HMS Erebus and HMS Terror: An Arctic Mystery That Baffled the Entire World

Sir John Franklin’s final expedition’s fate was previously unknown until the wreckage of the HMS Erebus and Terror were found in 2014 and 2016, respectively. It’s still a big mystery in the world of marine research. For some reason, his 1845 expedition on the ships Erebus and Terror to navigate the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific failed.

Topsham, Devon, was the site of the construction and launch of HMS Terror in June 1813. This ship’s hull was designed to resist the force of explosions, as it was a bomb vessel. Terror‘s first role in history was as a warship, fighting against the United States in various engagements during the War of 1812.

The HMS Erebus and HMS Terror left Britain for what is now Nunavut in Northern Canada in May 1845. It was believed that the North-West Passage, the seaway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, was now within reach after extensive explorations of the Arctic coastline.

Sir John Franklin (born in 1786), a Royal Navy commander with an impressive resume, including participation in the legendary Battle of Trafalgar and nearly six years as lieutenant governor of modern-day Tasmania, led the mission.

Franklin led around 130 soldiers into the Arctic in spite the fact that he was 59 years old at the time of the mission. He was a seasoned sailor who knew the ins and outs of the sea—something not a lot of men can brag about.

The British Empire spent the whole of the 19th century embarking on a series of disastrous wars. Still, the expedition’s captains were confident in their vessels’ ability to meet the challenge. There was widespread agreement that both the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus were technological marvels for their day.

Each vessel also featured a steam-powered propeller that could reach speeds of around four knots, and their bows were strengthened with iron to withstand the impact of the ice pack. That steam also heated the inside. It had everything every navigator could possibly need or want.

Franklin chose to spend the winter months off Beechey Island, a barren rock and ice outcrop located between Lancaster Sound and Wellington Channel. Two navy warships under Franklin’s command headed north through the Wellington Channel before making a southerly swing toward Beechey Island, where they intended to spend the season.

Expedition teams were occasionally at the mercy of the enormous pressure of the sea ice and the unexpected behavior of icebergs in the Arctic, an area known for its frigid fog and churning waters. Occasionally, the scenery was also stunningly gorgeous, with vivid hues and starry sky.

Inuit seldom ventured to this lonely region known as Tununiq, meaning ‘the back of beyond,’ where Franklin’s ship became icebound. Like previous missions, this one found that it was impossible to rely on locals for food, clothes, or oil. However, they had adequate food and water for three years, and British expeditions were accustomed to surviving Arctic winters.

Upon arrival, the group discovered that three crew members were buried on the island, and their remains, which had been admirably preserved by the island’s severe conditions, would one day provide a crucial clue as to the expedition’s fate.

Information that wasn’t transmitted through telegraph or semaphore lines was limited to the speed of trains and ships during this time period. It wasn’t out of the ordinary to go years without hearing back from the other side of the globe.

After hearing nothing from Franklin and his crew in 1848, the British Admiralty decided to mount a rescue mission by land and water. If there was no word from the Terror or Erebus, then it’s safe to assume the worst must have happened. The group was likely in trouble.

Later, in 1854, explorer John Rae met several Inuit in Pelly Bay who informed him that as many as forty Englishmen had died of famine and sickness near the mouth of the Back River, which lies roughly straight south of King William Island.

At first, John Rae was unsure whether or not these locals knew what they were talking about, let alone understand what he was trying to say. To address this apprehension, the Inuit brought out a variety of objects, including a telescope, to prove their story to Rae.

No one in their right mind would believe what the Inuit said, but Rae knew he had no other evidence. He had to take their word for it. As such, Rae was duty-bound to share the news. He faithfully reported the grisly facts to the British Admiralty whether he liked it or not.

The population in Britain understandably panicked after hearing this news from the Admiralty. Everyone freaked out over the information, mainly since cannibalism was mentioned. Famous author Charles Dickens even wrote about it in his magazine, but he merely wrote it off as chatter.

Yet, in 1859, further clues pointed to the fact that something had gone terribly wrong with Franklin’s voyage. A tin canister with a letter with two messages written by separate people was discovered inside a rock cairn in King William Island’s far north.

The following letter provided a considerably bleaker report. Only one document, the Victory Point Note, dating back to 1859, provided any clues concerning what took place. Notes put in the margins of this generic Admiralty form indicated that the ships had been abandoned on April 22, 1848, after being trapped in the ice since September 12, 1846.

Typically, we would brace for winter by wearing warm clothes and ensuring the heating at home is at its optimal function. Yet, imagine what it would be like when one is in the Arctic. Even pulling off a balaclava in subzero temperatures might shred the skin and beard from the chin, so the men on Franklin’s ships had their work cut out for them.

After two years had passed since anybody had heard from the Franklin expedition, the first of several missions set out to find them, or at least find out what had become of Erebus and Terror. The tragic death of British hero Sir John Franklin made headlines throughout the country, and the citizens hoped to unveil the truth about his demise.

In 1850, the Admiralty sent both land and marine missions under pressure from Lady Jane Franklin, Parliament, and the British press. Between 1850 and 1857, Lady Franklin provided financial assistance for the fitting out of five search ships, with Leopold McClintock’s trip on the yacht Fox giving the first recorded proof of the men’s fate.

For the following 30 years, reports and souvenirs like tin cans, ski goggles, and silverware trickled back to Britain. All of these artifacts together told the story of the ship’s crew’s demise from scurvy and hunger. Meanwhile, there were complications with some of the rescue efforts.

Another ship called the HMS Resolute decided to give it another try, but the rescue never came to fruition. After the crew of the HMS Resolute gave up and abandoned the ship while stuck in the ice in 1854, it wasn’t found until the following year by an American whaler.

The vessels’ whereabouts remained a mystery, and people thought that was the end of it. It wasn’t until 2014 that the HMS Erebus was found sunken in the Queen Maud Gulf, a considerable distance from King William Island.

Of course, the Inuit have supplied some firsthand reports of the ships disappearing, but it is impossible to establish the times and places that are mentioned in those recalls. It was a matter of having faith in the stories that were shared—they basically took what they could get.

The most important question was, what had become of the sailors? When Franklin passed, did they also assume that would be the conclusion of their journey? Perhaps the men also hoped to pursue the trip, but the Arctic got the best of them.

It’s possible that the ship’s water delivery pipelines, or inadequately sealed cans, contributed to the increased lead levels. While greater lead levels were normal in men and women at the time, the pipes may have been the principal problem in this case because other British crews across the world ate from cans cooked in a similar fashion without incurring severe lead poisoning.

The crew had been weakened by disease and malnutrition during their two winters on the ice, and they finally decided that heading south was their best chance at survival. However, making their way through the wilderness presented their own challenges, and they were unable to avoid a landing approach into the unspeakable horror due to a lack of appropriate equipment.

With the discovery of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror in 2014 and 2016, respectively, the fate of Franklin’s last mission was no longer a mystery. While working with the Inuit Heritage Trust, Parks Canada’s underwater archaeologists have made more dives, uncovering more intriguing artifacts.