ADIÓS MI QUERIDO AMIGO WILLIAM BATTERSBY / GOODBYE MY DEAR FRIEND WILLIAM BATTERSBY

Ayer me dieron la tristísima noticia de que un amigo William Battersby, escritor del fantástico libro “James Fitzjames, el hombre misterioso de laexpedición de Franklin”, fallecía en un accidente de avioneta el pasado lunes.

Es una noticia trágica en varios sentidos, por un lado pierdo a una persona entrañable, amigable y divertida a quien consideraba un amigo, y por otra, el mundillo de los entusiastas de las expediciones polares pierde a uno de sus más valiosos efectivos.

Cuando comencé con mi blog en el año 2012 lo hice con la idea de disponer de un lugar donde apuntar todas las anécdotas que leía sobre expediciones polares para que no se me olvidaran y a la vez me permitiera compartirlas con otros entusiastas de la historia de la exploración polar. 

Prácticamente al mismo tiempo, tropezaba con varios blogs creados por ingleses, americanos y canadienses que versaban sobre la expedición de perdida de Franklin. Me aventuré a comentar en algunas de sus publicaciones y sorprendetemente, aquellos a los que yo veía como expertos inalcanzables, pronto me tendieron sus brazos y se empezó a forjar una relación que en algunos casos acabaría en amistad. Encontré a historiadores profesionales y amateurs como Peter Carney, Russell Potter, Glenn Stein y a entusiastas como yo como Jess Weatherbee, Bill Greenwell, Kassandra Noele, etc. 

Poco después me uní al grupo de Facebook “Remembering the Franklin expedition” en el que por cierto, estáis invitados a participar, y el número de amistades creció considerablemente. Estos autodenominados "Franklinitas" se reúnen anualmente en Londres para rememorar la expedición perdida pero sobre todo para tomarse unas pintas de cerveza y pasar un buen rato en agradable compañía. Allí fue donde conocí personalmente a William.

La primera vez que asistí a la reunión en Trafalgar tavern, en Greenwich entré por la puerta del pub y vi a un William sonriente sentado en una mesita cerca de una ventana pinta en mano. Conocía su cara por las fotos que había visto en internet, en su blog y en su libro, no obstante, no estaba cien por cien seguro de que fuera él. De pelo pelirrojo o quizás rubio y cara redonda y sonriente me recordaba a uno de esos niños de los libros de Guillermo el travieso. 

Un poco apurado pensando que quizás no fuese él, salimos del pub y esperamos un rato fuera. Al poco volvimos a entrar y esta vez me presenté, y sí, efectivamente era él. Con una gran sonrisa y visiblemente entusiasmado pronto empezamos a hablar. La conversación fluyó alegremente hasta que el resto de participantes empezaron a aparecer. Recuerdo que después de un incontable número de cervezas llegó el momento de pedirle que me dedicara el libro, que claro está, me había traído ex profeso desde España. Hubo un momento de confusión ya que Bill Greenwell y yo, le pedimos la dedicatoria al mismo tiempo. El resultado fue que yo acabé con la copia de Bill dedicada a mí y Bill con la mía dedicada a él. Decidimos intercambiar los libros para poder quedarnos con la dedicatoria correcta. Fue una tarde maravillosa.

El año siguiente se repitió el evento, y esta vez menos nervioso que en la primera ocasión, volvimos a vernos. 

El libro, en palabras de Russell Potter, una de las mayores eminencias relacionadas con la exploración polar, es descrito de la siguiente manera:

"Battersby's book is the first really full depiction that we have had, and it ably fills our previously incomplete portrait of Franklin and his senior officers. It's a book that no one with an interest in this expedition, or this period, will want to miss."

A esta crítica hubo algunos comentarios previos halagadores a los que William contestó:

"Careful folks, we'll sound like a mutual admiration society. But on the other hand... 

I did thank both Russell and Glenn for their tremendous help in this project in the Forward of the book and I really meant it. You have both been tremendouslu helpful. 

