The 1924 British Everest Expedition ended in tragedy when Andrew Comyn Irvine and George Leigh-Mallory, both with local connections, died near the summit of everest. Andrew 'Sandy' Irvine was born in birkenhead in 1902 and was educated at Birkenhead Prepatory School & Birkenhead Junior School from 1910-1916 before completing his education at Shrewsbury School; his father was William Fergusson Irvine, also an old boy of Birkenhead School, a well known authority on local history with many publications to his name. George Leigh-Mallory's father was the vicar of the church of St.John, Huskinson Street, off Grange Road Birkenhead. It was 12:50pm on sunday the 8thnof june 1924 that noel odell, another member of the team saw the distant figures of Irvine and Mallory on the north east ridge within striking distance of the summit. His views of the vanished whe they became inveluped in a cloud once more. what happened to them then entered into mountaineering legend. Did either or both of them make the summit 29 years before edmand hillary and Tenzing Norgay? Three roads off borough road in prenton were named to commemorate the event - Mallaroy Road, Irvine Road and Everest Road. On the 75th anniversary in 1999, an Anglo-American team traced the foot steps of the 1924 british everest expedition they found Mallaroy's preserved body 2000 feet from the summit but no evidence to confirm if they made the summit. Perhaps one day Irvines Body with thier camera will be found and the questions answered.
"The wise man always has riches within himself". DOCTUS IN SE SEMPER DIVITIAS HABET
Just found Andrew Gwyn Irvine aged 8 living at 56 Park Road South Birkenhead on the 1911 census. I am fairly sure that is him as I was told once that he lived in the house next to Park High School.
