The Steam Yacht Aurora 1876 - 1917
Surnames/tags: SY_AURORA ANTARCTICA
This Project is aimed at identifying those people that have spent some part of their lives with the Aurora. Details of the ship and her voyages are only given to provide context.
For further information about the ship, expeditions and people listed, follow the links below. If you are able to help resolve errors, omissions and broken links, please do so. Otherwise you can contact Gaz Thomas
Currently focussing on:
- Gaz Thomas - Building out the family tree of George Fredrick Ainsworth to connect them to the big tree. 🌳
Arctic service (1877-1910)
An Arctic Whaler / Sealer built by Alex Stephen and Sons Ltd, Dundee, Scotland in 1876
for the Greenland Whaling and Newfoundland Sealing Grounds, based initially in Dundee and later in St Johns.
Associated with the relief of the Greely Expedition 1884 and the discovery of the ill-fated Swedish NW Greenland Expedition
1892.
The South Land
The Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) 1911 - 1914
The objective of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition was to determine the coast line of the Australian Quadrant of Antartica; to achieve this, shore parties were to land at intervals along the coast where they would set up huts to stay during the winter of 1912. Sledging teams would be sent east and west along the coast to complete surveys. To maintain contact between Hobart, New Zealand and the bases in Antarctica, a wireless repeating station was to be erected at Macquarie Island, a small party would stay behind to operate and maintain the radio equipment.
(Mention the purchase of the Aurora by Mawson, fitment to suit Antarctica an the journey to Hobart)
The First Antarctic Voyage set off from Hobart on the 2nd of December 1911 arriving at Macquarie Island on the 12th of December 1911. For a fortnight the Aurora would stay at Macquarie Island while the necessary telegraphy work was being completed. On the 25th of December 1911 the Aurora left Macquarie Island and set course for Antarctica.
The Aurora dropped anchor in a bay on the 8th of January 1912, a party was sent to shore to determine the suitablity of this location as winter quarters. Conditions were favourable so their current location would be where Mawson and the members of the Main Antarctic Base would winter.
After unloading supplies for the Main Antarctic Base, on the 20th of January 1912, the Aurora and remaining party members headed west in search of a second winter station. A suitable location was found on an ice shelf on the 15th of February 1912. Six days later on the 21st of February 1912 those left onboard the Aurora said their goodbyes to the Western Antacrctic party and set course for Hobart.
(fill out details of the Winter and Spring cruises)
(detail the 2nd and 3rd Antarctic Voyages)[1]
The Crew and Passengers of the London to Hobart Journey
(List the people that bought the ship from UK to AUS.)
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
The Crew of the First Antarctic Voyage
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John King Davis CBE | Master | 🌳 | 1,961 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Norman Champion Toutcher | Chief Officer | 🌳 | 469 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Percival Gray | Second Officer | 🌳 | 1,106 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Clarence De La Motte | Third Officer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Frederick Jacob Gillies | Chief Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Harry Corner | 2nd Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| P. McArthur | 3rd Engineer | ||
| J. H. Rust | Cook | ||
| Abraham Fifoot | Cook | 🌳 | 199 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Thomas Percival McMahon | Chief Steward | ||
| Leon François William Pettit | 2nd Steward | ||
| James Forbes | Sailmaker | ||
| Duncan Taylor Peers | Boatswain | ||
| E. L. Adams | Able Seaman | ||
| Frederick William Desmond | Able Seaman | ||
| Leslie Keith George Joss | Able Seaman | ||
| Bernard L. McGrath | Able Seaman | ||
| Oswald W. McNeice | Able Seaman | ||
| A. Schroeder | Able Seaman | ||
| Harry Wigzell | Able Seaman | ||
| Harry Coombe | Stoker | ||
| G. Crossley | Stoker | ||
| E. Dodds | Stoker |
The Macquarie Island Party
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Fredrick Ainsworth | Leader and meteorologist | 😢 | 11 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Leslie Russell Blake | Cartographer | 🌳 | 18 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Harold Hamilton | Biologist | 🌳 | 2,933 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Charles Albert Sandell | Wireless Operator | 🌳 | 64 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Arthur Sawyer | Wireless Operator | 🌳 | 1,870 (Dec 29, 2024) |
The Main Antarctic Base Party
