Oak chock

A relic of Sir John Franklin's last expedition 1845-48. An oak chock found under an abandoned boat at Erebus Bay, King William Island, in May 1859 by the McClintock Search Expedition 1857-59. An inscription has been painted on the side by the Royal Naval Museum, Greenwich. 'OAK CHOCK. (8) FOUND LASHED TO A SLEDGE ON THE WEST SHORE OF KING WILLIAM ISLAND, AND BROUGHT TO ENGLAND BY CAPTAIN SIR F. L. MCCLINTOCK R.N. KT 'FOX' EXPEDITION, 1859'.

The 28-foot boat sat on a very heavy sledge 23-foot 4 inches long. Supporting chocks for the boat were lashed to the five cross bars of the sledge. McClintock calculated the weight of the boat and sledge at 1400 lbs ‘a heavy load for seven strong healthy men’.

Object Details

ID: AAA2200
Collection: Polar Equipment and Relics
Type: Oak chock
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Events: Arctic Exploration: Franklin's Last Expedition, 1845-1848; Arctic Exploration: Franklin Search Expedition, McClintock, 1857-1859
Vessels: Fox (1855)
Date made: 1847-1848; 1847-48
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.
Measurements: Overall: 95 x 218 x 102 mm
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