter wrote, \u201cthat Lieutenant Pennell was accompanied by Dr Atkinson, and that Captain Scott was on board the Terra Nova. By this time Dr Atkinson had entered a taxi-cab, but while Lieutenant Pennell was not disposed to impart the news he held he patiently stood at the door of the taxi in conversation, only to shake his head in reply to each query put by the pressman.\u201d8<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pennell gave a marvelous performance of total secrecy\u2014he shook his head silently in response to question after question, bade the reporter goodbye with a smile, and gave one final polite apology for not being able to tell him anything before getting inside the taxi with Atkinson. They headed to a cafe for some much-needed refreshment before going to Kinsey\u2019s office to start, again, the terrible business of breaking the news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Pennell defending Atkinson from the voracious press is a theme that crops up repeatedly in newspaper accounts from this period. During an interview conducted on board the Terra Nova, <\/em>a special correspondent from the Daily Chronicle <\/em>suggested he might pose questions directly to Dr. Atkinson, and Teddy Evans did not object, except to say that he had a right to limit Atkinson\u2019s answers if the questions put to him were undesirable. But this was not enough for Pennell, who immediately jumped in, playing defense. \u201cI think,\u201d he said, “it would be highly undesirable to enter into details some of which might hurt people’s feelings. And it would be merely pandering to the morbid tastes of a section of the public,\u201d he urged, “to publish things which had better not be published.\u201d Evans, mollified, thus agreed with Pennell that Atkinson ought not to be questioned directly\u2014and so, likely to his great relief, he wasn\u2019t.9<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mere days after the news of Scott\u2019s death was released, sensational statements were published in New York papers which claimed there was bad feeling amongst the crew towards Atkinson for not doing enough to save Scott. In the Lyttleton Times<\/em> of February 15, Pennell took it upon himself to interrupt an interview being conducted with Evans, in order to dismiss these claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Pennell] found some difficulty in describing his admiration for Dr Atkinson’s work. He felt very indignant at the statements made in the New York journals. They were utterly untrue. There was nothing to criticise in Dr. Atkinson’s efforts during the relief. There was not the slightest ground for suggesting that criticism of anything Dr Atkinson did came from a single member of the expedition.\u201d Pennell patiently explained to the reporter the dire situation at base camp which had required Atkinson to remain with Evans instead of going out with the dogs to meet Captain Scott.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>With Pennell having led the way, other members of the crew including Campbell and Bruce soon entered the conversation in order to defend Atkinson\u2014and Cherry, who had also been suffered injustices at the hands of blameful American editorials.10<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The Voyage Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After the voracious press had been dealt with, members of the expedition dispersed or lingered as their duties demanded. Pennell took over command of the ship again as Teddy dealt with expedition business, getting into various tiffs with Kinsey and Kathleen. The rainy weekend of February 22nd, 1913 found Atkinson and Pennell on a relaxing break at the Dennistouns\u2019 home, Peel Forest, where Pennell had spent so many enjoyable days during the previous winters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Pennell standing in back row, Atkinson in front row, Lt. Bruce back left (Canterbury Museum)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Atkinson departed from New Zealand on March 6, accompanying Oriana Wilson and her sister Constance Souper home on the RMS Remuera, <\/em>a New Zealand Shipping Co steamer captained by the Kinseys\u2019 good friend Horace Greenstreet (father of Lionel Greenstreet, who would soon join up with Shackleton\u2019s Endurance <\/em>expedition).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Constance wrote detailed letters home from the voyage to the Kinseys, telling them how Atkinson was an ideal traveling companion\u2014although she admitted she hardly ever spoke to him, since he spent most of his time with her sister, keeping her active and social while on board. \u201cDr. Atkinson helps her a lot, and insists upon her doing this, that, and the other, sometimes in the most amusing way[.]\u201d11<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atkinson and Oriana made a study of ornithology together, visiting the peaceful stern area of the ship in the mornings, away from the other passengers, to compile a record of the birds they saw each day. As they approached the Horn a diving petrel was blown on board, a \u201cdear, fat, comfortable little thing\u201d which Atkinson brought Oriana so that she could hold.12<\/sup><\/a> They also frequently visited those of the expedition\u2019s dogs which were aboard, being brought back to England as pets\u2014including Captain Scott\u2019s favorite dog Vaida, who Atkinson planned to give to his favorite aunt, the recently widowed Lady Nicholson. In a letter to Kinsey, Captain Greenstreet described a comical scene with Atkinson and the dogs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

