A new book about a little-known Arctic explorer from Peterhead was unveiled at the weekend.
Thomas Abernethy, who was born in Longside and later lived in the Blue Toon, was involved in expeditions to both the North and South Poles early in the 19th century.
Mr Abernethy was awarded five Polar Medals for his campaigns and now a new book from historian Alex Buchan charts his life from his first voyage aged just 12.
The book, A Grand Polar Veteran, was officially unveiled by the Buchan Field Club at Peterhead’s Arbuthnot Museum on Saturday and has already sold dozens of copies.
More than 60 people gathered in the museum hall to hear author Mr Buchan describe the hardships faced by Mr Abernethy and his shipmates.
Crucially, because he was not a commissioned officer, very little official documentation about the polar hero has survived.
Last night club president Sandy May said: “There were about 60 or 70 people there. Alex gave a 10 minute presentation,
touching on the life of Abernethy and how much the captains relied on him.
“There was a very good reaction, it went down well.”
The book – priced £9 – will be on sale at the Happy Plant garden centre in Mintlaw and the Family History Society in Peterhead from today.
Mr Abernethy originally took to the ocean waves before he was even a teenager and joined a whaler as an apprentice. Aboard the ship he learned “the incredible hardships of life in the Arctic”.
He later signed up with the Royal Navy and rose in rank from able seaman to be a senior non-commissioned officer.
Mr Abernethy served on Sir John Franklin’s vessels, the Erebus and Terror, both of which were later lost in the search for the North-West Passage. He also took part in the search for Franklin’s expedition.
Mr Abernethy spent a total of 10 winters and 17 summers in the polar regions and holds the rare achievement of having been “furthest north” and “furthest south” in his career.
