OUR STORY
The Voyages
People of Aurora: The men of Aurora
The following men were paid for service in connection with Aurora during its time with the AAE. [List compiled with help of Tim Tolley of the Mawson Centre.]
Adams, E.L. Commissioned 24/11/11; £5 per month; promoted to boatswain on 17/5/12; wages increased to £9 per month. Did three days in galley at extra 2 shillings per day as cook. Went to Lyttleton and finished 18/3/12. Notes from Davis 14/4/13 saying ‘he had been talking a good deal in Hobart’ and unlikely to be reengaged. Another 2/9/13 saying Adams ‘is much annoyed that I have declined to reengage’. A letter 8/9/13 sent from solicitor claiming £30 for breach of contract.
Anderson, Enoch. Fireman signed on 18/11/13 to 27/2/14 on £5 per month.
Baxter, James. Fireman from 2/9/12 to 18/9/12 at £5 per month.
Bethell, H. Cook, commissioned 4/8/11 to 3/9/11 at £7 per month.
Beverley, A. Donkey man (third engineer), commissioned 9/10/13 to 19/3/14 on £7.10.00 per month. Paid £6 bonus on discharge.
Blake, J. Fireman, commissioned on 10/9/13 to 28/2/14 on £5 per month. Paid bonus of £7 on discharge.
Boyce, W.H. Paid £2.8.0 for eight days as steward from 24/4/12 to 3/5/12.
Bradley, R. Commissioned on 1/11/12 to 19/3/13 on £5 per month.
Briggs, S. Dick boy, engagement on £2 per week.
Brooks, H. Dick boy, engagement on £2 per week.
Burney, F. Fireman, commissioned 4/8/11 to 8/11/11 at £5 per month.
Campbell, R. Employed on Adelaide-Hobart run as second engineer on £8.
Crossley, G. Fireman, commissioned on 4/8/11 to 15/3/12 on £5 per month.
Coombe, H. Fireman, commissioned on 23/11/11 to 13/3/12 on £5 per month.
Cooper, W. Stewards boy, engagement 26/11/11 on £2 per month.
Corner, Harry. Second engineer; commissioned 4/8/11 at £10. Completed Antarctic voyage and summer expeditions from Lyttleton. Paid off 10/9/12.
Correll, Percy C. 18/11/13 received £30 from Prof. T.E. David. Described as having travelled aboard Aurora as a passenger on the final relief voyage.
Dawson, A. Commissioned 2/4/12 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton; paid off 3/8/12.
Dobbs, S.C. Paid £4.10. on 1/11/13.
Doherty, J. Paid, 1/11/13 (£2) and 4/3/14.
De May, A. Joined 5/11/13 on £5 per month and paid off in Hobart on 19/11/13.
Desmond, F.W. Commissioned 2/12/11 on £5 per month and paid off 14/3/12.
Dobbs, C.C. Cook, commissioned on 23/9/1912 on £9 per month finished on 8/10/12. Recommissioned on 1/9/13 as cook on £9 per month; finished on 11/11/13.
Dodds, Edward. Fireman, commissioned 25/11/1911 on £5 per month. Paid off 12/13/12.
Doherty, J. Aviator, loaned by RAAR to expedition. Commissioned 30/4/12 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton finished 18/3/13. Commissioned as boatswain on 20/10/13 on £9 per month; paid off on 19/3/14 and paid £6 bonus.
Doyle W. Fireman, commissioned on 4/8/11 on £5 per month; finished 8/11/11.
Ereckson, E. Paid £4 for run from Adelaide to Hobart from 7/3/14.
Evans. F.E. Engineer, commissioned 3/8/11 on £7.10.0; finished 2/11/11.
Fifoot, A. Chief cook, commissioned 15/11/1911 on £9 per month, finished 12/3/12.
Fletcher, Frank D. Chief Officer (third voyage), commissioned 18/4/12 on £14 a month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off 18/3/13.
Foley, M. Commissioned on 10/10/13 on £5 per month. Paid off on 19/3/14 and paid £6 bonus on discharge.
Folvik, Anders. Commissioned on 10/9/13 on £5 per month. Paid off on 31/10/13.
Forbes, James (“Sails”) Born in Dundee 1871; first went south as a 21-year-old sailmaker on Polar Star with the Dundee whaling Expedition of 1892–93. Captain J. K. Davis specially recommended him for his work as during the first two Antarctic voyages and both of Aurora’s sub-Antarctic cruises. Commissioned 26/7/11 at £7 per month. On summer expedition from Lyttleton. In 1925 after 5 years ashore was recruited to Discovery and took part in the 1925–27 Southern Ocean cruise. Described as 5’4” tall with blue eyes, dark hair and a fresh complexion.