<\/a>How you would enjoy the fun every morning at 6.30 when Dr. Atkinson exercises the dogs. He made a set of harness and a small sledge on teak wood runners, and on this, when the decks are wet, he tears round full tilt, bumping against stations and bolts and occasionally capsizing.<\/em>13<\/sup><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The charismatic and well-liked Greenstreet was a great friend to the group, and kept them company onboard and ashore during the voyage. He gave Oriana a course in knot-tying and sat across from Atkinson at dinner in the 1st class saloon, ensuring good conversation. Accompanying the group ashore at Rio, he went with them to the top of Corcovado mountain to view the city below; and he spent the day with them at Tenerife, treating them to a fine breakfast and a tram journey through the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oriana wore black mourning clothes aboard the Remuera<\/em>, so surely their fellow passengers knew at least the broad strokes of what had befallen her, if not the precise details which placed her central to a tragedy that had enthralled the world. But what was also certain was that they could see how much she valued Atkinson\u2019s company, and how untiring and able he was in his efforts to keep her in comfort and good spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Writing to Pennell from the Remuera, <\/em>Oriana agreed that Atkinson\u2019s help was utterly invaluable to her \u2014 and her presence was helping him as well, for it was true that he, too, was grieving.  \u201cI have felt so for him,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I can\u2019t say it to him – it has been such a relief to see him cheering up and enjoying things.\u201d14<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their bond, strengthened by mutual loss, deepened throughout the voyage. They fought amusingly over money at Montevideo, Atkinson trying to pay Oriana back more than she was owed for the trams and she resisting strongly. In Rio, when they took a drive up into the Tijuca forest, he named all the exotic trees and plants he knew for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constance wrote of Atkinson:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

It has been so nice to see him recovering and losing the strain on his face. He was very quiet and rather shy at first, and seldom talked to anyone else on the ship – and I think everyone was a little shy of him –  but it is evident everyone has a tremendous liking and respect for him now – and as for the children they simply adore him.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Childrens\u2019 affection for Atch is a theme of these letters: Oriana records too that \u201cthey love him dearly – […] and there is one little baby boy who cries when his Mother takes him away from Dr. Atkinson\u2019s arms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gamely took part in the shipboard entertainments, winning first prize for his Robinson Crusoe costume (made by Oriana) at a fancy dress ball near the end of the voyage. According to Constance he had become, by then, \u201cimmensely popular, and everyone wanted him for a partner at the sports,\u201d and that \u201cone girl likes him very<\/span> much, and he is very nice to her – She is a very<\/span> nice girl.\u201d There were very few who were immune to Atkinson\u2019s charms, once he let them show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following behind the voyage of the steamer, the Terra Nova <\/em>had departed from New Zealand for England via Cape Horn on March 13, taking a lengthy route in order for magnetic, oceanographic, and biological experiments to be conducted in a leisurely fashion. A long letter from Pennell to Atkinson begun in early April and continued throughout the Terra Nova\u2019s homeward voyage, to be sent home from Rio, gives an additional perspective the record of the journey in Pennell\u2019s private diary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The voyage from Lyttleton to the Horn was a poor show weather-wise, but with Pennell at the helm the ship\u2019s company was in good hands, and he of course enjoyed himself immensely. But difficulties persisted even when the weather improved after they rounded the Horn, thanks to seaman Abbott\u2019s sudden descent into psychosis. Pennell expressed his anxieties in the letter to Atkinson, making all sorts of plans ahead of their arrival at Rio: \u201cIf possible [Abbott] will go home by mail steamer from Rio & if so you will see him as soon as you get this. We (Levick & I) are hoping you will be able to meet him, & arrange for his disposal.