Taith i Uffern: Stori Edgar Christian


Taith i Uffern: Stori Edgar Christian

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-It's been an incredible journey to

-one of the world's remotest places.

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-The Barren Grounds

-of northern Canada.

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-I'm following the footsteps of

-a man from Pontllyfni, Caernarfon.

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-He chronicled

-an unforgettable adventure story.

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-It's the story of Edgar Christian.

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-'June 16, 1926.

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-'I'm lying in my canoe, beneath the

-blue sky, taking in the sunshine.

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-'It's wonderful. Pity you

-can't be here to enjoy it with me.'

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-Edgar Christian was embarking on

-the greatest adventure of his life.

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-His companions were Harold Adlard

-and his cousin, Jack Hornby.

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-Three men in a canoe en route

-to northern Canada's Barrenlands.

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-Their mission was full of hazards.

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-Six months later, Edgar's

-infectious enthusiasm was crushed.

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-The three men were starving.

-Jack, especially, was suffering.

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-'April 4th, 1927.

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-'This is mental torture.

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-'The longing I feel for home

-is overwhelming.

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-'I hope to God no-one realises

-how much Jack is suffering.

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-'I'm coming apart slowly,

-dying of hunger.'

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-Ten years later, in 1937...

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-..Edgar Christian's tragic diary

-was published, 'Unflinching'.

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-The book was a resounding success.

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-"It's the story of brave,

-strong, determined men..."

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-"This book deserves its place

-next to Scott's diary..."

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-"A harrowing read."

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-Journey to Hell:

-Edgar Christian's story

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-My photograph was taken

-holding the diary.

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-It was a remarkable feeling.

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-I imagined the conditions

-in which it was written.

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-How he suffered as he wrote.

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-What gives the diary greatness

-are the experiences Edgar faced...

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-..what he was forced to chronicle.

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-The diary has survived -

-not just as a record...

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-..but as a work of literature to

-equal any great English adventure.

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-The diary is in an excellent

-condition, all things considered.

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-I'm so glad that the diary

-Edgar valued so highly survived.

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-That was his intention.

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-To tell the story

-of the finest man he'd ever known.

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-That man was Jack Hornby.

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-He brought the 18 year old

-to the Barrenlands in 1926.

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-It's amongst the world's

-remotest and wildest places.

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-At times - magical.

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-It could also be

-a terrifying place...

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-..enticing and captivating

-the bravest of men.

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-In their midst, a lad who'd

-just left school - Edgar Christian.

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-Edgar Christian was an Englishman.

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-His family hailed

-from the Isle of Man.

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-But a key part of his make-up

-hailed from Caernarvonshire.

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-This was his home.

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-His family lived here.

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-He was certainly

-fond of his family.

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-I remember that they lived

-in Bron Dirion.

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-It's a small stately home

-not far from here.

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-They were members of this church.

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-They were very faithful members.

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-The Christians were my grandparents

-and Edgar was my uncle.

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-Edgar's father was in the army.

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-They travelled a bit

-but settled in Wales.

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-They had, during their travels,

-7 children - life would be strict...

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-..but then of course there were

-plenty of servants in those days.

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-So there would be help around -

-nannies and cooks and so on.

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-From a military background,

-he was educated in SE England...

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-..like his father and brother

-before him.

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-Edgar Christian attended

-a public school in Dover.

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-But he wasn't a particularly

-bright pupil.

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-On his last day in school, he told

-his friend, Clement Park-Johnson...

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-..that no-one would remember him

-after he'd left.

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-He wasn't a top scholar, no.

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-He didn't want to be forgotten.

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-He wanted to be remembered

-for something he'd achieved.

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-Edgar had left school.

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-He wasn't particularly ambitious.

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-He wasn't prepared

-for the Indian Civil Service...

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-..unlike his contemporaries

-at public school.

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-Perhaps he wasn't sure

-what to do with his life.

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-Jack Hornby was his mother's cousin.

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-He'd lived in Canada for years.

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-I don't think Edgar

-had met him before.

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-He came to stay in Bron Dirion.

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-John, or Jack, Hornby was cricketer

-Albert Neilson Hornby's son.

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-They hailed from a stately home

-in Nantwich, Cheshire...

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-..called 'Parkfields'.

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-Like his father and brothers he was

-educated at Harrow public school.

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-But, for various reasons, he didn't

-follow a conventional route.

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-He fled to Canada

-at 21 years of age.

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-Jack Hornby belonged to

-a lineage of wealthy Englishmen...

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-..who'd travel all over the world...

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-..to walk where no other man

-had walked before.

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-He liked the extremity

-of the experience.

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-The vast, open Barrenlands

-of northern Canada.

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-He mixed with the natives

-and enjoyed living in their midst.

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-The natives knew how to survive

-in the harsh terrain.

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-They also knew how to travel around.

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-He learnt from their knowledge.

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-I was born in that cabin.

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-That was built

-by Dad and Hornby at the time.

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-We lived in it.

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-And so did Mother, Harry

-and my older brother.

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-Jack and Harry were bosom pals,

-as photographs testify.

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-But many thought it was odd

-that Hornby, the old Harrovian...

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-..had turned his back

-on English gentry life.

