The Thermopylae Club: Discovery of the HMS Erebus

Thermopylae Club Annual Dinner
6 PM, 08 April, 2015

This year the Thermopylae Club is opening their annual dinner to the public as they proudly present guest speaker Bill Noon, Commanding Officer CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, to talk about the discovery of the HMS Erebus in September 2014.

The Franklin Expedition ships, Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Erebus and HMS Terror, are an important part of Canadian history, laying the foundations of Canada’s Arctic sovereignty nearly 170 years ago. After many attempts to unravel the mysteries surrounding English explorer Sir John Franklin’s fabled arctic voyage, the Canadian Victoria Strait Expedition team located the Erebus, one of Franklin’s two ships, in September of 2014 to finally solve one of the world’s greatest archaeological cold cases.

Sonar image of HMS Erebus in 11 metres of water – image provided with permission from Parks Canada

Led by Parks Canada, the 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition brought together an unprecedented number of public, private and non-profit sectors to share resources and expertise. The CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, an 83-metre Arctic Class 2 icebreaker and its helicopter provided logistical and technical support. Ultimately, it was the combination of state-of-the-art technology and 19th century Inuit oral testimony that led to the discovery of the nearly intact HMS Erebus in the waters of eastern Queen Maud Gulf. A full photo gallery of the discovery is available here.

Captain Noon’s on-scene account provides an overview of the recent modern searches, including the operations, the technologies, the role of the Inuit knowledge, and the drama surrounding this year’s discovery.

The evening, which marks the Thermopylae Club’s 83^rd year, will follow the traditional format of drinks before dinner (cash bar), dinner culminating in the “Ambrosia” ritual, followed by the guest speaker.

Menu
Traditional Ship’s Dinner

Pea soup Corned Beef and Cabbage, or
Chicken (Mother Carry’s)

Salmon with Lemon and Dill

Port glasses of lime juice

Dessert

Plum Duff with chocolate rum sauce

Cost is $42.00 member, $45 non-member.

Reservations for dinner
must be confirmed by payment

before Wednesday, 01 April.

Fred Fowler:   fowlerfour@shaw.ca

Tony Gooch:   tonygooch@shaw.ca

Payment: cheque made out to “Thermopylae Club” and mailed to
Fred Fowler 9365 Captain’s Walk, Sidney BC V8L 4G6