Fritze, Max. Second engineer, commissioned on 19/11/13 on £10 per month. Paid off on 27/2/14.
Gibbon, S.E. Second steward, commissioned on 19/11/12 on £6.10.00 per month. Paid off on 18/3/13.
Goddard, H. Second steward, commissioned on 19/11/13 on £6.10.00.per month. Paid off on 19/3/14 and paid bonus of £5 on discharge.
Hackworth, C. Commissioned 6/5/1912 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off 18/3/13.
Hansen, J. Commissioned on 19/11/13 on £5 per month. Paid off on 19/3/14. 28/2/14 signed cash advances as Chief Officer. Paid a bonus of £4 on discharge (4 months at £1 per month).
Hardy, Arthur. Fireman, commissioned on 2/9/13 on £5 per month finished on 17/11/13.
Harrison, Chas. T. 4/9/13 to 18/09 at 25/- per week and as secretary on board, 18/9 to 31/10 1913 at 45/- per week.
Hasot, S. Paid 12/6 for cooking for two days 24/4/12.
Haugan, H. Fireman, commissioned on 18/4/12 on £5 per month. Promoted to donkeyman at Lyttleton on 17/5/12 with wages increased to £7.10.0 per month. Paid off on 27/8/12.
Hoare, George. Steward, commissioned 4/8/11 at £8 per month 26/7/11 for ten days; paid £7 as ships cook. Paid off 08/11/11.
Joss, Leslie K. Commissioned 13/11/11 on £5 per month finished 24/4/12.
Kelly, D. 10/11/13 to 17/11//13 at £5 per month. Paid for 7 days.
Kohler, A. Engaged at £5 per month from Hobart 14/5/12 to 19/3/13.
Kyme(r), J. Cook, 11/11/13 part of crew paid 4/3/14. Paid bonus of £5 on discharge 18/3/14.
Liddiard, Thomas. Commissioned on 5/11/13 on £5 per month. Paid off on 28/2/14 and a bonus of £5 on discharge on 19/3/14.
Lincoln, B.C. Commissioned on 7/5/12 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Finished on 18/3/13. Recommissioned on 1/9/13 on £5 per month. Paid off on 25/10/13.
Lough E.P. Paid for 7 days from 18/4/12 to 24/4/12 at £9 per month or 6/- per day.
McArthur, P. Third engineer, commissioned on 20/11/11 on £7.10.0 per month. Paid off 12/3/12.
McGrath, B.L. Commissioned on 18/11/1911 on £5 per month finished 12/11/1912. Injured aboard Aurora on 1/4/12 and received £111.10.0 in full discharge of all claims and demands arising from the injury; signed note in wage book.
McClure, Frank. Cook, commissioned on 23/9/1912 on £9 per month. Paid off on 8/10/1912.
Macmahon, Thomas Percival. Chief steward, commissioned 22/11/1911 on £9 per month, discharged 16/4/12.
Macfritz. 19/11/13 to 27/2/14 as second engineer on £10 per month.
McKenzie, H. Chief Engineer, commissioned 13/06/11, wages £18 for a month in England.
McNeice or McPiece, Oswald. (signed as both McNeice and McPiece) Commissioned 27/11/11 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton and finished 18/3/13. Recommissioned on 1/9/13 on £5 per month. Paid bonus on discharge of £6.12.0; paid off on 19/3/14.
Mahr, J.G. (Maher, J.P. his signature) Commissioned on 5/11/13 on £5 per month. Paid off on 28/2/14. Was still on crew and paid a bonus of £5 on discharge.
Manders, H.E. Second engineer, commissioned on 29/9/13 on £10 per month. Paid off on 28/10/13.
Martin, C. Commissioned 10/9/13 on £5 per month. Paid off 9/10/13
Marck, E. Cook, commissioned 18/7/1912 on £9 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off on 17/9/12.
Maxfield, A. Second engineer, commissioned on 16/10/12 on £10 per month. Paid off on 15/3/13.
Moad, J. Fireman requesting his bonus be sent to Pt. Pirie, 14/3/14.
Morrison, W. Commission started 27/09/11 in England, sailed with Aurora via Cape Town to Hobart. Wages were £5 a month.
Pond A. Commissioned on 26/7/11 at £5 per month. Paid off on 8/11/1911.
