.

“Blackborow had … all the toes of his left foot taken off ¼ inch stumps being left … The poor beggar behaved splendidly and it went without a hitch … Time from start to finish 55 minutes.

William Lincoln Bakewell was taken on as an Able Seaman by Endurance. Following Endurance’s entrapment and crushing, the crew relocated to Elephant Island. William Lincoln Bakewell was taken on as an Able Seaman by Endurance.

Blackborow however was not hired, his youth (he was 18) and inexperience counting against him.

Fearing that Endurance was shorthanded, Bakewell and Walter How helped Blackborow sneak aboard and hid him in a locker.

Background

He was born in 1896 in Newport, Monmouthshire. Fearing that Endurance was shorthanded, Bakewell and Walter How helped Blackborow sneak aboard and hid him in a locker and he hid in piles of clothing. Blackborow had contracted gangrene and was Macklin’s greatest medical concern.

On 15 June, with Shackleton and the James Caird crew now away for a month, Macklin, assisted by McIlroy, carried out the necessary amputations.

When Blackborow came to he was cheerful as anything and started joking directly.”

Blackborow returned to live in Newport, South Wales and received the Bronze Polar Medal for his service in the trip. He did not arrive back in England until February 1917, the last member of Endurance to return. This had the desired effect and the reactions of the two accomplices were enough to unmask them.

The rest of the crew resigned themselves to waiting.

Almost to a man they were in poor health and spirits.

Career

Blackborow and William Lincoln Bakewell sailed aboard the Golden Gate, which was wrecked on the shore of Montevideo. Blackborow, who was nicknamed 'Blackie,' was eventually signed on as a steward and proved to be clever, conscientious, and popular.

During the boat journey to Elephant Island, Blackborow's toes became severely frostbitten, and although Shackleton awarded him the honour of being the first man to set foot on the island, his toes made it impossible for him to walk, so he was helped up the beach instead by How and Bakewell.

Shackleton finished his performance by saying to Blackborow, “Do you know that on these expeditions we often get very hungry, and if there is a stowaway available he is the first to be eaten?” To which Blackborow replied, “They’d get a lot more meat off you, sir.” Shackleton hid a grin and after chatting with one of the crew members said "Introduce him to the cook first."

Blackborow proved an asset to the ship as a steward and was eventually signed on, though under the promise that he would be the first eaten should they run out of food or should the men starve.

Following Endurance’s entrapment and crushing, the crew relocated to Elephant Island.

On arrival, Shackleton thought to give Blackborow, the youngest of the crew, the honor of being the first to step on the island, forgetting that his feet had been frostbitten.