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Mawson OBE FRS | Commander | 🌳 | 420 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Edward Frederick Robert Bage | Astronomer | 🌳 | 21 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Cecil Thomas Madigan | Meteorologist | 🌳 | 2,113 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Belgrave Ninnis Middle names are Edward Sutton | In charge of dogs | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Xavier Mertz | In charge of dogs | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Archibald McLean Middle name is likely Lang | Chief Medical Officer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Francis Bickerton Possible middle name 'Haward' | Engineer | 🌳 | 35 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Alfred Hodgeman | Cartographer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Sidney Jeffryes | Radio Opeartor | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| James Francis Hurley | Photographer | 🌳 | 904 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Eric Norman Webb DSO MC | Chief Magnetician | 🌳 | 3,012 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Percy Correll | Mechanic | 🌳 | 1,052 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| John Hunter | Biologist | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Charles Laseron Middle name likely Francis | Taxidermist | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Frank Stillwell Middle name is likley Leslie | Geologist | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Herbert Murphy Middle name is likely Dyce | Stores | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Walter Henry Hannam | Telegraphist | 🌳 | 3,829 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| John Close | General Duties | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Leslie Whetter Middle name is likely Hatton | Surgeon | 🌳 | 76 (Dec 29, 2024) |
The Western Antarctic Base Party
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Robert Francis Wild, CBE Middle names are Robert Francis | Leader | 😢 | 27 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Andrew Watson Middle name likely starts with 'D' | Geologist | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Sydney Evan Jones | Medical Officer | 🌳 | 379 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Charles Turnbull Harrison | Biologist | 🌳 | 1,168 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Morton Henry Moyes OBE | Meterologist | 🌳 | 702 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Alexander Lorimer Kennedy | Magnetician | 🌳 | 1,300 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Charles Archibald Brookes Hoadley CBE | Geologist | 🌳 | 341 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| George Dovers Pay roll listed him as Charles Dovers | Cartographer | 🌳 | 110 (Dec 29, 2024) |
The Crew and Passengers of the Winter Cruise
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John King Davis CBE | Master | 🌳 | 1,923 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Frank Fletcher Middle name is likely Douglas | 1st Mate | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Percival Gray | Second Officer | 🌳 | 1,106 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Clarence De La Motte | Third Officer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Frederick Jacob Gillies | Chief Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Harry Corner | 2nd Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| J. Saliba | Cook | ||
| Oliver Francis Royall | Chief Steward | ||
| David Whittle | 2nd Steward | ||
| James Forbes | Sailmaker | ||
| H. Haugan | Donkeyman | ||
| E. L. Adams | Boatswain | ||
| J. Doherty | Able Seaman | ||
| Cedric James Hackworth | Able Seaman | ||
| Bertrum Clive Lincoln | Able Seaman | ||
| Bernard Lawrence McGrath | Able Seaman | ||
| Oswald W. McNeice | Able Seaman | ||
| A. Schroeder | Able Seaman | ||
| L. Vinji | Able Seaman | ||
| A. Kohler | Stoker | ||
| A. Thompson | Stoker |
The Crew and Passangers of the Spring Cruise
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John King Davis CBE | Master | 🌳 | 1,923 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Frank Fletcher Middle name is likely Douglas | 1st Mate | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Percival Gray | Second Officer | 🌳 | 1,106 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Clarence De La Motte | Third Officer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Frederick Jacob Gillies | Chief Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| A Maxfield | 2nd Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Stanley Clayton Dobbs | Cook | ||
| G. (Gus) Williams | 2nd Steward | ||
| James Forbes | Sailmaker | ||
| E. L. Adams | Boatswain | ||
| R. Bradley | Able Seaman | ||
| J. Doherty | Able Seaman | ||
| Cedric James Hackworth | Able Seaman | ||
| Bertrum Clive Lincoln | Able Seaman | ||
| Oswald W. McNeice | Able Seaman | ||
| A. Schroeder | Able Seaman | ||
| L. Vinji | Able Seaman | ||
| A. Kohler | Stoker | ||
| Stanley Gordon Roberts Taylor | Stoker | ||
| A. Thompson | Stoker |
The Crew of the Second Antarctic Voyage
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John King Davis CBE | Master | 🌳 | 1,923 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Frank Fletcher Middle name is likely Douglas | 1st Mate | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Percival Gray | Second Officer | 🌳 | 1,106 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Clarence De La Motte | Third Officer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Frederick Jacob Gillies | Chief Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| A Maxfield | 2nd Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Stanley Clayton Dobbs | Cook | ||
| C. (Gus) Williams | 2nd Steward | ||
| S.E. Gibbon | 2nd Steward | ||
| James Forbes | Sailmaker | ||
| E. L. Adams | Boatswain | ||
| R. Bradley | Able Seaman | ||
| J. Doherty | Able Seaman | ||
| Cedric James Hackworth | Able Seaman | ||
| Bertrum Clive Lincoln | Able Seaman | ||
| Oswald W. McNeice | Able Seaman | ||
| A. Schroeder | Able Seaman | ||
| G. Taylor | Able Seaman | ||
| L. Vinji | Able Seaman | ||
| A. Kohler | Stoker | ||
| Stanley Gordon Roberts Taylor | Stoker | ||
| A. Thompson | Stoker |
The Crew of the Third Antarctic Voyage