I think this subject: studying and understanding extra-ordinary people who did extra-ordinary things, does seem to bring the best out in people. In many ways it is similar to the subject of gallantry in war, but it is somehow more uplifting."

Os podéis hacer una idea de que clase de hombre era, recuerdo que cuando leí su comentario sonreí:

"Cuidado amigos o sonaremos como una sociedad de admiración mutua" 

Yo tampoco soy de la clase de los que les gusta recibir muchos halagos, si es que merezco alguno. 

"Estudiar y entender a gente extraordinaria que hizo cosas extraordinarias parece que saca lo mejor de las personas."

Creo que no podría estar más de acuerdo en eso.

Este año precisamente William andaba detrás de revisar su libro y aumentar contenidos. Me pidió que le echara una mano con determinados asuntos, era algo que tenía que ver con dos vapores ingleses que comandaban los mejores amigos de Fitzjames y que por avatares del destino acabaron en manos de la marina Española. Teníamos que traducir documentos, buscar imágenes y leer cartas de la época. Una pequeña aventura.

No os podéis imaginar lo halagado y orgulloso que me sentía de que alguien como William pidiera mi colaboración. Tampoco os podéis imaginar qué clase de investigador era, o lo podréis hacer si leéis su libro o alguno de los artículos que tiene publicados. En su blog hay una sección llamada "William Battersby ´s published research" donde los podéis leer.

La información que finalmente se fuera a publicar de aquello en lo que estábamos colaborando seguramente sería una parte muy pequeña del total de material que estábamos encontrando, pero aún así me lancé a buscar información con toda la ilusión del mundo. Si leyerais los e-mail que me mandaba os quedaríais fascinados ante la profundidad de sus análisis y de la cantidad de trabajo que él mismo desarrollaba al respecto, admirable. Incluso en la noticia que se ha publicado sobre el accidente el instructor jefe de vuelo y testigo del accidente dice sobre él :

"I saw the whole thing happen. It's a beautiful day for flying, and it was quite an experienced pilot, a very meticulous chap. The last thing on my mind was he would have any problem at all....A very nice chap, people got on with him very well"

Un "very meticulous chap and a very nice chap", así era él.

He pasado toda la noche despertándome cada dos por tres, y cada vez que me despertaba me venía a la cabeza su pérdida. Todas las veces, todavía medio dormido, he pensado que se trataba de una pesadilla pero en cuanto me despejaba un poco, la realidad de lo ocurrido volvía inmisericorde a recordarme que lo que ha pasado es muy real.

Lo voy a echar mucho de menos, todo el mundillo Franklinita y entusiasta de la exploración polar lo hará. A mi particularmente me va a quedar ahora un hueco en el corazón que va a ser muy difícil de rellenar. Guardaré la copia dedicada de mi libro (bueno, la de Bill más bien) como un gran tesoro que siempre ocupará un lugar destacado en mi librería polar al igual que William ocupará un lugar para siempre en mi memoria.

Creo que conocer a William Battersby, una persona extraordinaria que hizo cosas extraordinarias, me ha hecho ser un poco mejor persona.

Yesterday I received the very sad news that a friend William Battersby, writer of the awesome book “James Fitzjames, the mistery man of the Franklin expedition” died in a light plane crash this past Monday.

It is tragic news in several senses, for one side I am losing a charming, friendly and funny people who I considered my friend and on the other hand the micro world of enthusiasts of polar exploration has lost one of its most value assets.

When I began with my blog in the year 2012 I did it with the idea of having a place where take notes of all the anecdotes I was reading about polar exploration in order not to forget them in the future, and at the same time, to share them with other enthusiasts.

Almost at the same time I stumbled upon several blogs made by British, American and Canadian people which versed about the lost Franklin expedition. I was brave enough to comment in some of those blogs and surprisingly to me, those who I considered as untouchable experts, soon embrace me and we began to forge a relationship which in some cases ended in friendship. I found there amateur and professional historians as Peter Carney, Russell Potter, Glenn Stein and other enthusiasts as me like Jess Weatherbee, Bill Greenwell, Kassandra Noele, etc. 

