Mackintosh, Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, [Ross Sea Party] 1914-1917

• MS 1537/4/4/19;D Rules for the ship, typescript, autograph
• MS 1537/4/4/18/3;D Note, 24 January 1915 [Regarding provisions at Rocky Mountain Depot] holograph
• MS 1537/4/4/11;D Report, January to 26 July 1915 [Dated 26 July 1915 and left at Cape Evans] typescript, autograph
• MS 1537/4/4/12;D Copy of MS 1537/4/4/11;D, typescript
• MS 1537/4/4/13;D Original of MS 1537/4/4/11;D, holograph, autograph
• MS 1596;D Diary, 25 January 1915 to 15 April 1915, typescript copy
• MS 1537/4/1/1;D Diary, 5 June 1915 to 30 September 1915, holograph
• MS 1537/4/4/6/9;D Bearings of Smiths Grave and Skippers Camp and Bearings and sketched map of uncharted Range in Shackleton Inlet [Reference pages 135 and 136 in diary]

This expedition was organised by Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton to meet the party from Endurance who were to sledge across the Antarctic from the Weddell Sea. After visiting Macquarie Island to provision the Commonwealth Meteorological Expedition the Aurora (Captain Mackintosh) sailed to Ross Island. When ice prevented the creation of a base at Cape Crozier the ship continued to Cape Evans where ten men became stranded when on 6 May 1915 Aurora was driven from her moorings in a blizzard. With minimal supplies and equipment the party laid depots towards the Beardmore Glacier for the expected Weddell Sea party. Three men including Captain Mackintosh died between March and May 1916. During the 1916 winter a party of four wintered at Cape Evans while a party of three were at Hut Point. Aurora (Captained by Stenhouse) drifted for ten months in the Ross Sea before returning to New Zealand. The seven survivors were rescued in January 1917.

Chronological.

The institute holds several archival collections containing material relating to this expedition including a collection for Joseph Russell Stenhouse with letters and telegrams sent by Mackintosh. See SPRI collection GB 015 imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, [Ross Sea party], 1914-1917 for more details.