At a lecture given by Commander ‘Teddy’ Evans at Sherborne’s Digby Memorial Church Hall on 23 February 1914, Commander Evans suggested that every year on the 17th March the boys of Sherborne School should be given an “Oates Day” holiday in memory of Captain Lawrence Oates who was born on 17 March 1880 and died on his 32nd birthday in 1912.
Lawrence ‘Titus’ Oates was a member of Captain Scott’s doomed Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole, who sacrificed himself in order to allow others to benefit from the few remaining rations available to them, famously leaving his tent during a blizzard saying “I am just going outside, and may be some time.”
The following account of Commander Evans’ lecture was reported in the Western Chronicle (27 February 1914):
‘On Monday, Sherborne was honoured by a visit from Commander ‘Teddy’ Evans, one of the officers of Captain Scott’s historic expedition to the South Pole, who gave two illustrated lectures in the Digby Memorial Church Hall. Commander Evans was the officer in command of the last supporting party, and with two seamen accompanied Capt. Scott, Dr Wilson, Capt. Oates, Lieut. Bowers, and Petty Officer Edgar Evans (who all lost their lives), to within 140 miles of the South Pole. The explorer’s visit to Sherborne was the outcome of a promise made to Dr G.R. Rickett, and this was, in fact, the first lecture Commander Evans promised to give.
The afternoon audience included the young ladies attending the Girls’ High School, and in the evening the elder boys from Sherborne School were present, in addition to an influential gathering of ladies and gentlemen who attended in response to the invitation of Mr Nowell C. Smith (headmaster of Sherborne School). On both occasions the hall was filled to its almost limits and Commander Evans’s narration of the events leading up to the glorious death of Capt. Scott and his companions thrilled every one in the room. When Commander Evans appeared on the platform, before the evening lecture, accompanied by Mr Nowell Smith, he was greeted with loud cheers. In a few remarks Mr Nowell Smith said it was unnecessary for him to introduce Commander Evans to them, because wherever courage and perseverance were thought of the names of Commander Evans and Capt. Scott were perfectly well-known. (Cheers)
The lecture was followed with the closest attention and interest. Striking pictures thrown on the screen illustrated the lecturer’s words and as the chief individual members of the expedition – whose names are already indelibly written on the scroll of fame – were pointed out the cheering was general. The progress of the “Terra Nova” through 210 miles of “pack ice” (masses of floating ice) was pictorially traced by the lecturer, and the conditions under which the explorer’s lived were illustrated. Cinematograph pictures of the sledge dogs and ponies and animal life in the Antarctic were also shown. The lecturer was modest in referring to his share in the tragic conquering of the Antarctic wastes, but his tributes to the brave men who died were glowing. Referring to Capt. Oates’ noble sacrifice of his life by going out into the blizzard in order that there may be one less to share the little food that remained, the lecturer declared that his act was the finest in history. It was the act of a brave man and an English gentleman, and Capt. Oates would ever remain the schoolboys’ hero. These simple words with their wonderful purport evoked resounding cheers from the boys present, proving Commander Evans’ assertion that Capt. Oates was the schoolboys’ hero.
In the course of his lecture Commander Evans asked, amid cheers, that on March 17th (the date of the death of Capt. Oates) every year the boys of Sherborne School should be given a holiday and that is should be called “Oates day.”
At the close of the lecture Mr Nowell Smith expressed the indebtedness of those present to Dr G.R. Rickett for negotiating and arranging that lecture. He also tendered the warm thanks of those present to Commander Evans for his entrancing lecture. Loud cheers for Commander Evans terminated the proceedings. The lantern was manipulated by Mr W.E. Sharpe.’
Posted 15 March 2024 by Sherborne School Archives
Visit Sherborne School Archive News for more stories from the archives