Mort, Jacob. Fireman, signed on 17/11/13 on £5 per month. Paid off on 27/2/14
Offin, J. Commissioned on 5/11/13 on £5 per month. Paid off on 19/3/14 and paid bonus of £5 on discharge.
Peers, Duncan T. Boatswain, commissioned 28/11/1911 on £9 per month. Paid off 1/5/1912.
Peel, Patrick. Paid for nine days work at 6/- per day 9/5/12.
Pentony, E. Second steward, commissioned on 30/7/12 on £6.10.00 per month. Paid off on 29/8/12.
Pettit, L. Second steward, commissioned 27/11/11 on £6.10.00 per month. Paid off 9/4/1912.
Piggott, Clifford. Employed as chief cook for six days at 5/4 per day (£8 per month).
Pope W. Carpenter, commissioned 4/8/1911 on £7 per month. Paid off 8/11/11.
Potter, J. Commissioned on 4/11/13 on £6.10.00 per month Deserted in Melbourne on 11/11/13.
Reid, John. Fireman for the run from Adelaide to Hobart and paid £6.
Rohler. A. Fireman engaged on 14/5/12 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Finished 19/3/13 A £35.13.00 account for medicine was paid on 24/12/12.
Royal, O.F. Chief steward, commissioned on 8/5/12 on £9 per week. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off on 8/10/12.
Rushforth J. Commissioned on 4/8/11 on £2.10.0. Paid off on 27/9/11 in Cape Town.
Rust, J. H. Cook, commissioned 28/11/11 on £8 per month. Paid off 10/4/12.
Ryme, L. Cook, commissioned 11/11/13 on £9 per month. Paid off 19/3/14.
Saliba, J. Cook, commissioned 26/4/12 on £9 per month. Paid off at Lyttleton on 14/7/12.
Schroder, A. Commissioned 18/11/11 on £5 per month, went to Lyttleton. Paid off 18/3/13.
Simonson, C. Commissioned 4/8/11 on £5 per month. Paid off on 8/11/11.
Smith, J. Commissioned 4/8/1911. Paid off 3/11//1911.
Sullivan W.F. Boatswain, commissioned 26/7/11 at £8. Paid off Hobart on 8/11/11.
Taylor, G. Commissioned on 24/12/12 on £5 per month. Paid off on 18/3/13.
Taylor, G.R. Fireman, commissioned 30/10/12 on £5 per month. Paid off on 19/3/13.
Taylor, T. Commissioned 4/8/11 on £5 per month but promoted to cook on 28/8/11 on £7 per month. Paid off 8/11/11.
Thompson, A. Fireman, commissioned on 2/5/12 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton on 1/11/12 promoted to Donkeyman and wages increased to £7.10.0. Paid off 14/3/13.
Toutcher N.C. Chief officer, commissioned 26/07/11 at £12.10 per month at Cardiff. Went South, reduced to £12 10 in August. Sailed south and returned to Hobart on 12 March 1912, when he was decommissioned.
Vinj(g?)e, L. Commissioned 7/5/12 at £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off on 18/3/12. . Recommissioned on 2/9/13 on £5 per month. Paid off on 24/10/13
van der Gracht, van Waterschoot Artist; had done a lot of exploration on his own in Tierra del Fuego, visited Grahams Land (Antarctic Peninsula) spending five months in a whaler in those waters. A highly skilled geologist, an artist and photographer of exceptional ability. Requested to go south as a volunteer to pursue his studies of the Antarctic coast. Also had knowledge whales and the whaling industry. Had good cartographical expertise. AAE143 1/11/12.
Whittle, D. Second steward, commissioned on 8/5/12 on £6.10.0 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off there on 29/7/12.
Wigzell, H. Commissioned on 26/7/11 at £5 per month travelled south. Paid off on 15/5/12. Had two months absence 2/10/11–2/12/11.
Williams. C. (‘Gus’?) A letter dated 12/4/12 requested that steward C. Williams stay on at 25 shillings a week, ‘but he is to find his own hoosh and make himself useful while the ship is laid up by painting the living quarters pumping ship etc.’ Second steward, commissioned on 29/8/12 on £6.10.00 per month. Promoted to Chief Steward on 8/10/12 with wages increased to £9 per month. Paid off on 20/3/13. Recommissioned 1/9/13 as Chief steward on £9 per month. Paid off on 19/3/14 with bonus of £6.12.0.
From The Friends of Mawson Inc Newsletter, No.3, 2003.
