INDEX TO SELECTED ANTARCTIC OBITUARIES APPEARING IN THE POLAR RECORD OF THE SCOTT POLAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE

This is a work-in-progress that attempts to include references to obituaries of those who were mainly associated with the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration (loosely defined) that have appeared in the Polar Record, the journal of the Scott Polar Research Institute. Corrections, notes and comments appear in brackets []. * Volume numbers weren't used in the earlier issues.

Premiered: 19 March 2001. Last updated: 12 April 2007




Name Date of Birth Date of Death Place of Death Issue Date Notes
Adams, Commander Sir Jameson Boyd not given 31 April 1962 not given Vol 11, No 72, Page 344 September 1962 Meteorologist, Nimrod expedition 1907-09
Anderson, Charles Francis not given 22 July 1944 not given Vol 4, No 30, Page 287 July 1945 Member, Byrd Antarctic expedition, 1933-35
Archer, Walter William not given 28 January 1944 not given Vol 4, No 28, Page 195 July 1944 Member, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Arçtowski, Dr Henryk 1871 20 February 1958 Washington, D.C. Vol 9, No 61, Page 376 January 1959 Member, Belgica expedition 1897-99
Armitage, Captain Albert Borlase, R.D., R.N.R. not given 31 October 1943 not given Vol 4, No 28, Pages 186, 195 July 1944 Second in command, Discovery expedition 1901-04
Bakewell, William L. 26 November 1888 21 May 1969 Marquette, Michigan, USA Vol 15, No 94, Page 77 January 1970 Member, Endurance expedition 1914-16
Barne, Captain Michael, R.N., D.S.O. not given 31 May 1961 not given Vol 11, No 72, Page 344 September 1962 Last surviving officer, Discovery expedition 1901-04
Béchervaise, John Mayston 11 May 1910 14 July 1998 Geelong, Victoria, Australia Vol 35, No 195, Page 359 October 1999 ANARE
Bentley, John 11 October 1909 July 1999 not given Vol 36, No 197, Page 170 September 1962 Cadet, Discovery expedition 1925-27
Bernacchi, Lieut.-Commander Louis Charles, O.B.E., R.N.V.R. not given April 24, 1942 not given Vol 3, No 24, Page 580 July 1942 Physicist, Southern Cross expedition 1898-1900; member, Discovery expedition 1901-04
Bertram, Colin 27 April 1911 11 January 2001 Graffham, Sussex Vol 38, No 204, Page 69 January 2002 Member, British Graham Land expedition 1934-37; Director, Scott Polar Research Institute
Bickerton, Francis H. 1889 21 August 1954 not given Vol 7, No 50, Page 430 May 1955 Member, Australian Antarctic expedition 1911-14
Bjåland, Olav not given May 1961 Morgedal, Norway Vol 11, No 70, Page 112 January 1962 Last surviving member, Amundsen's polar party, 1911
Black, George H. not given 28 July 1965 not given Vol 13, No 84, Page 353 August 1966 Supply Officer, Byrd Antarctic expeditions 1928-30, 1933-35
Blyth, John not given 1 May 1995 Stanley, Falkland Islands Vol 32, No 183, Page 374 October 1996 Member, Operation Tabarin
Brown, Colin Chalmers 28 December 1926 25 June 1997 not given Vol 34, No 191, Page 357 October 1998 FIDS; FIDASE
Bruce, Captain Wilfred Montagu, R.N.R. 26 October 1874 21 September 1953 not given Vol 7, No 48, Page 233 July 1954 Member, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13; brother of Kathleen Scott
Byrd, Rear-Admiral Richard Evelyn 25 October 1888 11 March 1957 Boston, USA Vol 9, No 58, Page 54 January 1958 Leader, numerous American Antarctic expeditions
Campbell, Victor Lindsey Arbuthnot, D.S.O., O.B.E., R.N. 1875 19 November 1956 Newfoundland Vol 8, No 56, Page 466 May 1957 Leader, Northern Party, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Cherry-Garrard, Apsley 1886 not given [1959] not given Vol 10, No 64, Page 93 January 1960 Member, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Christiensen, Konsul Lars 1884 10 December 1965 New York Vol 13, No 84, Page 353 August 1966 Legendary Norwegian Antarctic whaler and explorer
