On Tuesday the King sent for me and handed me the Union Jack to carry on the Expedition.

That night, at midnight, war broke out.

On the following Saturday, August 8, the 'Endurance' sailed from Plymouth, obeying the direct order of the Admiralty.

I make particular reference to this phase of the Expedition as I am aware that there was a certain amount of criticism of the Expedition having left the country, and regarding this I wish further to add that the preparation of the Expedition had been proceeding for over a year, and large sums of money had been spent.

We offered to give the Expedition up without even consulting the donors of this money, and but few thought that the war would last through these five years and involve the whole world.
The Expedition was not going on a peaceful cruise to the South Sea Islands, but to a most dangerous, difficult, and strenuous work that has nearly always involved a certain percentage of loss of life.
Finally, when the Expedition did return, practically the whole of those members who had come unscathed through the dangers of the Antarctic took their places in the wider field of battle, and the percentage of casualties amongst the members of this Expedition is high.
The voyage out to Buenos Ayres was uneventful, and on October 26 we sailed from that port for South Georgia, the most southerly outpost of the British Empire.