Watch with 'adventurous past' to go under hammer

A pocket watch which has been described as having an "adventurous past" by an auction house is set to go under the hammer.

An engraving on its dustcover details how the watch was taken on the SY Aurora by Sir Ernest Shackleton during his Trans-Antarctic Expedition between 1914 and 1917.

The open face silver pocket watch was inherited 40 years ago by the current owner.

The watch is expected to fetch between £400 and £600 at Kinghams Auctioneers in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, on 10 July.

The engraving on the back cover reads: "This watch went to Antarctica in 1914. and was carried away on the S.Y. Aurora on her long drift returning when she relieved (sic) the party in 1917."

The S.Y. Aurora transported and supplied the Ross Sea Party, a component of Sir Ernest's expedition, led by Joseph Stenhouse.

In May 1915, a blizzard caused the ship to break from its anchorage and, with ice hindering its ability to manoeuvre, it spent 312 days adrift.

It was freed by melting ice in March 1916.

Kinghams said competitive bidding is expected on the watch because there is "a strong interest in anything expedition and particularly Antarctic-related amongst collectors".

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