Title: ‘Titus’ Oates; Odd Man Out
August 2004 28 X 39 INCHES

Lawrence Edward Grace Oates: ("Titus", "Soldier")
1889-1912, British Explorer, Soldier, Cavalry Officer, Horseman.

" ...I am just going outside, and may be sometime…"

According to Captain Scott’s diary, these famous last words were spoken by
Oates on his birthday, March 17th , 1912, as he left their tent in the middle of
a raging blizzard and a – 40 degree temperature. His feet hopelessly
frostbitten and searing with pain, he chose a death of honor rather than slow the
remaining three in their race for survival. They all died a short time hence.

Oates suffered from dyslexia and was dominated by his mother through out his
life. She blamed Scott for his death and strongly opposed the accepted version
of events. She would not allow his diaries to be seen and ordered their
destruction on her death.

An upper class English gentleman, he was wounded in South Africa in the Boer
War. He was also stationed in India and Ireland where he became a skilled
horseman. Oates was a restless man. In 1910 he paid £1000. for the privilege of
joining the Scott expedition. Always the outsider, one can see how he stands
apart from the others in a tortured and despondent looking photograph taken
at the South Pole. He never knew why he was chosen for the final assault,
since he did not like Scott and constantly clashed with his methods. His words
tell a very different story than what is generally known about Scott and the
trek to the South Pole.