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-When war broke out in Europe, John

-enlisted with the Canadian Army.

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-He was badly injured in France and

-returned to the Great Slave area.

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-It was only after being informed

-his father was gravely ill...

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-..that he returned to England -

-it was his third visit in 21 years.

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-But, of course, here was a man

-who'd lived in Canada for 20 years.

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-The mourners, and his own family,

-were strangers to him.

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-The pomp and formality of

-the occasion disconcerted him.

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-His cousin in Glynnog idolised him

-and was delighted to see him.

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-Edgar was mesmerised

-by his story-telling.

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-Did Jack tell Edgar about

-his journey the previous year?

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-He almost died - along with

-Captain James Critchell-Bullock.

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-They spent an atrocious winter

-in a cave on the riverbed.

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-Hundreds of miles from anywhere,

-the temperature was well below zero.

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-Jack swore he'd never return

-to such a place.

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-But as Edgar sat open-mouthed,

-listening to his stories...

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-..Jack decided to return

-to the Barrenlands.

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-Edgar wanted to go with him.

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-The Barrenlands stretch from

-the Arctic Ocean to Hudson Bay...

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-..in East Canada.

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-They cover one eighth

-of Canada's land mass.

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-It's incredibly barren -

-no trees grow here.

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-The traditional place name

-is aptly called De Chun U Le.

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-This land is very northerly.

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-In the '20s of the last century,

-it was even more inaccessible.

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-The family must have had

-complete faith in Jack Hornby.

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-They allowed their young son to

-accompany him across the Atlantic.

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-They were heading for adventures

-in incredibly remote areas.

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-Colonel Christian was a solider.

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-You can imagine him saying, "Go

-with him. He'll make a man of you."

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-From the Portsmouth barracks...

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-..Colonel Christian

-wrote to wish his son well.

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-'A few words to wish you

-good luck on your great adventure.

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-'Remember our love and faith

-go with you.

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-'I'm sure you'll face

-great hardship.

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-'Be patient. You leave a boy.

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-'You'll return a man.'

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-Edgar was embarking on

-the greatest adventure of his life.

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-He was blissfully unaware

-of what lay ahead.

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-But Jack knew how hard life

-could be in the Barrenlands.

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-After all, he almost died there

-a year earlier.

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-They intended to spend winter

-in a cabin on River Thelon.

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-The following summer, they'd canoe

-via Chesterfield Inlet...

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-..to Hudson Bay.

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-There's a suggestion that

-a final frontier awaited Edgar.

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-It excited Edgar

-and the whole family.

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-I'm following the footsteps

-of Edgar Christian's journey.

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-But my mode of travel

-is much quicker.

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-In a '50s Beaver aeroplane,

-five hours from the nearest town...

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-..I'm flying over one of

-the world's most remote regions.

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-It was a pleasant journey,

-fair play.

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-The landscape is fantastic -

-a vast forest.

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-From the forest,

-we entered the Barrenlands.

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-I can see why it's called that -

-there was nothing there at all.

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-Of course, they didn't have

-a plane like this 80 years ago.

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-The insects have already started

-to bite - and I'm wearing shorts!

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-It's an amazing place.

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-The insects make it impossible

-to live here in summer.

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-Visitors are very rare indeed.

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-Imagine the extent of the adventure

-for Edgar and his cousin...

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-..back in the spring of 1926.

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-They started from Crewe -

-and missed the train.

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-They almost missed the boat...

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-..but they somehow managed

-to jump aboard at the last minute.

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-From that moment on,

-Edgar occasionally wrote home.

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-He described the journey -

-and what a journey it was.

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-They travelled in luxury.

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-Public school life

-wasn't always lavish.

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-I'm sure life in Bron Dirion,

-Glynnog, wasn't always luxurious.

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-When he saw the luxury

-on board the ship...

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-..he had the time of his life.

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-'Dear Family. It's a great pleasure

-to travel with someone like Jack.

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-'He's a seasoned traveller...

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-'..well-known to the CPR stewards -

-The Canadian-Pacific Railway.

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-'Everyone knows him and greets him.

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-'The luxury is wonderful -

-like a week in a top London hotel.'

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-They stayed in Canada's best hotels.

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-The Windsor in Montreal.

-The Chateau Lorea in Ottawa.

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-Edgar had the time of his life.

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-He lived like a king.

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-'When the rumour spreads

-that Jack's in town...

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-'..his friends gather around.

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-'And of course, Jack won't leave

-until he's seen most of them.

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-'His name is known

-throughout all of Canada.

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-'I'm so happy

-to be travelling with him.'

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-He's obviously in awe of this

-new world - Montreal and Quebec.

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-He certainly showed an interest

-in a few of the girls.

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-Their fashion sense astounded him.

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-'The girls and women

-have made a great impression on me.

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-'They're so beautiful.

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-'In my opinion, their dress sense

-is far superior to those at home.

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-'The French style, says Jack.

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-'Whatever it is,

-it's extremely stylish and pretty.'

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-A fascinating fact about the trip

-is that Jack proposed to someone.

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-Olwen Newell's roots

-were in Caernarvonshire.

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-She worked with the Indians.

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-Had she accepted, who knows

-how the journey would have ended.

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-There would certainly

-have been more incentive to return.