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John King Davis CBE | Master | 🌳 | 1,923 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| John Blair Middle name is Hamilton | 1st Mate | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Percival Gray | Second Officer | 🌳 | 1,106 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Clarence De La Motte | Third Officer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Frederick Jacob Gillies | Chief Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Max Fritz | 2nd Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Laurence Thomas Kyme | Cook | ||
| C. (Gus) Williams | Chief Steward | ||
| Herbert Victor Goddard | 2nd Steward | ||
| A. Beverley | Donkeyman | ||
| J. Doherty | Boatswain | ||
| M. Foley | Able Seaman | ||
| J. Hansen | Able Seaman | ||
| T. R. A. Liddiard | Able Seaman | ||
| J. G. Mahr | Able Seaman | ||
| Oswald W. McNeice | Able Seaman | ||
| Joseph Offin | Able Seaman | ||
| Enoch Anderson | Stoker | ||
| J. Blake | Stoker | ||
| J. Mort | Stoker |
Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans Antarctic Expedition - Ross Sea Party (ITAE 1914 -1917)
The Shore Party
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeneas MacKintosh Middle names are likey Lionel Acton | Commander | 🌳 | 611 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Ernest Edward Mills Joyce | Sledging Equipment and Dogs | 🌳 | 115 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Harry Ernest Wild | Storekeeper | 😢 | 27 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Arnold Spencer-Smith | Chaplain and Photographer | 🌳 | 239 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| John Lachlan Cope | Biologist and Surgeon | 😢 | 8 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Alexander Stevens | Chief Scientist | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Richard Walter Richards | Physicist | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Andrew Keith Jack | Physicist | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Irvine Owen Gaze | General Assistant | 🌳 | 933 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Victor George Hayward | General Assistant | 🌳 | 183 (Dec 29, 2024) |
The Aurora's Officers and Crew
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Russell Stenhouse | First Officer | 😢 | 0 |
| Leslie James Felix Thomson | Second Officer | 😢 | 0 |
| Alfred Herbert Larkman | Chief Engineer | 😢 | 0 |
| C. Adrian Donnelly | Second Engineer | 😢 | 0 |
| Lionel Hooke | Wireless Telegraph Operator | 😢 | 0 |
| Clarence Charles Mauger | Carpenter | 😢 | 0 |
| James Paton | Boatswain | 😢 | 0 |
| Aubrey Howard Ninnis | Motor Tractor Specialist | 😢 | 0 |
| Sydney Atkin | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| Arthur Downing | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| William Kavanagh | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| A. "Shorty" Warren | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| Charles Glidden | Ordinary Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| S. Grady | Fireman (Stoker) | 😢 | 0 |
| William Mugridge | Fireman | 😢 | 0 |
| Harold Shaw | Fireman | 😢 | 0 |
| Edward Wise | Cook | 😢 | 0 |
| Emile Octave d'Anglade | Steward | 😢 | 0 |
The Ross Sea Relief Expedition
| Name | Role | Connected? | CC7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John King Davis CBE | Captain and Commander | 🌳 | 1,923 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Clarence De La Motte | Chief Officer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Austin le Gros | Second Officer | 😢 | 0 |
| W. Aylward | Third Officer | 😢 | 0 |
| Morton Moyes | Fourth Officer | 😢 | 0 |
| Ernest Shackleton | Supernumary Officer | 😢 | 0 |
| Dr. Frederick G. Middleton | Surgeon | 😢 | 0 |
| Aubrey Howard Ninnis | Purser | 😢 | 0 |
| T. M. Ryan | Wireless Operator | 😢 | 0 |
| Frederick Jacob Gillies | Chief Engineer | 😢 | 0 (Dec 29, 2024) |
| Arhtur Dakin | Second Engineer | 😢 | 0 |
| James Paton | Boatswain | 😢 | 0 |
| M. Hannan | Donkeyman | 😢 | 0 |
| Alexander Webster | Chief Steward | 😢 | 0 |
| Baden P. Robertson | Second Steward | 😢 | 0 |
| Henry Voegeli | Cook | 😢 | 0 |
| C. Brock | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| William Kavanagh | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| Ewan McDonald | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| Alisdair MacKinnon | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| Malcolm MacNeill | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| William Peacock | Able Seaman | 😢 | 0 |
| E. Murphy | Fireman | 😢 | 0 |
| J. Rafferty | Fireman | 😢 | 0 |
| T. Smith | Fireman | 😢 | 0 |
Merchant Navy service (1917)
Thanks & References
- ↑ Davis 1919; Mawson 1915
- Davis, John King. 1919. With the “Aurora” in the Antarctic, 1911-1914. London: A. Melrose, Ltd.
- Mawson, Sir Douglas. 1915. The Home of the Blizzard, Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. London: W. Heinemann.
- Dartnall, HJG. 2014. Antarctic Vignettes VIII: Unsung Heroes — Researching the Crew of the S.Y. Aurora 1911–1914. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 148: 11–15. https://doi.org/10.26749/rstpp.148.11
*List of Members of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. 2022. Wikipedia. March 13, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_Australasian_Antarctic_expedition.
*ANARE Club (see page 9 for the memorial plaque located at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, Australia)
Thanks to Daniel Elias for creating this Chicago Citation Generator.
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