Stenhouse, Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, [Ross Sea Party]

This material is held atScott Polar Research Institute Archives, University of Cambridge

  • Reference
    • GB 15 Joseph Russell Stenhouse/Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, [Ross Sea Party]
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1914-1917
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • Log books and lists

Scope and Content

  • MS 1605/8/1;D Ships Log, 15 December 1914 to 14 March 1916 [Aurora used by Shackleton during the writing of South] 193 leaves, typescript
  • MS 1537/4/4/15;D List of provisions landed at Hut Point, 11 March 1915 holograph
  • MS 367/21;D Log extracts, 8 May 1915 to 5 April 1916 [Voyage of the Aurora]

Administrative / Biographical History

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.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Related Material

The Institute holds several archival collections containing material relating tot his expedition, see SPRI collection GB 015 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, [Ross Sea Party], 1914-1917 for more information, see also MS 1590.