\u201d15<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Terra Nova<\/em>\u2019s stop in Rio was recorded in acting British Consul Ernest Hambloch\u2019s unimaginatively titled memoir British Consul. <\/em>Pennell\u2019s untiring efforts to secure Abbott a comfortable berth on a steamer home from Rio were assisted by Hambloch, who succeeded in getting space made at short notice on the mail steamer Asturias <\/em>for Abbott and his \u201cinseparable pal\u201d (probably either Heald or Williamson).Hambloch describes Pennell as tall and cheery, and reprints Pennell\u2019s letter of thanks, composed at sea on the way to England:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201c\u200b\u200b […] We often laugh over our arrival in your office and the bombardment of questions, ranging from where Nelson could get a room to sleep in at once up to how to dispose of Abbott, and including such miscellanies as where to get dog-pills.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Later in the book Hambloch recounts a chance encounter with Pennell during the war. \u201c\u200b\u200bKeen, competent, and quietly good-tempered, Pennell was the type of officer that makes the Navy eternal […] No victorious wars can compensate a nation for the loss of its Pennells.\u201d16<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pennell was wholly in his element in command of the Terra Nova, <\/em>overseeing care of the dogs, the winding of the trawls, the charting of the course. Ever the optimist, he was able to see the good in even the more unsavory elements of the voyage. \u201cAs pleasant a yachting trip as can be imagined – the one & only thorn being poor Abbott\u2019s illness, & even this has its redeeming feature in seeing the wonderful gentleness of his nurses & old Toffer [Levick]’s goodness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He rarely slept for long, catching a few hours of rest during the daytime in order to oversee night watches, but he still found the time to dream. \u201cYou will be amused to hear that the last 2 days I have been dreaming of you,\u201d he wrote to Atkinson. \u201cThe day before yesterday I was smashing your bottom with great gusto.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entertainingly, Atkinson seemed to find it necessary to explain the above in his short covering letter to Mrs. Hodson, when he sent the packet of letters along after Pennell\u2019s death. \u201cHis unfortunate habit of catching me unexpected smacks caused him great delight, hence his allusions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(I mean, if you say so!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lieutenant \u201cParney\u201d Rennick had become engaged to a girl in New Zealand, Isobel Paterson, shortly before the Terra Nova <\/em>departed in 1910, and Pennell observed with amusing detachment his impatience to see her again. \u201cI think nearly all are enjoying [the voyage] […] with the exception of the unfortunate Parney who I believe loathes it, stopping to trawl or swing to him simply means an hour later getting home. Presumably I shall be the same when the world is entirely composed by one fair young thing – at present one simply marvels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though mere months later in his diary he would record with absolute honesty the distress he felt at missing Atkinson, at sea it seemed he had a different perspective. \u201cThis little absence has given a very keen edge to the pleasure of looking forward to seeing you again. If the navy means everlasting break ups & paying offs it also means a great many meetings again & these are the pleasures of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds a postscript to the letter: \u201cExcuse length, writing & spelling. Writing to you like talking one becomes rather verbose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Before and During the War<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Atkinson escorted Pennell\u2019s sisters to Cardiff to meet the Terra Nova <\/em>in June 1913; this was followed by the short and happy interlude in Devon with Pennell\u2019s family. After that, Pennell and Atkinson settled into post-expedition work and life in London. Dealing with the internecine politics of the expedition committee was stressful, and the business of sorting out scientific results complicated\u2014but they managed keep up an active social life as the prewar summer idyll of 1913 ripened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Along with a few others, they shared a home at 15 Queen Anne St, Cavendish Square, which must have been a whirlwind of activity. Writing to Davies, the carpenter of the Terra Nova, <\/em>in mid-July, Atkinson remarked that he was \u201c[h]aving a lot of trouble with Mr. Pennell he will insist on getting up at 6.30.