To celebrate the rediscovery of Endurance, the Government should award a posthumous honour to  Luis Alberto Pardo Villalon (1882-1935), the Captain of the Chilean tug Yelcho.

After Ernest Shackleton reached South Georgia, three attempts to return to Elephant Island to rescue the remaining crew of Endurance were thwarted, largely by ice. After being authorised to escort and tug the sealer Emma during a previous attempt, Pardo was then authorised by Chilean President Juan Luis Sanfuentes to make a solo attempt. His ship, the Yelcho, was totally unsuited to the task. Built in 1906 in Glasgow and commissioned into the Chilean Navy two years later, the 120-ft. steam tug had no radio, suitable heating system or electric lighting and was single-hulled.

Pardo sailed out of Punta Arenas with a crew of volunteers on 25 August at the very height of the Antarctic winter, despite the fact that the ship's single-hull design rendered it particularly vulnerable to sea ice. After skilfully navigating the Drake passage through a violent winter storm, Pardo found Elephant Island covered in heavy fog. Using the echo from the ship's siren, he bought the boat safely in and was able to rescue the 22 remaining men, who had been on the island for more than three months. 

In a letter to his father before sailing for Elephant Island, Pardo wrote; 'The task is great, but nothing frightens me... If I fail and die, you will have to take care of my Laura and my children, who without any support except for yours. If I have success, I have done my duty as a seaman humanitarian and as a Chilean. When you read this letter, or your child will be dead or have reached Punta Arenas with the castaways. I will return not alone.'

The Government at the time voted Pardo a financial reward, which he turned down, as befitted a gentleman of the age. We believe that Luis Pardo should be considered for a posthumous award to honour his dedication, skill and bravery in rescuing the crew of Endurance.