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-Edgar and Jack boarded

-the Ottawa to Edmonton train.

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-Jack's relations lived in Onoway.

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-This is where he met

-Harold Adlard...

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-..the third traveller

-to the Barrenlands.

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-He was yet another

-former public schoolboy.

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-He emigrated to Canada

-without any concrete plans.

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-He started to farm.

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-At 28,

-he was slightly older than Edgar.

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-But Harold Adlard had

-outback skills that Edgar lacked.

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-I don't think

-Edgar was ever a Boy Scout!

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-'Remember me mentioning Jack

-Hornby, the famous cricketer's son?

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-'Hornby is one of Canada's

-most famous adventurers.

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-'He's invited me to join him

-and his young cousin from Wales...

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-'..to spend a couple of winters

-in Barrenlands.

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-'All the best for now, Harold.'

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-'Jack asked whether I minded.

-I don't mind at all.

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-'Harold is a nice lad,

-and good company.

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-'I won't be the camp's only drip!'

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-From Edmonton, the three took

-the train north towards Waterways.

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-This was the most northerly

-train stop.

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-From Waterways,

-they had to go in a canoe.

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-They went up Great Slave river,

-along Great Slave lake...

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-..up Athabasca river - it was

-an exceptional adventure for them.

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-They were heading for a region

-where hardly anyone had been before.

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-'Moving the heavy canoe load

-is murder.

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-'But Jack can carry

-a terrific amount of weight.'

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-'We have almost 2,000

-rounds of bullets.

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-'Traps, stove, bedclothes.

-A tent and food.

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-'Enough to sustain us until winter,

-at least.

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-'And then we'll have to kill deer

-and keep it in the snow and ice.'

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-He was a young man,

-unused to such hard work.

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-They pushed forwards daily

-in the heavy canoes.

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-They would leave the canoes

-every now and then, for portage.

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-You couldn't take

-the canoe any further.

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-They started out in the summer.

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-As I've discovered,

-the insects are incredible.

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-The mosquitoes, blackflies

-and horseflies all bite.

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-'At twilight, after the wind

-died down, we set up camp.

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-'The insects had a ball

-because I have young, tasty blood!

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-'I was bitten so much that

-I threatened to jump in the river.

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-'Jack said that was pointless.

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-'Before long,

-the blighters would form a cloud.'

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-The journey covered

-hundreds of miles.

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-Through summer, their progress

-from place to place was slow.

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-It was possible they wouldn't reach

-Thelon in time to erect a hut...

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-..let alone gather enough food

-for winter.

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-'Jack is taking us

-to very alien territory.

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-'No-one has ever set traps

-here before.

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-'We aim to spend winter

-catching foxes.

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-'If we do well,

-we'll make a fortune.

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-'We won't have a care in the world.'

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-Jack had spent several winters with

-the natives hunting the Arctic fox.

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-Its fur was a valuable commodity

-in the early decades of the century.

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-The best time to hunt the fox

-was in deepest winter...

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-..when the fur was furry

-and as white as snow.

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-I can imagine Edgar Christian

-coming downriver in a canoe.

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-He'd love it because he was

-an enthusiastic naturalist.

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-He'd learn from his uncle

-Jack Hornby as they travelled.

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-He was an accomplished naturalist.

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-They'd see all sorts of things -

-the bald eagle, foreign hawk...

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-..and goosander.

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-Because they were on a canoe,

-they wouldn't frighten the birds.

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-They'd see natural miracles

-everyday.

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-'June the 16th.

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-'I'm starting to enjoy

-the journey's glorious scenery.

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-'It's an incredible experience

-to row on the wide, still waters.

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-'Silence, apart from the sounds

-of nature at its most harmonious.'

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-One of the area's most unique

-animals is the musk ox.

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-It can cope with the short, hot

-summers and long, cold winters.

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-This is the first time

-I've seen wolves in the wild.

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-They're amazing -

-much bigger than I expected.

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-They're white - I expected them

-to be brown or grey.

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-In the summer, the cubs

-usually feed on mice, lemmings...

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-..and also the Canadian Geese

-have just shed their feathers.

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-This is an important source of food

-for them.

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-Later, when the deer - the caribou,

-migrate back...

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-..they leave this place

-to follow and feed off the young.

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-It's an amazing place -

-full of amazing animals.

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-Pity they've disappeared

-from Britain.

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-It would be wonderful

-to see them back.

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-'The birds are numerous, too.

-Arctic tern and white seagull.

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-'It's so quiet...

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-'..apart from the sound of

-the river whispering at the bank.

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-Shortly afterwards, they entered

-the Hanbury river system.

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-They came across

-their gravest obstacle to date.

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-It may have been the most exciting

-and beautiful place they'd seen.

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-Dixon Gorge and Helen Waterfall.

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-Until then, they'd been rowing

-along relatively flat territory.

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-They discovered a deep gorge

-with rapidly-flowing water.

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-It must have been

-a brilliant sight.

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-They came to the flats

-of Thelon river.

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-The river stretches over 1,000 kms.

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-That gives you an idea

-of the expanse of northern Canada.

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-It was the end of summer. After

-months, the canoe journey was over.

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-At last, they could erect

-a cabin and hunt the caribou.

