Bedford's Forgotten Polar Connection: Unveiling of Bedford's Latest Blue Hertitage Plaque
A Blue Heritage Plaque was unveiled last week at the former Bedford home of the Polar Explorer Aeneas Mackintosh. Mayor Dave Hodgson was in attendance at the formal unveiling at 43 Beverley Crescent, which Mackintosh rented in 1914 in order that his wife could be close to her relatives while he was away leading the Ross Sea Advance Party of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Trans Antarctic Expedition.
Mackintosh had originally moved to Bedford as a child with his family, attending Bedford Modern School and living in homes in St Leonards avenue and then Clarendon Street.
Mackintosh had served as Second Officer on Ernest Shackleton's 1907 Nimrod Expedition to the South Pole. He sailed from London in August 1914 to join the Ross Sea Advance Party just four months before his second daughter Gladys Elisabeth was born in Bedford.
Having reached the Antarctic, Mackintosh took control of what was an essential part of the expedition, its job was to lay supply depots along the expedition route. Despite facing enormous difficulties, Mackintosh and his group managed to complete the depot laying.
On finishing the work and after their rescue, he and a companion attempted to return to the expedition base camp on foot by crossing the unstable ice. They disappeared and are assumed to have fallen through the ice with the date of death being given as 9th.May 1916.
The planned Trans Antarctic March never took place, of course, due to Shackleton's ship the Endurance being crushed in the ice.
Mackintosh's widow remained at Beverley Crescent until 1918 when she moved in with her siblings in Bromham Road. She stayed with them and ultimately accompnaied them to the Isle of Wight in 1919 after the death of their mother.
The unveiling was undertaken by Anne Phillips, the Granddaughter of Mackintosh whose mother was born at the house and Mark Venning, a Grandson.
Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Aeneas Mackintosh played a hugely important role as a Polar Explorer, and I am delighted that this new heritage plaque is now in place to help mark his place in history for current and future generations in Bedford."