29th March 1912

My dearest Kathleen,

Oh how I miss you. I will always love you, however I have sad news for you - we where not the first people to arrive on Antarctica. Do you remember me talking about Roald Amundsen from Norway? Well he made it there first, the Norway flag so prominent in the snow.

I feel so disappointed that we are not the first, but I don't regret my journey. Its been an unforgettable trip; my conrads, the wild wilderness and mountains that make up this place, it truly is unique.

However its come at great cost. We have lost so much. On the way to the middle of Antarctica our horse died and the dogs could not handle the cold so they turned back. As we started journeying for home we lost Evans, and dear beloved Oats sacrificed himself too he thought this might help us to live...

I'm sorry to say this is not so my darling, I'm not going to make it home, this trip has taken its toll. It is SO cold and I am now no ill.

Please tell Peter I love him. Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games.

All my love

Robert