Tom Crean: The Unsung Irish Hero of the Antarctic

Tom Crean: The Unsung Irish Hero of the Antarctic

He was one of the last men to see Antarctic Explorer Robert Scott alive and was Shackleton's right-hand man on the Endurance expedition. So why don't more people know the name Tom Crean? He was a steadfast and courageous Irishman whose legendary feats in Antarctica shaped the course of exploration history. Born in 1877, Crean joined the Royal Navy at 16 and his adventures took him to the perilous glaciers of the South Pole as he became an integral member of both Scott’s and Shackleton’s iconic Antarctic expeditions. Crean’s resilience shone in moments of crisis, from daring solo rescues in lethal blizzards to enduring sledge journeys that tested the limits of human endurance. Yet, despite his astonishing achievements, Crean remained grounded, returning to a quiet life in Ireland. Join Dan as he uncovers the incredible story of this unsung hero.


Written by Dan Snow, produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore.


You can discover more about the life and accomplishments of Tom Crean in Tim Foley's book 'Crean: The Extraordinary Life of an Irish Hero'.


This is the second episode in our Endurance season running through October & November to celebrate the release of the Endurance feature documentary on Disney+, Hulu and Nat Geo.


Other episodes mentioned in this show:

Was Scott's Antarctic Expedition Sabotaged?


For more Shackleton and Endurance content from History Hit, as well as AD-FREE content, sign up HERE for 50% off for 3 months using code ‘DANSNOW’.


We'd love to hear from you - what do you want to hear an episode on? You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.


You can take part in our listener survey here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(1486)

Boudica, Britain's Warrior Queen

Boudica, Britain's Warrior Queen

In 61 CE, Boudica of the Iceni led a bloody revolt to end Roman rule in Britain. Roman historians tell us with great drama and flair that the grand finale is a huge battle between Boudica and the Roma...

29 Aug 202438min

2. The Battle of Britain Explained: The Climax

2. The Battle of Britain Explained: The Climax

2/2. The Battle of Britain was Hitler's first and potentially most important defeat. It defined the course of the war, forcing him to make a series of decisions that guaranteed his own destruction. In...

26 Aug 20241h 7min

1. The Battle of Britain Explained: Preparation, Pilots and Propaganda

1. The Battle of Britain Explained: Preparation, Pilots and Propaganda

1/2. The Battle of Britain was Hitler's first and possibly most important defeat. It defined the course of the Second World War, forcing him to make a series of decisions that guaranteed his own destr...

25 Aug 202451min

The Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Warriors

The world was astonished when 8000 terracotta soldiers were unearthed in 1974 by Chinese farmers digging a well; the warriors opened a window to the first dynasty of China unlike anything seen before....

22 Aug 202446min

The First Emperor of China

The First Emperor of China

Dan heads to China to discover the incredible story of Qin Shi Haungdi, the man who built the mysterious Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall and founded China. Dan travels to the First Emperor's magni...

20 Aug 202442min

The Cocaine Craze in Victorian Britain

The Cocaine Craze in Victorian Britain

Many things may come to mind when you hear the word 'cocaine' - and we'd wager that the last thing on that list would be the Victorians. But as it turns out, the Victorians were avid cocaine users, wh...

18 Aug 202430min

The Real Society of the Snow: I Survived the Andes Flight Crash

The Real Society of the Snow: I Survived the Andes Flight Crash

Warning: this episode includes descriptions of human suffering and cannibalism. High in the remote Andes mountains, a Uruguayan rugby team resorts to the unimaginable to survive after their plane cras...

15 Aug 202456min

The Fall of Roman Britain

The Fall of Roman Britain

By 410 AD, over 450 years after Julius Caesar first landed on its shores, the Romans had formally withdrawn from Britain. Burdened by military threats and political upheaval on the continent, the empi...

13 Aug 202436min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
henrettelsespodden
rss-katastrofe
rss-historiske-romanser
rss-benadet
historier-som-endret-norge
historier-som-endret-verden
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
aftenposten-historie
rss-frontkjemperne
sektledere
med-egne-oyne
rss-gamle-greier
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
historiepodden
taakeprat
sannhet-eller-konspirasjon
undersattene
vare-historier
historiepodden-ww2