Thomas Whitefield collection

The collection comprises of correspondence written by Whitefield to Mrs Cole during the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott)

Thomas Whitefield was born in 1868 at Newport, Shropshire. He was serving in the Royal Navy in HMS Resolution when he applied to join the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott), as stoker. During the expedition, he participated in sledging activities, including a journey in January 1903 to lay a depot for the Southern Party at Minna Bluff and later in the year, a journey to the emperor penguin rookery at Cape Crozier.

On return from the expedition, he was promoted to chief stoker and was awarded the Polar Medal. He was also awarded the First World War, Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. He died in 1942.

The correspondence is arranged chronologically.

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Descriptions compiled by N. Boneham, Assistant Archivist with assistance from R. Stancombe and reference to British polar exploration and research, a historical and medallic record with biographies 1818-1999 by Lieutenant Colonel Neville W. Poulsom and Rear Admiral John A.L. Myres, Savannah Publications, London (2000) SPRI Library Shelf 737.2 and Robert Keith Headland Antarctic Chronology, unpublished corrected revision of Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions and related historical events, (1 December 2001) Cambridge University Press (1989) ISBN 0521309034

Clive Holland Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England - a catalogue, Garland Publishing New York and London (1982) ISBN 0824093941.

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