Soon after I joined the Facebook group called “Remembering the Franklin expedition”, to which, by the way, you are invited to participate and the number of friends soon rised considerably. These self-titled Franklinites get together in London once a year to remember the lost expedition but above all to have some beers and to have a good time. It was there where I met William.

The first time I attended the meeting in Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich I get into the pub and  I saw a smiling William sat besides a window pint in hand. I knew his face from pictures I had seen in the Internet and in his blog and book, however, I wasn´t one hundred sure it was him. Red head, or maybe blonde he remind me a bit those children from the Richmal Crompton´s books “William”.

A little bit embarrased, thinking maybe it wasn´t actually him, we get out of the pub and wait some minutes outside. Then I gathered enough strength and got in again. This time I introduced myself and my girlfriend and yes, it was actually him. With a broad smile and visibly enthusiastic, as he was, we soon began to talk. Conversation flew happily till the rest of attendants arrived. I remember that after an uncountable number of beers the time to dedicate books arrived. I had of course brought my copy from Spain for that occasion.

There were some confusion because Bill Greenwell and me asked him at the same time to sign our respective books. The result was I ended with Bill´s one and he with mine. We decided to change the books in order to keep the correct dedication. That was a wonderful evening.

The next year the get together happened again and this time I was less nervous than in the first one. We met again.

His book, in Russell´s words is:

"Battersby's book is the first really full depiction that we have had, and it ably fills our previously incomplete portrait of Franklin and his senior officers. It's a book that no one with an interest in this expedition, or this period, will want to miss."

To this review there were some flattering comments to which William answered:

"Careful folks, we'll sound like a mutual admiration society. But on the other hand... 

I did thank both Russell and Glenn for their tremendous help in this project in the Forward of the book and I really meant it. You have both been tremendouslu helpful. 

I think this subject: studying and understanding extra-ordinary people who did extra-ordinary things, does seem to bring the best out in people. In many ways it is similar to the subject of gallantry in war, but it is somehow more uplifting."

You can imagine what kind am I speaking about, I remember when I read his comment I smiled. I am not also of the kind who likes to be flattered if it happens I deserve any.

This precise year William was after reviewing his book and increase its content. He asked me to give him a hand with certain matters which involved two British steamers, commanded by two of the best friends of Fitzjames which ended in the hands of the Spanish Navy. We had to translate documents, looking for images and reading letters of that time.

You can´t imagine how flattered and proud I felt when someone like William asked me for collaboration. Maybe netither you could have an idea of what kind of researcher he was, or you can if you have read his book or any of the articles he published. In his blog there is a section called "William Battersby ´s published research" where you can find them.

The information would be finally  published would surely be a tiny part of what we were finding. You would be astonished if you could read the e-mails he sent me because of the depth of his analysis and because of the amount of work he was able to develop, really admirable. Even in the news of the tragic facts, the flying instructor says about him

"I saw the whole thing happen. It's a beautiful day for flying, and it was quite an experienced pilot, a very meticulous chap. The last thing on my mind was he would have any problem at all....A very nice chap, people got on with him very well"

A "very meticulous chap and a very nice chap", that was him.

I have spent the whole night waking up every now and then and every time I woke up his lost come to my head. Every time too, still half asleep I have thought I was having a nightmare but soon after awaking a bit more I immediately realized it what have happened has been very real.

I am going to miss him in a way nobody else knows, all the Franklinite world will do. In my case it is going to be a hole in my heart which is going to be very difficult to fill. I will keep the copy of my book (well, Bill´s one) as a big treasure which always will occupy an outstanding place in my polar bookselves, the same as William will occupy forever a place in my memories.

I think than knowin William Battersby, an extraordinary man who did extraordinary things, has made me become a better person.