0:22:030:22:07

-There was also an opportunity

-for Edgar to begin his diary.

0:22:070:22:11

-'October 14, 1926

0:22:110:22:13

-'We spend the day digging sand

-from the cabin and fixing a roof.

0:22:150:22:19

-'The temperature is 26 Fahrenheit.

-The wind is moderate.

0:22:200:22:23

-'October 21. We collected poles

-to create a shelter.

0:22:240:22:28

-'We worked until it was dark.

0:22:280:22:30

-'October 22.

0:22:320:22:33

-'Jack and Harold spent the day

-fixing the beds and doors.

0:22:340:22:38

-'The snow is thick, and the

-westerly wind was strong all day.

0:22:380:22:42

-'10 degrees Fahrenheit.'

0:22:420:22:44

-This is the cabin Edgar Christian,

-Jack Hornby and Harold Adlard built.

0:22:470:22:52

-Jack was very familiar

-with the North.

0:22:520:22:56

-He had spent several winters here -

-usually in basic surroundings.

0:22:560:23:01

-He once survived winter

-in a small cave.

0:23:010:23:04

-Quite an effort went into building

-this. They drilled into the trunk.

0:23:040:23:09

-They collected huge trunks -

-this is about 5 metres by 5 metres.

0:23:100:23:14

-There's plenty of room for three

-bunks, a table, chairs and a stove.

0:23:150:23:20

-The stove kept the cabin

-warm and cosy.

0:23:200:23:23

-But sadly, their food supplies

-were somewhat overlooked.

0:23:240:23:28

-888

0:23:360:23:36

-888

-

-888

0:23:360:23:38

-'October 18.

0:23:430:23:45

-'This morning, we had to sew

-moccasins before we could go out.

0:23:450:23:49

-'I woke at dawn,

-and sewed 'til breakfast time.

0:23:490:23:53

-'I couldn't wait to go out

-on such a sunny day.

0:23:530:23:57

-'But we had to finish

-our snowshoes.

0:23:570:24:00

-'Jack returned in the evening

-with news to lift our spirits.

0:24:000:24:04

-'He'd seen 30 caribou

-grazing on the furthest ridge.

0:24:040:24:08

-'Tomorrow will be our last attempt

-to hunt for winter food.

0:24:080:24:12

-'October 19.

0:24:140:24:15

-'We set off early to see if the

-caribou were still on the ridge.

0:24:160:24:20

-'Not a single living creature

-could be seen for many miles.

0:24:210:24:24

-'We were bitterly disappointed.'

0:24:240:24:26

-This is the scene that faced

-Harold, Jack and Edgar...

0:24:270:24:30

-..a quarter of a mile

-from the cabin.

0:24:300:24:32

-The Barrenlands, a brilliant white

-under a heavy snowfall.

0:24:320:24:36

-Such was their hunger, they came

-to the hill behind me every day.

0:24:360:24:41

-Often the weather was atrocious as

-they searched in vain for caribou.

0:24:420:24:46

-'October 25. I woke this morning

-to a heavy south easterly snowfall.

0:24:490:24:54

-'The wind was awesome - waiting

-inside all day was unbearable...

0:24:550:24:58

-'..like a Sunday

-home in Bron Dirion.

0:24:580:25:01

-'We need to search the traps -

-but fail.

0:25:010:25:03

-'November 21. Stormy weather

-all day. We can't hunt again today.

0:25:030:25:08

-'Another day without food.

0:25:090:25:11

-'November 22. The wind was

-strong and cold all the way home.

0:25:120:25:16

-'I can't keep

-my hands and face warm.'

0:25:160:25:20

-This region suffers

-very low temperature.

0:25:210:25:24

-30 degrees Celsius

-below freezing point in winter.

0:25:240:25:28

-When you add

-the effect of the wind...

0:25:290:25:31

-..it's a terrible problem.

0:25:320:25:34

-The wind travels from the north

-across the Barrenlands.

0:25:340:25:38

-The temperature appears lower

-than what it actually is.

0:25:390:25:42

-Oh, yes. Damn cold at times.

0:25:440:25:46

-Because all of the wind,

-up and down the river.

0:25:470:25:50

-It freezes your cheeks and

-stuff like that - quite regularly.

0:25:520:25:56

-'December 12.

0:25:590:26:01

-'Jack stayed out until 8.00pm

-cutting a hole in the ice.

0:26:010:26:05

-'Ten minutes after I arrived back,

-I noticed my knee had frozen.'

0:26:060:26:10

-Edgar was a totally soft lad.

0:26:120:26:14

-The same could be said of Harold,

-though he'd worked on a farm.

0:26:150:26:19

-He was obviously tougher.

0:26:190:26:21

-Even so, the three worked hard

-to hunt, prepare food...

0:26:220:26:28

-..and keep the cabin snug.

0:26:280:26:30

-There wasn't time to stand around

-singing and story-telling.

0:26:310:26:35

-'December 23.

0:26:380:26:39

-'A cold and bitter wind all day.

-We haven't caught a single fish.

0:26:390:26:43

-'We brought our Christmas lunch

-in to defrost.

0:26:430:26:46

-'A caribou's head. The temperature

-is 22 degrees below freezing.

