Exhuming the Truth: The Remains of the Franklin Expedition

The mid-19th century Franklin Expedition aimed to establish the Northwest Passage through the Arctic. However, the tragic fate of the expedition remains a subject of interest for researchers, historians, and archaeologists to this day. This article explores the current state of affairs regarding the human remains discovered from this ill-fated voyage.

The Franklin Expedition and Its Tragic End

During the mid-19th century, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror embarked on a perilous journey to find a Northwest Passage through the Arctic. Despite their initial promise, the ships became trapped in ice, leading to the ultimate perishing of many crew members. As of August 2023, some remains have been recovered, particularly from locations such as King William Island, where the ships were abandoned.

The Beechey Island Bodies

Among the most intriguing and well-preserved remains are those found on Beechey Island, where the Franklin expedition spent their first winter. Three bodies were found, identified as:

John Torrington, John Hartnell, and William Braine

In 1852, these bodies were initially discovered, and they remained largely untouched until 1987 when a research team exhumed the remains to gather more information about the expedition's fate. The research team found that these three crew members likely died of diseases such as tuberculosis, leading to the investigation of lead poisoning. However, this theory was later debunked. To this day, the bodies remain buried on Beechey Island, with their wooden headboards replaced by new bronze ones.

The Irving Grave

Located only a few miles away from Victory Point, where the last official message from the expedition was found, the Irving Grave is a small overland tomb built with stones. Inside, a body was found alongside pieces of canvas, a hankerchief, and small metal items. Most importantly, two medals for mathematical excellence belonging to John Irving were discovered on the outskirts of the grave. Due to the significant effort put into this burial, the body was brought back to England, where it was buried in Dean Cemetery.

However, there has been some debate recently surrounding the identification of the body as Irving. The Victory Point message, which was found a few miles away, indicates that Irving was alive and healthy when it was written, unlike other expedition members who were mentioned as having died. This has led some to speculate that either Irving's health deteriorated rapidly, or that someone else may have been buried there.

Harry Goodsir

Harry Goodsir, the assistant surgeon of HMS Erebus, was a remarkable individual before joining the expedition. Trained as an anatomist and naturalist, he co-authored one of the early works on cell theory with his brother John. When the expedition vanished, both John and their brother Robert went on several search expeditions, including the one that discovered the Beechey Island graves.

Originally identified as Henry Thomas Duncan Le Vesconte, the body was later reidentified as Goodsir through DNA testing and facial reconstruction. The unique golden tooth found with the skeleton, which was an unusual choice for that time, further supported this identification. Currently, the body remains buried at the Royal Naval Academy in Greenwich.

John Gregory

John Gregory, an engineer aboard HMS Erebus, was identified in 2013 when his skull was found on the west side of King William Island at a location known as Erebus Bay. It wasn't until mid-last year that the skull was positively identified with the help of a living descendant. The identification process involved detailed forensic analysis and a comparison of the skull with family records.

Continued Research and Ongoing Discoveries

The ongoing research and archaeological work continue to shed light on the fate of the expedition and its crew members. For the latest updates on this topic, it is advisable to consult recent news sources or academic publications. With each new discovery, the narrative of this ill-fated voyage grows more detailed and provides a clearer understanding of what befell the crew members of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.