The Steam Yacht Aurora 1876-1917

Dedicated to those that built and boarded the "plucky little ship" S.Y. Aurora.

Let us probe the silent places, let us seek what luck betide us;
Let us journey to a lonely land I know.
There's a whisper on the night-wind, there's a star agleam to guide us,
And the Wild is calling, calling...let us go.
-Robert W. Service

1 - 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.
2 - The South Land
2.1 - The Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) 1911 - 1914
2.1.1 - The Crew and Passengers of the London to Hobart Journey
2.1.2 - The Crew of the First Antarctic Voyage
2.1.3 - The Macquarie Island Party
2.1.4 - The Main Antarctic Base Party
2.1.5 - The Western Antarctic Base Party
2.1.6 - The Crew and Passengers of the Winter Cruise
2.1.7 - The Crew and Passangers of the Spring Cruise
2.1.8 - The Crew of the Second Antarctic Voyage
2.1.9 - The Crew of the Third Antarctic Voyage
2.2 - Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans Antarctic Expedition - Ross Sea Party (ITAE 1914 -1917).
3 - Merchant Navy service (1917)

2 - The South Land

2.1 - 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)

2.1.1 - The Crew and Passengers of the London to Hobart Journey

(List the people that bought the ship from UK to AUS.)

2.1.2 - The Crew of the First Antarctic Voyage

Sir Douglas Mawson, OBE FRS FAA 1882-1958
Master             John King Davis, C.B.E. (wiki)
Chief Officer      Norman Champion Toutcher (wiki)
Second Officer     Percival Gray
Third Officer      Clarence Petersen de la Motte   
Chief Engineer     Frederick Jacob Gillies
2nd Engineer       H. Corner
3rd Engineer       P. McArthur
Cook               J. H. Rust
                   A. Fifoot
Chief Steward      T. P. McMahon
2nd Steward        L. Pettit
Sailmaker          J. Forbes
Boatswain          D. T. Peers
Able Seaman        E. L. Adams
                   F. W. Desmond
                   L. K. Joss
                   B. L. McGrath
                   O. W. McNeice
                   A. Schroeder
                   H. WigzellJohn King Davis, C.B.E. 1884-1967
Stoker             H Coombe
                   G. Crossley
                   E. Dodds

2.1.3 - The Macquarie Island Party

Leader             George Frederick Ainsworth (wiki)
Cartographer       Leslie Russell Blake
Biologist          Harold Hamilton
Wireless Operator  Charles Sandell
Wireless Operater  Arthur Sawyer

2.1.4 - The Main Antarctic Base Party

Commander          Sir Douglas Mawson, OBE FRS FAA (wiki)
Astronomer         Edward Frederick Robert Bage (wiki)
Meteorologist      Cecil Thomas Madigan
In charge of dogs  Belgrave Edward Sutton NinnisGeorge Frederick Ainsworth 1878-1950
In charge of dogs  Xavier Mertz
Chief Medical Officer Archibald Lang McLean
Engineer           Francis Haward Bickerton
Cartographer       Alfred Hodgeman
Photographer       John Francis Hurley
Chief Magnetician  Eric Norman Webb (wiki)
Mechanic           Percy Correll
Biologist          John George Hunter
Taxidermist        Charles Francis Laseron
Geologist          Frank Leslie Stillwell
Stores             Herbert Dyce Murphy
Telegraphist       Walter Henry Hannam
General Duties     John Close
Surgeon            Leslie Hatton Whetter (wiki)

2.1.5 - The Western Antarctic Base Party

Leader             John Robert Francis Wild
Geologist          AD WatsonJohn Robert Francis Wild CBE FRGS 1873-1939
Medical Officer    Sydney Evan Jones
Biologist          Charles Harrison
Meterologist       MH Moyes
Magnetician        Alexander Lorimer Kennedy
Geologist          Charles Hoadley
Cartographer       Charles Dovers

2.1.6 - The Crew and Passengers of the Winter Cruise

Master           John King Davis, C.B.E. (wiki)
1st Mate         F. D. Fletcher
2nd Mate         P. Gray
3rd Mate         C. P. de la Motte
Chief Engineer   F. J. Gillies
2nd Engineer     H. Corner
Cook             J. Saliba
Chief Steward    O.F. Royall
2nd Steward      D WhittleFrederick Douglas Fletcher
Sailmaker        J. Forbes
Donkeyman        H. Haugan
Boatswain        E. L. Adams
Able Seaman      J. Doherty
                 C. J. Hackworth
                 B. C. Lincoln
                 B.L. McGrath
                 O. W. McNeice
                 A. Schroeder
                 L. Vinji
Stoker           A. Kohler
                 A. Thompson

2.1.7 - The Crew and Passangers of the Spring Cruise

Master           John King Davis, C.B.E. (wiki)
1st Mate         F. D. Fletcher
2nd Mate         P. Gray
3rd Mate         C. P. de la Motte
Chief Engineer   F. J. Gillies
2nd Engineer     A. Maxfield
Cook             S.C. Dobbs
2nd Steward      C. Williams
Sailmaker        J. Forbes
Boatswain        E. L. Adams
Able Seaman      R. Bradley
                 J. Doherty
                 C. J. Hackworth
                 B. C. Lincoln
                 O. W. McNeice
                 A. Schroeder
                 L. Vinji
Stoker           A. Kohler
                 S. G. R. Taylor'
                 A. Thompson

2.1.8 - The Crew of the Second Antarctic Voyage

Master           John King Davis, C.B.E. (wiki)
1st Mate         F. D. Fletcher
2nd Mate         P. Gray
3rd Mate         C. P. de la Motte
Chief Engineer   F. J. Gillies
2nd Engineer     A. Maxfield
Cook             S.C. Dobbs
2nd Steward      C. Williams
                 S.E. Gibbon
Sailmaker        J. Forbes
Boatswain        E. L. Adams
Able Seaman      R. Bradley
                 J. Doherty
                 C. J. Hackworth
                 B. C. Lincoln
                 O. W. McNeice
                 A. Schroeder
                 G. Taylor
                 L. Vinji
Stoker           A. Kohler
                 S. G. R. Taylor
                 A. Thompson

2.1.9 - The Crew of the Third Antarctic Voyage

Master           John King Davis, C.B.E. (wiki)
1st Mate         J.H. Blair
2nd Mate         P. Gray
3rd Mate         C. P. de la Motte
Chief Engineer   F. J. Gillies
2nd Engineer     M. Fritze
Cook             L. T. Kyme
Chief Steward    C. Williams
2nd Steward      H. V. Goddard
Donkeyman        A. Beverley
Boatswain        J. Doherty
Able Seaman      M. Foley
                 J. Hansen
                 T. R. A. Liddiard
                 J. G. Mahr
                 O. W. McNeice
                 J. Offin
Stoker           E. Anderson
                 J. Blake
                 J. Mort

Thanks & References

Davis, John K. With the "Aurora" in the Antarctic, 1911 - 1914. London, Andrew Melrose, Ltd.
Mawson, Sir Douglas. The Home of the Blizzard, Being the story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911 - 1914. Australian Antarctic Division, 2015.
Herbert J.G. Dartnall (ANTARCTIC VIGNETTES VIII: UNSUNG HEROES — RESEARCHING THE CREW OF THE S.Y. AURORA 1911–1914)
Wikipedia 'List of members of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) 1911 - 1914'
ANARE Club (see page 9 for the memorial plaque located at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, Australia)