0:26:470:26:50

-'There are three hours of daylight.'

0:26:510:26:53

-It's just like taking the turkey

-from the fridge on Christmas Eve!

0:26:540:26:58

-The caribou's head was a feast.

0:26:580:27:01

-It sounds repulsive to us.

0:27:030:27:05

-But northern Canadian natives

-considered it a delicacy.

0:27:050:27:11

-'Christmas Day.

0:27:150:27:16

-'Hard to believe, but I enjoyed

-the feast as well as any...

0:27:170:27:20

-'..despite the fact there's

-nothing for breakfast tomorrow.

0:27:200:27:24

-'We woke this morning

-determined to enjoy ourselves.

0:27:240:27:27

-'The meal was as good

-as a turkey any day.

0:27:270:27:30

-'I hope everyone at home

-had a memorable day.

0:27:310:27:33

-'I hope to God we'll find

-enough food to last the month...

0:27:330:27:36

-'..lest we regret today's feast.'

0:27:370:27:39

-It was an enjoyable Christmas Day

-because they'd reserved good food.

0:27:400:27:44

-But they didn't know

-what they'd eat the following day.

0:27:450:27:49

-'January 5.

0:27:510:27:52

-'One of the worst days yet.

0:27:520:27:54

-'Northerly wind.

-33 below freezing point all day.

0:27:550:27:58

-'Stayed inside, pounding bones.

0:27:590:28:01

-'The fat has all gone.

0:28:010:28:03

-'January 17.

0:28:030:28:05

-'Cold to the point

-of freezing today.

0:28:060:28:09

-'Didn't do much - the smallest

-effort makes us unbearably hungry.

0:28:090:28:13

-'Food is so sparse.

0:28:130:28:15

-'January 24.

0:28:160:28:17

-'Harold set out in vain

-to search for the caribou.

0:28:170:28:20

-'Jack walked miles along the river,

-inspecting the traps.

0:28:210:28:24

-'But he didn't see anything either.'

0:28:250:28:27

-They went out every day...

0:28:270:28:29

-..to the snow, one after the other,

-looking for something to eat.

0:28:300:28:35

-But they returned empty-handed.

0:28:370:28:39

-They dug up what they'd eaten,

-what they'd thrown away.

0:28:420:28:47

-Even the hides and heads.

0:28:470:28:53

-Anything they could find.

0:28:560:28:59

-By mid-January,

-food was very sparse.

0:29:010:29:04

-They had to pound bones -

-which was a very laborious task.

0:29:040:29:08

-No wonder cracks began to appear

-within the small wood cabin.

0:29:080:29:12

-Three were sharing a confined space.

0:29:130:29:16

-Coping with the cold was hard

-on empty stomachs.

0:29:180:29:22

-Terrible weather often prevented

-them from leaving the cabin.

0:29:220:29:26

-Those factors contributed

-to the tension between the three.

0:29:260:29:30

-It was no surprise that Edgar

-mentions in his diary...

0:29:330:29:37

-..that Harold, in particular,

-found the situation unbearable.

0:29:370:29:42

-'January 30.

0:29:460:29:47

-'After hunting this morning...

0:29:480:29:50

-'..Harold returned and didn't

-say a word to anyone all day.

0:29:500:29:54

-'That was very depressing for us.'

0:29:550:29:57

-The tension is obvious. Blood

-is thicker than water, they say.

0:29:590:30:03

-The situation gets bad.

0:30:040:30:06

-Although, in a way,

-Harold keeps the three going.

0:30:060:30:10

-'February 1.

-A day of great feasting.

0:30:120:30:15

-'Harold managed to kill

-a caribou by the cabin.

0:30:160:30:19

-'February 23.

0:30:190:30:20

-'Harold went to hunt

-in the remotest places.

0:30:200:30:23

-'He spotted 40 deer but failed

-to get close enough to them.

0:30:240:30:28

-'February 24.

0:30:280:30:29

-'Harold went out to hunt again.

0:30:300:30:32

-'Harold went out to hunt again.

-

-GUNSHOT

0:30:320:30:33

-'He shot a young caribou. This

-greatly improves our situation.'

0:30:330:30:37

-That was the last caribou they shot.

-From then on, the situation worsens.

0:30:370:30:42

-There wasn't enough caribou

-for them to live comfortably.

0:30:430:30:46

-From time to time, they had

-to wander far from the cabin...

0:30:470:30:51

-..to find more meat to eat.

0:30:520:30:54

-This was supremely bold.

-Leaving the cosiness of the cabin...

0:30:550:30:59

-..to travel for miles

-through terrifying storms...

0:30:590:31:02

-..staying

-in the most inappropriate places.

0:31:020:31:04

-'March 11.

0:31:050:31:06

-'In a cache up river, unable

-to move because of the snow.

0:31:060:31:10

-'March 12.

0:31:100:31:12

-'The wind rose - we couldn't see

-an inch ahead of us again today.

0:31:120:31:16

-'March 15. We must get home.

0:31:160:31:18

-'Setting up another camp tonight

-would be impossible.

0:31:190:31:22

-'Jack fell on the way home.

-He is injured and in paid.'

0:31:220:31:26

-Back at the cabin, they discovered

-that a great number of caribou...