\u201d17<\/sup><\/a><\/a> Pennell wrote to Davies around the same time, telling him that \u201cDr. Atkinson is here & wishes to be remembered to you.\u201d18<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latter half of 1913 was, as mainly gleaned from Pennell\u2019s diary, filled with an enormous amount of work as well as leisure. Spending weekends traveling\u2014to Cambridge, Oddington, Lamer, or Awliscombe\u2014and weeks in town, working on expedition reports by day and enjoying the charms of London\u2019s theatre and restaurant districts by night, often accompanied by Atkinson, and sometimes Lillie, Davies, Rennick, or their roommate\/landlord Jimmy Wyatt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Atkinson departed for a holiday visiting family in the West Indies, he and Pennell discussed the possibility of going on another expedition\u2014what might they discover together?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Atkinson was absent from August 13 to September 15. Pennell eagerly counted the days until his return, and picked him up at the station. It was then that he (Pennell) revealed, to his diary and posterity, Atkinson\u2019s involvement with his wife-to-be, an actress in Exeter\u2014the \u201credheaded and vivacious\u201d Jessie Ferguson.19<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Aside from this, and Pennell\u2019s subsequent surprise engagement to Katie Hodson, they continued to happily share a household, referring to each other often in letters. Writing to Cherry in October of 1913 Atkinson noted that \u201cPenelope had a tummy ache last night he looked absolutely ghastly.\u201d20<\/sup><\/a> Luckily their house was on a block off Harley Street and they were surrounded by doctors, including Jimmy Wyatt, so hopefully Pennell\u2019s discomfort was not long lasting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The following month Pennell informed Mrs. Kinsey that \u201cAtkinson and I have a little Xmas present for you & Mr. Kinsey but unfortunately it will I am afraid be a little late.\u201d He reassured her that all was well with them: \u201cDr. Atkinson with his wrinkles out of his forehead and the crows feet away from the corner of his eyes.\u201d21<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Soon after that Pennell wrote to Davies, thanking him for congratulations on his engagement: \u201cSo you see I am not the confirmed bachelor you used to fear I was.\u201d22<\/sup><\/a><\/a> And in early 1914 Atkinson invited Cherry down to their house to say a farewell to Pennell before he departed for Switzerland to meet the Hodsons.23<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pennell was informed of a forthcoming posting as navigator to the HMS Duke of Edinburgh <\/em>at the beginning of 1914, and soon afterwards Atkinson departed for China to investigate parasites with Robert Leiper, accompanied by Cherry. The happy household at the Wyatt\u2019s was broken up by March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their lives were headed off in different directions well before the war, thanks to marriage in the offing for both of them, to say nothing of the vicissitudes of Naval postings. And the war would naturally prove even more of a separator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Though no letters to each other from the post-expedition\/wartime period have survived, they certainly wrote frequently. In May of 1914 Pennell wrote to Silas Wright to give him an updated address for Atkinson in China, different to the one he left behind when sailing,24<\/sup><\/a><\/a> and Atkinson in a letter to Cherry in 1915 told him that \u201cPenelope writes very cheerfully but unfortunately I have missed him as his squadron and ours have now changed billets and so I may not see him again before I go over.\u201d25<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They met at least a few times on duty in late 1914. \u201cThe illustrious Pennell turned up the other day, and I was alongside in the skiff as soon as she dropped anchor. He really is an old dear blessed with all the virtues and I would give anything to be with him. I have only seen him once since then as we are on different duties and are seldom in together,\u201d he wrote to Mrs. Kinsey.26<\/sup><\/a> In April 1915, Pennell married Katie Hodson in Oddington, in a ceremony officiated by Katie’s father, rector of the parish. Like many weddings during the war it was on short notice, Pennell only having leave from his ship for a few days, and so not everyone invited was able to attend. A long newspaper account of the wedding reported: “In the absence of two personal friends of the bridegroom, Fleet Surgeon E. L. Atkinson and Mr. D. G. Lillie, M.A. (both of whom had been with him on Capt. Scott’s Antarctic Expedition), the Rev. C. B. Hodson [Katie’s brother] also acted as best man.”26.5<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
