#671-673

 Current fact #671

“I am just going outside,”

Today the title of “Sandman” may make you think of the villain from Marvel Comics, or perhaps even the 1818 Horror Novel “Der SandMann” (where the titular character eats children's eyes replacing the eyes with sand). Yet while both of these and many more are negative there was a brief point in time where “To have Sand” was considered a great quality in a person. None perhaps are a better example of this than Lawerance Edwards Grace “Titus” Oates. 

Son of the Legendary explorer Frank Oates, Lawrence (born March 17th, 1880)grew up with a love of both Church and the land (particularly horses), and ultimately led him to joining the Military as part of the 6th Dragoons (Cavalry). There he was referred to as “Disgingished, but simple minded man”. Then in the 2nd Boer-War (South Africa, 1899-1902) he sustained a gunshot which shattered his thigh bone but refused to surrender despite being told to by the enemy twice, saying “We came to fight, Not to surrender.” His left leg was permanently disfigured being an inch shorter than his right, and by the war’s end he was a public figure often being nicknamed “Titus” after the famous Titus Oates who survived 25 years under “death by ill-treatment” (1681). He was also referred to by newspapers of the day as “The Man made of Sand” which was a form of slang referring to having great mental resilience to come back to where you were despite terrible shocks in your life (Pluck). This led to another nickname of his while at home recovering as “The Sandman”.

(PS, I wonder if Marvel will ever make an Elseworlds comic with him as The Sandman that Spiderman Noir battles? Hmm…) As always thanks for reading and please have a wonderful day! 

Image of Mr. Oates, 1911

Fun Fact #672

“...and may be some time.”

Despite Lawerance Oates’  leg injury he continued to lead an extraordinary life, partaking in various ventures including “The Discovery Expedition" which made more accurate British maps of the Antarctic coast, including updates such as Mount Terror, Cape Crozier, and The Polar Plateau which ultimately stopped them from reaching the south pole. Left wanting to finish the job, Oates then signed up for the 1910 “Terra Nova” Expedition to the south pole. Yet on this trip –much like the Military– he found himself unliked by his fellows. This was in large part because Oates was concerned for their lack of supplies, since they were in a race to reach the south pole (Germany, Japan, Norway, and Austral-Asia). This conflict only rose when it came to light that the other groups were using the map of Antarctica which Oates himself had helped create in 1905. This led to Oate’s nickname “The Cheery Pessimist” by his comrades.

Despite these and other difficulties the team did make it to the South pole on January 18th, 1912, Only to find signs of a camp by Ronald Rasmussen's Norwegian team and a note stating they reached the location on 14th December (35 days earlier) and a torn copy of Oate’s map. This did NOT Help Oates reputation with the group who then faced immediate harsh weather on their return which stretched their supplies to the point of breaking, and forced them to hurry resulting in several deaths on the harsh terrain. Suffering from Frostbite and Scurvy, Oates himself had to be partially carried by the team for a week, slowing their pace to a few miles a day. Realizing that they would all die at this pace, Oates suggested they leave him only for the team to refuse, as he was right about needing more supplies before setting out.

2 days later on March 17th, Oates would celebrate his 35th birthday, and got ready to set out earlier than usual. Oates left the camp (-40° in a blizzard), telling his comrades “I am just going outside, and may be some time.” 9 days later the bodies of Oates’ companions were found  11 miles away from “One Ton Food Station” which could have saved them, but they had died from exposure, pinned in place by another blizzard. While Oates’ body was never found, a later search party erected a Carin (funeral pile of stones) and a cross where he had left camp. That cross was inscribed with the following words: “Hereabouts died a very gallant gentleman, Captain L. E. G. Oates, of the Inniskilling Dragoons. In March 1912, returning from the Pole, he walked willingly to his death in a blizzard, to try and save his comrades, beset by hardships."

Painting of the scene described in the recovered journal of Edward Wilson. Made by John Charles Dollman,1913.

Fun Fact #673

“...A Very Gallant Gentleman”

While Oates was outwardly a lifelong pessimist whose life seemed to get kicked every chance it got, his actions are still well remembered to this day. Indeed his final act of self-sacrifice has been held as the golden standard of the British “Stiff upper lip” attitude by the UK ever since word of his death reached The British Isles. To this day his The Royal Dragoons Guards hold a regimental day on March 17th, His Birthday (and coincidentally St. Patricks Day). 

Meanwhile Oate’s Family did what they could to honor his memory. Even though Oates himself never graduated from school, they took his love of learning as inspiration to found a school named after him in Meanwood, Leeds (Westyorkshire, England). Meanwhile even the British Crown honored the man naming “Mount Oates” in central New Zealand after him. 

Interestingly despite his outwardly negative attitude, his personal journals reveal he actually had high hopes for most situations but always saw ways for it to be improved. This is in large part thanks to his belief in God which he carried from childhood, and continuously gave him comfort in knowing God had a plan. Very interesting, given the story of his life has inspired 1,000s of people he would never meet.

As for the influence his actions had on the world of fiction, it appears to explore all corners and genres with references in everything from Star Wars, to Monty Python, to even being the catchphrase of the character Death in Terry Pratchett's “Discworld” series. Heck there is even a song by the Spanish Heavy Metal Band: WarCry (“Lawrance Oates”). The one which piqued my interest the most however is the slew of Sci-Fi and even historical fiction books which explore the concept of “What if Oates secretly survived?” in a series of increasingly convoluted schemes with his escape being explained by everything from a feral tribe of Yetis, to him stealing James Bond’s getaway, to holes in space time sending him to the future (there's a whole 12-book series about that one called “I may be some time.”). In short Oate’s unique personality and the honored manner of his death have made him a cultural touch stone which persists to this day, –even if it's often so buried in snow that no one seems to acknowledge it. 

A picture of the Terra Nova members who made it to the South Pole.