0:31:260:31:30

-..had passed by the cabin. They

-could see footprints in the snow.

0:31:310:31:35

-Had they stayed put,

-they'd have eaten a tasty meal.

0:31:350:31:39

-It was a dire situation.

0:31:400:31:42

-Jack tried to raise morale...

0:31:420:31:44

-..by reading a diary of a previous

-adventure when he almost died.

0:31:440:31:48

-'This is a terrible existence.

-I never see anyone.

0:31:490:31:53

-'I have nothing to read.

-No wonder men go insane.'

0:31:530:31:56

-I think this is one

-of the most significant events.

0:31:590:32:04

-They had nothing else to read.

0:32:040:32:06

-Furthermore, it inspired them

-to realise people can survive...

0:32:070:32:11

-..in the worst circumstances.

0:32:120:32:14

-'April 5.

0:32:180:32:19

-'Harold moaned like an old woman.

0:32:200:32:22

-'April 6.

0:32:230:32:25

-'Jack swore at Harold

-to get him to shut his mouth.

0:32:250:32:28

-'This had no effect.

0:32:290:32:31

-'He's very odd at times.

0:32:310:32:33

-'We must keep an eye on him.

0:32:330:32:36

-'The poor fellow felt weak.

-But we're all weak.

0:32:360:32:40

-'It's hell trying to move at all.

0:32:400:32:43

-'April 14.

0:32:440:32:45

-'Harold was completely

-confused this morning.

0:32:450:32:48

-'He was acting like a madman.'

0:32:480:32:50

-Gradually, Edgar took on

-the responsibility of a nurse...

0:32:510:32:56

-..once Jack was taken ill.

0:32:560:32:59

-His leg was badly hurt.

0:33:000:33:02

-It wasn't getting better.

0:33:030:33:05

-He couldn't walk as far as before.

0:33:060:33:08

-What we see is Jack's heroism,

-in the way he kept going.

0:33:090:33:14

-It's amazing. 99% of people

-would have lain down and died...

0:33:150:33:20

-..under those circumstances -

-but Jack kept going.

0:33:200:33:24

-'April 15. My longing for home

-is almost unbearable.

0:33:260:33:30

-'I hope to God no-one knows

-how much Jack's suffering.

0:33:300:33:34

-'I rub his leg in tears.

0:33:350:33:37

-'He kept some fox meat for me.

0:33:380:33:40

-'I'm so hungry, I lose myself.

0:33:410:33:44

-'Why can't I ignore the cold,

-as he does?

0:33:450:33:49

-'Why can't I shoulder

-some of his burden?'

0:33:490:33:52

-But Jack's condition deteriorated.

0:33:530:33:55

-At 48 years of age, he realised he

-wouldn't survive the bitter winter.

0:33:550:34:00

-'I, John Hornby, hereby bequeath

-to Edgar Vernon Christian...

0:34:010:34:05

-..all I possess

-and everything I may yet possess.

0:34:060:34:09

-I imagine it's the shortest will

-ever written.

0:34:100:34:12

-Edgar got everything he owned.

0:34:130:34:16

-Perhaps this suggests Jack

-thought Edgar would survive.

0:34:170:34:20

-'Last night, dear Jack died.

0:34:340:34:36

-'Before that, I felt alright.

0:34:380:34:40

-'But things got the better of me.

0:34:410:34:43

-'Harold, the old friend...

0:34:440:34:46

-'..was a great help

-as we prepared for the night.

0:34:460:34:50

-'April 18.

0:34:500:34:52

-'We are both weak -

-but determined to carry on...

0:34:520:34:56

-'..so the world hears about Jack.

0:34:560:34:58

-'The finest man I have ever known.

0:34:590:35:01

-'A man who will inspire me

-for the rest of my life.'

0:35:010:35:05

-It's at this point that Harold's

-heroism makes itself known.

0:35:080:35:13

-Before, he was the fussy one,

-to a certain degree.

0:35:130:35:17

-His work went unrecognised.

0:35:180:35:20

-He becomes the leader.

-He has the skills.

0:35:200:35:24

-He also looks after Edgar.

0:35:240:35:26

-But not for long.

0:35:280:35:30

-'Harold is in bed with a chill.

0:35:330:35:35

-'I hope he recovers soon.

0:35:350:35:38

-'The tension and mental torture

-is unbearable.

0:35:390:35:42

-'April 20.

0:35:430:35:44

-'At the moment, I'm quite calm.

0:35:460:35:48

-'If something happens to Harold,

-God only knows how I'll cope.

0:35:490:35:53

-'The hardship and strain

-have been unrelenting for so long.

0:35:530:35:57

-'I'm prepared for the worst.'

0:35:580:36:00

-As Harold becomes more poorly,

-the weaker he gets...

0:36:010:36:05

-..he can't hunt as he did before.

0:36:050:36:08

-That's when Edgar Christian

-becomes a man.

0:36:090:36:13

-He assumes responsibility.

0:36:140:36:16

-Edgar mentions

-how Harold starts to complain.

0:36:190:36:24

-He utters a cry in pain.

0:36:250:36:28

-In the end, Harold dies.