(Is that Oriana Wilson to the left of Katie? It looks a lot like her!<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But Pennell and Atkinson did manage to meet at least once in the first half of 1916. Atkinson recounted to Cherry in March of that year: \u201cI saw Penelope on his way through and his Missus she is nice and pretty.\u201d27<\/sup><\/a> This was probably the last time they saw each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a comprehensive account of Pennell and Atch\u2019s movements during the war leading up to Pennell\u2019s death, including accounts of both of their marriages, I highly recommend Anne Strathie\u2019s From Ice Floes To Battlefields. <\/em>It is an incredibly researched and engrossing read, with lots of further details certain to interest anyone who has gotten this far in this post ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late May of 1916 Atkinson confessed to Cherry that, unable to refuse, he had accepted leadership of the shore party of the Shackleton relief expedition, under overall command John King Davis in the Discovery.<\/em>28<\/sup><\/em><\/a> It wasn\u2019t what he wanted\u2014he preferred battlefield action, and the punishing duties of the Western Front over nearly anything else\u2014but perhaps this was a chance for him and Pennell to return to the Antarctic, like they had idly discussed during those summer days before the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then a curious twist of time. The Battle of Jutland occurred concurrently with the arrival of Shackleton at the Falkland Islands. The world learned, as soon as the telegram reached England, what had happened to the Boss and his men. Atkinson would have seen with relief that Shackleton was safe, and that his services would no longer be needed, on June 1 or 2, 1916. Pennell was already dead by then, but he would not have known, until the loss of the Queen Mary <\/em>at Jutland was reported on June 3. Hope, perhaps, still\u2014until Pennell\u2019s name was published in the list of losses on June 5.29<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Pennell front and center \u2014 and dozens of other men mourned as deeply but now forgotten<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A quiet and private man, never in letters nearly as intimate and honest as Pennell often was in the privacy of his diary, Atkinson\u2019s powerful grief at Pennell\u2019s loss nevertheless is apparent in his correspondence from after the Battle of Jutland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>To \u201cChippie\u201d Davies, Atkinson wrote: \u201cThe Committee had offered me the command of the Land Party for Shackleton’s relief and I had asked for Captain Pennell for the ship I wish to God now it had come off and he had been out of Queen Mary. He wrote to me about you also and I wanted you to come and would have tried very hard for you. I know he was a good friend to you and I feel his loss very much.\u201d30<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To Mrs. Kinsey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

<\/a>I am afraid that you already will have seen the loss of our very great friend Pennell in Queen Mary and you will know how very sore I feel about it all. His little wife is splendid but it has been a heavier loss [even] for her and I feel for her very deeply. Fate in these cases seems so hard and so very inexplicable. I would willingly have taken his place.<\/em>31<\/sup><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

To her as well he expressed regret at not being able to get Pennell off his ship in time to sail with Shackleton\u2019s relief. It is quite true that Atkinson was very grateful to not have to leave his post at the front for the voyage after all\u2014he told Cherry as much\u2014but at the same time if he had tried a little harder, perhaps, acted more enthusiastic about the prospect of going South together, might he have gotten Pennell off his ship just in time for him to be saved?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone knew that Pennell and Atkinson had been close\u2014at least everyone who counted, those friends who, after Jutland, wrote to Atkinson directly with notes of condolence.32<\/sup><\/a> Some may have been addressed to the Wyatts\u2019 home at 15 Queen Anne St, Cavendish Square, where he continued to receive mail. The memories those rooms held were even more precious now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>In 1916 some months after Pennell\u2019s death, Atkinson made time during a short period of leave from active duty at the front to see Pennell\u2019s sister Winifred, and most likely his widow Katie too.33<\/sup><\/a> It may have been at this time that he was given the packet of private letters that now reside at the RGS, for Pennell had written on their covering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awliscombe<\/em>
