Kristian Prestrud (22 October 1881 – 11 November 1927) was a Norwegian naval officer and polar explorer who participated in Amundsen's South Pole expedition between 1910 and 1912. Prestrud was first officer of the Fram and leader of the Norwegian expedition's Eastern Sledge Party to the Scott Nunataks.[1]
Kristian Prestrud was born in the parish of Grue in Hedmark, Norway and was baptized in Grue Church during January 1882. His father was a distillery manager in Løten. Krsitian Prestrud left for the sea in 1896. He entered at the Naval Academy at Karljohansvern in Horten during 1898. He became second lieutenant in 1902 and first lieutenant in 1905. After leaving the academy he sailed in the merchant fleet.[2][3]
Amundsen's South Pole expeditionedit
Roald Amundsen was secretive about his real attentions with regards of the Fram expeditions, the only persons to know in advance were his brother, and the ship's commander, Lieutenant Thorvald Nilsen. Lieutenant Prestrud and one other of the crew, Hjalmar Fredrik Gjertsen (1885-1958), were trusted with the information on the eve of the Fram's departure from Norway. The rest of the crew of 18 was only to know upon Fram's stop-over at Madeira. During the winter stay at Framheim in Antarctica Prestrud, assisted by Hjalmar Johansen, made scientific observations. [4]
Prestrud was assigned to the original group of eight men that made the unsuccessful attempt to reach the Pole on 8 September 1911. Although they were forced to retreat due to extreme temperatures, they decided to head for the depot at 80°, unload their sledges and race back to Framheim. The disordered return was made in scattered groups, with the last two men arriving more than six hours after the others. Johansen and Prestrud stumbled into Framheim totally exhausted, having found the camp in the dark and fog only by following the barking of the dogs. It is likely that Prestrud would have frozen to death if Johansen had not taken care of him and brought him to safety.[5]
The next morning Amundsen was heavily criticised by Johansen, who had experience from his Arctic exploration with Fridtjof Nansen. Such opposition was unheard-of and Amundsen then reorganized the Pole party by reducing its number. Consequently, Johansen, together with Prestrud and Stubberud was separated from the Pole team and tasked with the exploration of King Edward VII Land. In order to dishonor Johansen further, the less experienced Prestrud was put in charge of this. A cairn erected by Prestrud's group at Scott Nunataks, Alexandra Mountains (77°11′S154°32′W / 77.183°S 154.533°W / -77.183; -154.533) on 3 December 1911 is considered a historic site of Antarctica.[6]
Awardsedit
For his participation in the expedition, Kristian Prestrud was awarded the South Pole Medal (Sydpolsmedaljen), a Royal Norwegian award instituted by King Haakon VII in 1912 to reward participants in Roald Amundsen's South Pole expedition. In 1926, Prestrud was appointed assistant port of Kristiansand, but died the following year in 1927 at Kristiansand, Norway .[7]
Roald Amundsen wrote about the expedition in Sydpolen published in two volumes in 1912–1913. The work was translated into English by A. G. Chater, and published as The South Pole: An Account of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition in the "Fram," 1910-1912
Referencesedit
^"Fram III, Amundsens Sørpolekspedisjon". Norsk Polar History. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^. The Fram Museum. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^. Norway's Antarctic Heroes. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
kristian, prestrud, october, 1881, november, 1927, norwegian, naval, officer, polar, explorer, participated, amundsen, south, pole, expedition, between, 1910, 1912, prestrud, first, officer, fram, leader, norwegian, expedition, eastern, sledge, party, scott, n. Kristian Prestrud 22 October 1881 11 November 1927 was a Norwegian naval officer and polar explorer who participated in Amundsen s South Pole expedition between 1910 and 1912 Prestrud was first officer of the Fram and leader of the Norwegian expedition s Eastern Sledge Party to the Scott Nunataks 1 Kristian Prestrud South Pole Medal Contents 1 Background 2 Amundsen s South Pole expedition 3 Awards 4 See also 5 Sources 6 References 7 External linksBackground editKristian Prestrud was born in the parish of Grue in Hedmark Norway and was baptized in Grue Church during January 1882 His father was a distillery manager in Loten Krsitian Prestrud left for the sea in 1896 He entered at the Naval Academy at Karljohansvern in Horten during 1898 He became second lieutenant in 1902 and first lieutenant in 1905 After leaving the academy he sailed in the merchant fleet 2 3 Amundsen s South Pole expedition editRoald Amundsen was secretive about his real attentions with regards of the Fram expeditions the only persons to know in advance were his brother and the ship s commander Lieutenant Thorvald Nilsen Lieutenant Prestrud and one other of the crew Hjalmar Fredrik Gjertsen 1885 1958 were trusted with the information on the eve of the Fram s departure from Norway The rest of the crew of 18 was only to know upon Fram s stop over at Madeira During the winter stay at Framheim in Antarctica Prestrud assisted by Hjalmar Johansen made scientific observations 4 Prestrud was assigned to the original group of eight men that made the unsuccessful attempt to reach the Pole on 8 September 1911 Although they were forced to retreat due to extreme temperatures they decided to head for the depot at 80 unload their sledges and race back to Framheim The disordered return was made in scattered groups with the last two men arriving more than six hours after the others Johansen and Prestrud stumbled into Framheim totally exhausted having found the camp in the dark and fog only by following the barking of the dogs It is likely that Prestrud would have frozen to death if Johansen had not taken care of him and brought him to safety 5 The next morning Amundsen was heavily criticised by Johansen who had experience from his Arctic exploration with Fridtjof Nansen Such opposition was unheard of and Amundsen then reorganized the Pole party by reducing its number Consequently Johansen together with Prestrud and Stubberud was separated from the Pole team and tasked with the exploration of King Edward VII Land In order to dishonor Johansen further the less experienced Prestrud was put in charge of this A cairn erected by Prestrud s group at Scott Nunataks Alexandra Mountains 77 11 S 154 32 W 77 183 S 154 533 W 77 183 154 533 on 3 December 1911 is considered a historic site of Antarctica 6 Awards editFor his participation in the expedition Kristian Prestrud was awarded the South Pole Medal Sydpolsmedaljen a Royal Norwegian award instituted by King Haakon VII in 1912 to reward participants in Roald Amundsen s South Pole expedition In 1926 Prestrud was appointed assistant port of Kristiansand but died the following year in 1927 at Kristiansand Norway 7 See also editMount Prestrud Prestrud InletSources editRoald Amundsen wrote about the expedition in Sydpolen published in two volumes in 1912 1913 The work was translated into English by A G Chater and published as The South Pole An Account of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition in the Fram 1910 1912References edit Fram III Amundsens Sorpolekspedisjon Norsk Polar History Retrieved May 1 2017 Kristian Prestrud 1881 1927 The Fram Museum Archived from the original on January 7 2018 Retrieved May 1 2017 Kristian Prestrud Store norske leksikon Hjalmar Fredrik Gjertsen 1885 1958 The Fram Museum Archived from the original on January 7 2018 Retrieved May 1 2017 The Eastern Sledge Journey By Lieutenant K Prestrud The South Pole by Roald Amundsen Chapter 15 Retrieved May 1 2017 Bomann Larsen Tor 1998 Roald Amundsen en biografi in Norwegian Oslo Cappelen p 490 ISBN 8202176476 Kristian Prestrud Norway s Antarctic Heroes Archived from the original on September 29 2007 Retrieved May 1 2017 External links editFram Museum official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kristian Prestrud amp oldid 1215239046, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