0:36:280:36:32

-Harold and Edgar

-had dragged Jack's body outside.

0:36:400:36:45

-He was given

-a fairly dignified burial.

0:36:450:36:49

-Somehow Edgar dragged Harold's body

-outside, leaving it at the door.

0:36:490:36:53

-Edgar was on his own.

0:36:570:36:59

-An 18-year-old lad, with nothing

-but his diary for company.

0:36:590:37:03

-888

0:37:080:37:08

-888

-

-888

0:37:080:37:10

-'April 28 to May 4.

0:37:150:37:18

-'I re-start the diary today

-after a break.

0:37:190:37:22

-'Since I last wrote,

-I haven't had a minute.

0:37:230:37:26

-By early May,

-Jack and Harold were dead.

0:37:310:37:34

-They lay outside the cabin.

0:37:350:37:36

-But there was a ray of light

-for the lad.

0:37:370:37:39

-A keen birdwatcher, he'd noticed

-a swan, a raven and three robins.

0:37:400:37:44

-These signalled

-that spring was on the way.

0:37:450:37:48

-The sun was getting stronger,

-the snow was melting.

0:37:480:37:51

-'There are more birds around.

-Today I saw many snow grouse.

0:37:530:37:57

-'Both guns are loaded at the door.'

0:37:580:38:00

-With skills Jack and Harold

-had taught him...

0:38:020:38:05

-..he could at least face

-the future with a degree of hope.

0:38:050:38:09

-If the experience

-was to make a man of him...

0:38:100:38:13

-..it had already done so by now.

0:38:140:38:16

-To me, the most memorable line

-in the diary...

0:38:200:38:23

-..is when he says,

-'I must carry on and get better.

0:38:240:38:28

-'I want to tell the whole world

-about the finest man I ever met.

0:38:300:38:34

-'Jack Hornby.'

0:38:350:38:37

-This is Edgar Christian's

-big moment.

0:38:370:38:40

-Unlike Captain Scott,

-he wasn't an experienced explorer.

0:38:440:38:48

-He was just a young lad, whose big

-adventure turned into a nightmare.

0:38:490:38:53

-After Harold died, Edgar Christian

-uses his diary as an extra person.

0:38:550:39:00

-He records things. He holds

-conversations with his diary.

0:39:030:39:07

-It's an excruciating period.

0:39:090:39:11

-The diary doesn't shy away

-from expressing his dilemma.

0:39:110:39:15

-Lack of food. He'd eaten meat,

-bone, skin and animal hair.

0:39:150:39:21

-This affected his insides -

-it was very hard to flush out.

0:39:220:39:26

-He had to find a way

-to rid himself of it.

0:39:270:39:31

-That in itself

-took away his strength.

0:39:330:39:36

-'I'm still trying to clear

-my system with an enema syringe...

0:39:410:39:45

-'..hot water, and soap.

0:39:450:39:48

-'My insides are full

-of hair and broken bone.

0:39:490:39:52

-'I have no-one to talk to.

0:39:530:39:55

-'It's dreadfully lonely here.

0:39:570:39:59

-'I'm barely alive.

0:40:000:40:02

-'I walk or crawl

-in and out of the house.

0:40:030:40:06

-'There's plenty of food -

-more than I can eat.

0:40:060:40:10

-'I'm weaker than I ever was

-in my life.'

0:40:100:40:13

-If someone had landed there

-with a hot dinner...

0:40:130:40:17

-..his body couldn't have

-absorbed the nourishment.

0:40:180:40:21

-He's so bad, he can't take advantage

-of the food that's available.

0:40:220:40:28

-One of Edgar's most important duties

-was to keep the fire alight.

0:40:340:40:39

-But by the end,

-he was too weak to gather wood.

0:40:400:40:44

-He broke the floor,

-table and chairs.

0:40:450:40:50

-He used anything he could

-to keep the fire going.

0:40:510:40:54

-But he knew

-that he was going to die, too.

0:40:550:40:58

-He couldn't keep the fire alight.

0:40:580:41:01

-He made sure the ash was cold.

0:41:010:41:04

-He placed his diary

-and two letters inside.

0:41:040:41:07

-One to his mother,

-one to his father.

0:41:080:41:10

-'Dear Father.

0:41:140:41:15

-'This is not my address.

0:41:170:41:19

-'I hope you receive

-this letter one day.

0:41:190:41:22

-'Jack Hornby was determined

-to see this part of the world...

0:41:230:41:27

-'..before he stopped exploring

-the Arctic lands.

0:41:270:41:31

-'He wanted the company of a young

-lad. It was my turn this time.

0:41:310:41:36

-'But the Thelon

-is not worth the trouble.

0:41:370:41:40

-'I worshipped Jack.

-He worshipped me.

0:41:410:41:44

-'It's unusual to see

-true love between two men.'

0:41:460:41:50

-The letter to his father

-mentions their shared love.

0:41:510:41:57

-But it's a brotherly love

-between men.

0:41:570:42:01

-They loved and depended

-on each other.

0:42:020:42:05

-There's an element

-of the hero-worship...

0:42:070:42:10

-..that was there from the start.

0:42:110:42:13

-To some extent,

-it surprises me that it lasted.

0:42:130:42:17

-He could still say

-he loved this man.