Feb 1914<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In case of my death please seal these up<\/em>
& send them to Surgeon E. L. Atkinson R.N.<\/em>
if he survives me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Visiting the WWI memorial in Awliscombe, September 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the lobby of the Scott Polar Research Institute, below the beautifully painted ceiling, an Adelie egg is on display. Collected by Atkinson and given as a gift to his sister Hazell, the display records it as having been blown by Pennell. Perhaps he did it aboard the Terra Nova<\/em> or in New Zealand at some point in 1912, after the disappointment of not being able to swap into the shore party had passed off and he was back to reveling in the freedom of his first command. Carefully blowing the egg, he might have reminisced happily about the few days Atkinson had spent on board. Stressful days\u2014Teddy near death, Campbell still stranded\u2014but ones to be thankful for all the same, for the simple pleasure of Jane\u2019s company, which always brightened any hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A QR code next to the egg labeled \u201cSexual speculation over a speckled specimen\u201d leads to an audio clip<\/a> about Murray Levick\u2019s studies of homosexuality in penguins, recorded by a guide who leads LGBT+ tours at the museum. Interesting, of course\u2014I enjoy the tale of Levick\u2019s miscreant Adelies as much as anyone\u2014but I wondered if there might be room there, if nowhere else, for a nod to the romantic friendship betwen Pennell and Atkinson, as LGBT+ representation in the form of the actual expedition members associated with the object on display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all of this research, my original question of \u201cwas the feeling mutual\u201d seems rather surface-level. But certainly they loved each other\u2014that much I can\u2019t doubt at this point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atkinson was an expert in parasite taxonomy; he named many an \u201cenchanting little \u2018pawasite\u2019\u201d34<\/sup><\/a> after members of the expedition and associates. Harry Pennell was immortalized as Macvicaria pennelli, <\/em>a fluke found inside the emerald notothen fish native to the Southern Ocean. Though that name has survived, Nobel Prize-winning helminthologist William C. Campbell noted that many of Atkinson\u2019s species names are now \u201cof doubtful validity\u201d and have since been superseded.35<\/sup><\/a> Indeed, the name they gave to themselves and their relationship probably would not belong to the same taxa as the one we assign it over a century hence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But to look at it, carefully, a little awed, under a microscope and do our best to describe its delicate parts\u2014that is something I think they both might understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Endnotes<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>1.  Atkinson to Pennell, 26 Oct 1911, Royal Geographical Society MS HLP\/2\/2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>2.  Pennell to Wilson, 6 Feb 1912, RGS HLP\/2\/5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>3.  Atkinson to Pennell, 9 May 1912, RGS HLP\/2\/3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>4.  Oriana Wilson to Mrs. Pennell, 7 April 1912, Mortlake Collection of English Life and Letters, 1591-1963, Accession 1969-0024R, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Special Collections Library, University Libraries,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>5.  Atkinson to Pennell, 26 Oct 1912, RGS HLP\/2\/4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>6.  Pennell to Mrs. Pennell, 8 September 1912, Mortlake Collection of English Life and Letters, 1591-1963, Accession 1969-0024R, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>7.  This & all subsequent quotes from Pennell\u2019s diary are from Canterbury Museum MS433.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>8.  New Zealand Herald, 11 February 1913, page 8 https:\/\/paperspast.natlib.govt.nz\/newspapers\/NZH19130211.2.85.1?items_per_page=10&page=2&query=pennell+atkinson&snippet=true<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>9.  Western Mail, 14 February 1913 https:\/\/www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk\/viewer\/bl\/0000104\/19130214\/110\/0005<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>10.  Lyttleton Times, 15 February 1913 https:\/\/www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk\/viewer\/BL\/0003346\/19130215\/186\/0012?browse=true<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>11.  Constance Souper to the Kinseys, Alexander Turnbull Library, MS\/0022\/44<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>12.  Oriana Wilson to the Kinseys, Alexander Turnbull Library MS\/0022\/43<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>13.  