Robert Forde
Encyclopedia
Robert Forde was an Antarctic
explorer and member of the Terra Nova Expedition
under Captain Robert Falcon Scott
from 1910–1912.
Robert Forde was born in the parish of Moviddy 16 miles W.S.W. from Cork (city)
,Ireland. His father's name was George and his mother's was Charity (née Payne). He had joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16, rising to the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class. He joined the Terra Nova expedition as Petty Officer
on 30 May 1910, one of a number of Irishmen who took part, including Tom Crean and another Corkman, Patrick Keohane
. Forde was part of a group which headed out from Cape Evans in January 1911 to explore the polar capes. He suffered severe frostbite during the expedition and was eventually ordered back by Captain Scott for medical treatment.
He is remembered by the naming of Mount Forde
, a monumental peak of over 1,200 metres at the head of the Hunt Glacier in Antarctica in his honour.
Forde’s role in the expedition led to his promotion to Chief Petty Officer onboard HMS Vivid and he served on her and several other British ships during World War 1. After demobilisation he retired to Cobh
which was still then known as Queenstown and was a major naval port for the British in Ireland. He died there in March 1959.
Robert Forde is buried at the Old Church Cemetery, Cobh
in his native County Cork. **In March 2009,on the 50th Anniversary of his death, a Memorial was unveiled to Forde by The Robert Forde Memorial Committee in The Promenade, Cobh. The rough hewn granite stone faces out to Cork Harbour and has a bronze plaque showing Forde with his sled. A Plaque was also unveiled at 52 Harbour Row,Cobh where he lived.
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
explorer and member of the Terra Nova Expedition
Terra Nova Expedition
The Terra Nova Expedition , officially the British Antarctic Expedition 1910, was led by Robert Falcon Scott with the objective of being the first to reach the geographical South Pole. Scott and four companions attained the pole on 17 January 1912, to find that a Norwegian team led by Roald...
under Captain Robert Falcon Scott
Robert Falcon Scott
Captain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13...
from 1910–1912.
Robert Forde was born in the parish of Moviddy 16 miles W.S.W. from Cork (city)
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
,Ireland. His father's name was George and his mother's was Charity (née Payne). He had joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16, rising to the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class. He joined the Terra Nova expedition as Petty Officer
Petty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
on 30 May 1910, one of a number of Irishmen who took part, including Tom Crean and another Corkman, Patrick Keohane
Patrick Keohane
Petty Officer Patrick Keohane was an Irish member of Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic expedition of 1910–1913, the Terra Nova Expedition.-Biography:Patrick Keohane was born in Courtmacsherry, County Cork, Ireland in 1879....
. Forde was part of a group which headed out from Cape Evans in January 1911 to explore the polar capes. He suffered severe frostbite during the expedition and was eventually ordered back by Captain Scott for medical treatment.
He is remembered by the naming of Mount Forde
Mount Forde
Mount Forde is a mountain over 1,200 m, standing at the head of Hunt Glacier, 2 nautical miles northwest of Mount Marston, in Victoria Land. Mapped by the British Antarctic Expedition and named for Petty Officer Robert Forde, Royal Navy, a member of the expedition's Western Geological Party....
, a monumental peak of over 1,200 metres at the head of the Hunt Glacier in Antarctica in his honour.
Forde’s role in the expedition led to his promotion to Chief Petty Officer onboard HMS Vivid and he served on her and several other British ships during World War 1. After demobilisation he retired to Cobh
Cobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
which was still then known as Queenstown and was a major naval port for the British in Ireland. He died there in March 1959.
Robert Forde is buried at the Old Church Cemetery, Cobh
Old Church Cemetery (Cobh)
The Old Church Cemetery is an ancient cemetery on the outskirts of the town of Cobh, County Cork, Ireland which contains a significant number of important burials, including a number 3 mass graves and several individual graves containing the remains of 193 victims of the passenger ship which was...
in his native County Cork. **In March 2009,on the 50th Anniversary of his death, a Memorial was unveiled to Forde by The Robert Forde Memorial Committee in The Promenade, Cobh. The rough hewn granite stone faces out to Cork Harbour and has a bronze plaque showing Forde with his sled. A Plaque was also unveiled at 52 Harbour Row,Cobh where he lived.
Further reading
- Michael Smith, 2010, 'Great Endeavour – Ireland's Antarctic Explorers', Collins Press
Sources
- Forde of the Antarctic, article by Tom McSweeney in the Cork Holly Bough, Christmas 2007 edition.
- Robert Forde Memorial Committee