0:42:180:42:22

-He loved Jack Hornby. He didn't

-want anyone to think badly of him.

0:42:230:42:27

-'Dear Mother.

0:42:300:42:31

-'I'm weak and can't write for long.

0:42:320:42:35

-'Forgive me for leaving things

-so late.

0:42:360:42:39

-'I fought hard.

0:42:400:42:42

-'Don't blame poor Jack.

0:42:440:42:46

-'He thought the world of you,

-and me.

0:42:470:42:50

-'Believe that, and never forget it.

0:42:510:42:53

-'I love you.

0:42:550:42:57

-'A son couldn't have asked

-for a better mother.

0:42:570:43:00

-'Love to all my brothers

-and sisters, Edgar.'

0:43:010:43:04

-Having written the letters,

-Edgar wrote a final entry...

0:43:060:43:09

-..in the diary

-that kept him company.

0:43:100:43:12

-In barely visible ink...

0:43:120:43:14

-..his words sum up the inevitability

-of the fast-approaching end.

0:43:140:43:18

-'The final arrangements

-have been made. I shall go out.

0:43:190:43:24

-'Too weak.

0:43:250:43:27

-'I've left things too late.'

0:43:280:43:30

-He went to bed,

-covered his head with a blanket...

0:43:450:43:49

-..and turned to the wall.

0:43:500:43:52

-Certainly, Edgar realised

-there was no escape for him.

0:43:520:43:56

-There wasn't.

0:44:000:44:02

-No-one passed the cabin

-during the next hours and days.

0:44:020:44:06

-That's how Edgar died.

0:44:060:44:08

-A year after they left,

-people were getting worried.

0:44:320:44:35

-The following year...

0:44:360:44:38

-..a team of geologists passed

-and noticed the cabin.

0:44:380:44:42

-They discovered the bodies. Such was

-their fright, they left immediately.

0:44:420:44:46

-It wasn't until the summer of 1929

-that the mounted police came here.

0:44:460:44:51

-They buried the bodies by the cabin.

0:44:510:44:53

-More importantly, they found Edgar

-Christian's diary in the stove.

0:44:540:44:58

-A diary that became a legend

-here in northern Canada.

0:44:580:45:02

-But that isn't the end of the story

-by far.

0:45:230:45:25

-The news went around the world.

0:45:250:45:27

-'Jack Hornby Dead in Barrenlands.'

0:45:280:45:31

-'Three experienced explorers

-found dead by Thelon river.'

0:45:310:45:35

-'The three were well-known

-Edmonton figures.'

0:45:350:45:38

-The diary eventually found its way

-back to Christian's family.

0:45:380:45:42

-To ensure that Edgar's memory

-lived on...

0:45:430:45:46

-..they presented the diary

-to Dover College, his old school.

0:45:470:45:51

-But there are numerous diaries

-all over the country.

0:45:570:46:02

-They're almost never touched.

0:46:030:46:05

-But in this case, someone saw

-the greatness of the diary.

0:46:050:46:09

-A historian, with a connection

-with Caernarvonshire.

0:46:100:46:13

-Miss Dew Roberts published

-a copy of the diary before WW2.

0:46:130:46:18

-It became a classic amongst

-North American adventure stories.

0:46:200:46:25

-'As a record of man's emotion

-and bravery, it's hard to beat.'

0:46:260:46:30

-'The most harrowing book

-I have ever read.'

0:46:310:46:34

-Colonel Christian published the book

-to inspire young lads like Edgar.

0:46:400:46:45

-He received a fantastic reaction

-to the book from unexpected places.

0:46:450:46:50

-John Buchan,

-himself a great storyteller...

0:46:500:46:53

-..Hitler Youth in Germany...

0:46:530:46:55

-..and from the Sunday Times

-film critic, Dilys Powell...

0:46:550:46:59

-..to name but three.

0:46:590:47:01

-In the chapel behind me, a brass

-plate commemorates Edgar Christian.

0:47:010:47:07

-I think we should remember

-Edgar Christian.

0:47:120:47:16

-What he did, said and wrote.

0:47:160:47:20

-He was a brave lad.

0:47:210:47:24

-He set a good example to young lads.

0:47:250:47:28

-Because Edgar worshipped Jack...

0:47:300:47:32

-..and wanted to be like him -

-brave, and go out...

0:47:330:47:36

-..hunts, and lead

-the sort of exploring life.

0:47:360:47:41

-I think he was brave. He put up

-with it, without complaining.

0:47:430:47:47

-The exhibition is a fitting

-tribute to Edgar Christian.

0:47:510:47:56

-It tells the people of Glynnog

-that it was from here...

0:47:570:48:00

-..an insignificant village

-in Caernarvonshire...

0:48:010:48:04

-..that a young man embarked

-on a great 20th century adventure.

0:48:050:48:09

-When Edgar Christian left

-his public school in England...

0:48:140:48:17

-..he didn't dream he'd be as famous

-as the explorers he'd read about.

0:48:180:48:22

-But today, thanks to the diary...

0:48:220:48:24

-..people

-do

-remember

-the lad from north Wales...

0:48:250:48:27

-..as they canoe past

-the cabin on River Thelon.

0:48:280:48:32

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