Photo: www.nmmc.co.uk
When the 1914 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition‘s three-masted barquentine, Endurance, was crushed in the Antarctic ice, expedition leader, Sir Ernest Shackleton, allowed each man to take off only two pounds of possessions, including their boots. The only exception Shackleton made was Leonard Hussey’s banjo, which weighed 12 pounds. Hussey was the meteorologist on board the Endurance and was an accomplished banjo player who had entertained the crew with weekly performances on his five string zither banjo Shackleton insisted that Hussey should take the banjo along for the sake of maintaining the crew’s morale. Shackleton told Hussey: “It’s vital mental medicine, and we shall need it.” While waiting for rescue, Hussey played popular tunes to entertain the crew every night during their ordeal. Leonard Hussey returned to England with the banjo and donated it to the National Maritime Museum.
The banjo has been the subject of several documentaries and at least one lawsuit. It is now also the inspiration for a new project to build “The Shackleton,” the first affordable British-made banjo in 60 years. The Great British Banjo Company has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise £30,000 to fund the only low-cost banjo genuinely manufactured in Britain, and the first production banjo to be manufactured in Britain for decades.
The original banjo was a zither back, (a cheap method of making a resonator style instrument), and probably actually constructed in Germany, despite what any label may say. You will notice it has six machine heads, but would only use five of them – this was to allow guitar “on a plate” machines to be fitted. The GBB project instrument is an open back, a far more “acceptable” design to players, and appears to be of a much higher quality. They will have a tough job competing with other makes, but it is good to see someone trying.
Hello, this is Simon Middleton from the company behind The Shackleton banjo. Thanks for covering our project on your blog. I thought you might like to know the latest news…
Banjo manufacturer The Great British Banjo Company has received pledges from banjo enthusiasts all over the world, to reach the halfway mark in its Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.
The company has received pledges totaling more than £15,000 ($24,000) towards its target of £30,000 ($48,000) which will enable it to produce its first batch of the Shackleton banjo in Britain.
The Shackleton will be the first volume-production to be manufactured in Britain for more than 60
years.
The instrument is named in honour of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the British explorer who led the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1914.
The banjo belonging to the expedition’s meteorologist played an unexpected but vital role in the journey, after Shackleton’s ship Endurance was crushed by ice and had to be abandoned.
Although each man was only allowed to take two pounds in weight of personal possessions off the ship, Shackleton made an exception for the banjo, famously declaring: “We must have that banjo, it is vital mental medicine.”
It proved a wise decision, because when Shackleton and a small team had to leave 22 men trapped on Elephant Island for several months while they set off on an 800 mile voyage in a small open boat to seek for help, the banjo played a vital role in maintaining morale for those left behind.
The marooned men held regular concert parties and wrote songs on the banjo. “It’s a fantastic story of British pluck and determination,” explained Simon Middleton, managing
director of The Great British Banjo Company, “and it has inspired us to undertake our own adventure: to build an affordable banjo in Britain, which has not been done for so many decades.”
“So many people have told us it can’t be done… but even more have encouraged us and pledged their support via Kickstarter. In fact it’s Kickstarter that has made it possible for a small company
like us to take a project like this off the drawing board and into reality,” Middleton added.
But the funding journey isn’t over for the Shackleton Banjo project. The company still has to raise nearly £15,000 and has just 18 days left to do so. Under Kickstarter rules, projects have to secure full funding or they receive nothing.
“We’ll get there,” said Middleton. “Ernest Shackleton himself said that if you leave shore with funding secured then the hardest part of any expedition is behind you. We know how he felt… and we’re determined that we will succeed.”
I have several photos of, and letters from, Hussey from around this time, relating to the Shackleton voyages. Are they something people would be interested in viewing? Who should I inform about them? Would be great to hear from anyone who knows what I should do with it all.
Thanks 🙂
Dear Clare, I would love to see these letters. Over the years
I’ve been fascinated by the expedition, Hussey’s story & the
power of music to improve the human condition. Hope
You are able to share this correspondence with the World and
Those like myself who, in turn, love sharing our music as teachers
and performers. You can check out my website at bobzentz.com.
Fair Winds & Following Songs,…
Bob Zentz
Banjoist, Multi-instrumentalist??
Clare, I would be extremely interested in seeing your letters and photos of Hussey. I would be very pleased to hear from you.