Wikipedia

Adopted 6 December 1921, as suggested in 1914 by G. E. Howard, “…after an officer the British Antarctic Expedition.”

Lawrence Edward Grace “Titus” Oates [1880 – 1912] was a British army officer, and later an Antarctic explorer, who died from hypothermia during the when he walked from his tent into a blizzard. His death, which occurred on his 32nd birthday, is seen as an act of self-sacrifice when, aware that the gangrene and frostbite from which he was suffering was compromising his three companions’ chances of survival, he chose certain death for himself in order to relieve them of the burden of caring for him. According to the diary of Commander Robert Falcon Scott, CVO, [1868–1912], as Oates left the tent he said, “I am just going outside and may be some time.” The other members of the party also perished over the next few days.