The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition was an attempt to cross the Antarctic continent led by Ernest Shackleton. The personnel were divided into two groups: the Weddell Sea party consisting of the men who would attempt the crossing and their support, and the Ross Sea party whose job it was to lay stores on the far side of the Pole for the members of the Weddell Sea party who would make the crossing. Both arms of the expedition had a final complement of 28 men. The Weddell Sea party's ship Endurance was crushed in pack ice and the crossing attempt was never made. All the Weddell Sea party were rescued, but several members of the Ross Sea party perished after their support ship Aurora broke free from its mooring post and drifted away, leaving the shore party stranded.
Names and dates of birth are included where known. After Endurance was lost, the Weddell Sea party spent some months camped on the ice before making for Elephant Island in the three lifeboats salvaged from the vessel, the James Caird, the Dudley Docker and the Stancomb Wills. The boat each man was assigned to for the crossing is listed.
Some of the original crew left the expedition to sign up when war was declared with Germany, and others returned to England after the ship put in at Buenos Aires.
Weddell Sea party Name Life Boat Position Additional information 1874–1922 James Caird Commander James Caird rescue crew Frank Wild 1873–1939 James Caird Cape Wild namesake Frank Worsley Dudley Docker Captain James Caird rescue crew Frank Hurley 1885–1962 James Caird Photographer Hubert Hudson 1886–1942 Stancomb Wills Navigator Original Stancomb Willis captain Lionel Greenstreet 1889–1979 Dudley Docker First officer Tom Crean 1877–1938 Stancomb Wills Second officer James Caird rescue crew Alfred Cheetham 1867–1918 Dudley Docker Third officer Lewis Rickinson 1883–1945 Chief engineer Suspected heart attack on Elephant Island Alexander Kerr 1892–1964 Dudley Docker Second engineer James McIlroy 1879–1968 Stancomb Wills Surgeon Alexander Macklin 1889–1967 Dudley Docker Surgeon Robert Clark 1882–1950 James Caird Biologist Leonard Hussey 1891–1964 James Caird Meteorologist James Wordie 1889–1962 James Caird Geologist Reginald James 1891–1964 James Caird Physicist George Marston 1882–1940 Dudley Docker Artist Thomas Orde-Lees 1877–1958 Dudley Docker Storekeeper;motor expert 1874–1930 James Caird Carpenter James Caird rescue crew;not recommended for Polar medal Charles Green 1888–1974 James Caird Cook William Stephenson 1889–1953 Stancomb Wills Fireman; stoker Not recommended for Polar medal Ernest Holness 1892–1924 Dudley Docker Fireman; stoker Not recommended for Polar medal John Vincent 1879–1941 James Caird Able seaman James Caird rescue crew;not recommended for Polar medal Timothy McCarthy 1888–1917 James Caird Able seaman James Caird rescue crew Walter How 1885–1972 Stancomb Wills Able seaman William Bakewell 1888–1969 Stancomb Wills Able seaman Recruited in Buenos Aires;American claiming to be Canadian Thomas McLeod 1869–1960 Dudley Docker Able seaman Perce Blackborow 1894–1949 Stancomb Wills Steward Stowaway; hidden aboard by Bakewell;gangrenous toes of left foot amputated Sir Daniel Gooch 1869–1926 Dog handler Returned home after South Georgia stop Mrs Chippy –1915 McNish's male cat;shot after Endurance sinking
Ross Sea party
+Shore partyName Born Died Position Additional information Aeneas Mackintosh18791916CommanderDied during the expedition Ernest Joyce18751940Sledging Equipment and Dogs Ernest Wild18791918Storekeeper Reverend Arnold Spencer-Smith18831916Chaplain and PhotographerDied during the expedition John Lachlan Cope18931947Biologist and Surgeon Alexander Stevens18861965Chief Scientist Richard W Richards18941986Physicist Would become the last member of the Expedition to pass away Andrew Keith Jack 18851966Physicist Irvine Gaze18901978General Assistant Victor Hayward18871916General AssistantDied during the expedition + Aboard the AuroraName Born Died Position Additional information Aubrey Howard Ninnis18831956Motor Tractor SpecialistIntended for the shore party but stranded when the Aurora broke adrift Lionel Hooke18951974Wireless Telegraph OperatorIntended for the shore party but stranded when the Aurora broke adrift Joseph Stenhouse188719411st Officer (subsequently Captain) Leslie Thomson2nd Officer Alfred Larkman18901962Chief Engineer C. Adrian Donnelly/Donolly2nd Engineer James Paton18691918BoatswainClarence Maugher/Mauger Carpenter Sydney AtkinAble Seaman Arthur DowningAble Seaman William KavanaghAble Seaman A. "Shorty" WarrenAble Seaman Charles GliddenOrdinary Seaman S. Grady/GradeFireman William MugridgeFireman Harold ShawFireman Edwin Thomas Wise18721943Cook Emile d'AngladeSteward
Notes
References
External links The Endurance Obituauries, The story of the men of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship S.Y. Endurance, at Enduranceobituaries.co.uk. Crew member biographies, including sizeable entries on some of the least well-known, at Coolantarctica.com.