Horace Greenstreet to Mr. Kinsey, 7 Apr 1913, Alexander Turnbull Library MS\/0022\/41<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>14.  Oriana Wilson to Pennell, Mar 1913, Royal Geographical Society HLP\/2\/19<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>15.  Pennell to Atkinson, 6 Apr 1913, Royal Geographical Society HLP\/2\/5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>16.  Hambloch, British Consul: Memories of Thirty Years’ Service in Europe and Brazil, <\/em>1938<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>17.  Atkinson to Davies, 19 Jul 1913, Canterbury Museum, Acc. No. 2023.4.10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>18.  Pennell to Davies, 6[?] Jul 1913, auctioned by Bearnes & Littlewood https:\/\/www.the-saleroom.com\/en-gb\/auction-catalogues\/bearneshamptonandlittlewood\/catalogue-id-bearne10101\/lot-99606dc8-0b6c-41da-8e24-ada900a01011<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>19.  Adrienne Reynolds, Forest School 1834-1984, <\/em>Forest School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>20.  Atkinson to Cherry-Garrard, 8 Oct 1913, SPRI MS559\/24\/8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>21.  Pennell to Mrs. Kinsey, 9 Nov 1913, Alexander Turnbull Library, MS\/0022\/46<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>22.  Pennell to Davies, Dec 31 1913, reproduced in With Scott Before The Mast, <\/em>Reardon Publishing, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>23.  Atkinson to Cherry-Garrard, 4 Jan 1914, SPRI MS559\/24\/9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>24.  Pennell to Wright, 7 May 1914, auctioned by Charles Leski Auctions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>25.  Atkinson to Cherry-Garrard, 19 Jun 1915, SPRI MS559\/24\/16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>26.  Atkinson to Mrs. Kinsey, 27 Dec 1914, Alexander Turnbull Library MS\/0022\/41<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26.5. Gloucestershire Echo, 14 April 1915 https:\/\/www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk\/viewer\/bl\/0000320\/19150414\/075\/0005<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>27.  Atkinson to Cherry-Garrard, 8 Mar 1916, SPRI MS559\/24\/27<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>28.  Atkinson to Cherry-Garrard, 25 May 1916, SPRI MS559\/24\/30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>29.  Anne Strathie, From Ice Floes To Battlefields, <\/em>The History Press, 2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>30.  Atkinson to Davies, 19 Jun 1916, Canterbury Museum, Acc. 2023.4.20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>31.  Atkinson to Mrs. Kinsey, 22 July 1916, Alexander Turnbull Library, MS\/0022\/41<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>32.  Atkinson to Cherry-Garrard, 12 June 1916, SPRI MS559\/24\/32<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>33.  Katie Pennell & Winifred Pennell to Davies, July 28 & Dec 26 1916, reproduced in With Scott Before The Mast, <\/em>Reardon Publishing, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>34.  Atkinson to Cherry-Garrard, 4 January 1914, MS559\/24\/9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>35.  Campbell, W. C. (1991). Edward Leicester Atkinson: Physician, Parasitologist, and Adventurer.<\/em> Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences, 46(2), 219\u2013240.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Massive thank you to the Penelopatchicus Antarctica transcription crew once again \u2014\u00a0Sarah, Becca, Madeline, Jess, Anna, Han, Branwell, Emma, Eva, Kt, R, & Anna<\/em>. Thanks as well to Naomi Boneham at SPRI for permission to publish quotes, Adele Jackson at the Canterbury Museum for assistance and permission, Sarah Airriess & Anne Strathie for incredibly helpful and inspiring correspondence, Hattie for the Pennell pilgrimage, and especially to everyone whresponded so encouragingly to the first blog. Pennatch 4evs! <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(If you haven\u2019t read my first blog post about these guys, please start there!!!!) At the end of my first round of research about Pennell and Atkinson, I had a LOT of questions. The two big ones: Why hadn\u2019t I heard about their relationship before? and did Atkinson feel the same way about Pennell? The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,14,1],"tags":[17,16],"class_list":["post-180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-biographical-research","category-terra-nova-expedition","category-uncategorized","tag-edward-atkinson","tag-harry-pennell"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=180"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":202,"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180\/revisions\/202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allegrarosenberg.com\/polar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}