Clissold, Thomas C. not given 20 October 1963 New Zealand Vol 13, No 82, Page 93 January 1966 Youngest member, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Clowes, Archibald John not given 4 January 1960 Cape Town, South Africa Vol 10, No 65, Page 210 May 1960 Member, Discovery II expeditions 1929-31, 1933-35, 1937-39
Coman, Francis Dana not given 28 January 1952 not given Vol 6, No 46, Page 839 July 1953 Medical Officer, Byrd Antarctic expedition 1928-30; Medical Officer, Lincoln Ellsworth's second Antarctic expedtion, 1934-35
Crean, Tom not given August 1938 not given Vol *, No 17, Page 78 January 1939 Member, Discovery expedition 1901-04; Terra Nova expedition 1910-13; Endurance expedition 1914-17
Cruzon, Vice-Admiral Richard L., USN not given 15 April 1970 not given Vol 15, No 97, Page 554 January 1971 Member, US Antarctic Service expedition 1939-41
Davis, John King 1884 7 May 1967 Melbourne, Australia Vol 14, No 88, Page 75 January 1968 Master, Nimrod, Aurora and Discovery
Debenham, Frank, OBE 26 December 1883 23 November 1965 Cambridge Vol 13, No 82, Page 99; No 83, Page 215 January & May 1966 Geologist, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13; Founder & first director, SPRI
Dell, James W. not given 21 January 1968 not given Vol 14, No 90, Page 361 September 1968 Member, Discovery expedition 1901-04; Quest expedition 1921-22
Dickason, Petty Officer Harry not given 1943 not given Vol 4, No 28, Page 195 July 1944 Member, Northern Party, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Dobbs, S. not given 13 February 1955 not given Vol 7, No 51, Page 523 September 1955 Member, Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14
Doorly, Gerald Stokely 4 June 1880 3 November 1956 New Zealand Vol 8, No 56, Page 466 May 1957 Third officer on the Morning during relief of Discovery
Douglas, George Vibert 2 July 1892 October 1958 Toronto, Canada Vol 9, No 62, Page 488 May 1959 Geologist, Quest expedition 1920-21
Drake, Paymaster Captain F.R.H., R.N. not given not given not given Vol *, No 14, Page 13 July 1937 Secretary to the expedition, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Dunnett, Harding McGregor not given 23 April 2000 not given Vol 37, No 200, Page 76 January 2001 Founder and chairman, The James Caird Society
Evans, Admiral Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell, R.N., Lord Mountevans 28 October 1881 20 August 1957 Norway Vol 9, No 58, Page 55 January 1958 Relief of Discovery; member, Terra Nova expedition
Evans, Hugh Blackwell 19 November 1874 8 February 1975 Vermilion, Alberta, Canada Vol 17, No 110, Page 573 May 1975 Member, Southern Cross expedition 1898-1900
Farrington, John Edward Butler Futtit 6 April 1908 4 October 2002 Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland Vol 39, No 210, Page 269 July 2003 Radio operator, RRS William Scoresby; Operation Tabarin
Filchner, Wilhelm not given [13 September 1877] 7 May 1957 [Zurich] Switzerland Vol 9, No 58, Page 56 January 1958 Leader, Deutschland expedition 1911-12
Fletcher, Harold Oswald 26 February 1903 3 August 1996 not given Vol 33, No 184, Page 84 January 1997 Assitant Zoologist, BANZARE 1929-31
Forde, Robert not given 13 March 1959 Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland Vol 10, No 65, Page 210 May 1960 Member, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Frazier, Dr Russell G. 5 July 1893 11 January 1968 not given Vol 14, No 91, Page 523 January 1969 Chief Medical Officer, US Antarctic Service expedition 1939-41
Fuchs, Sir Vivian, FRS 11 February 1908 11 November 1999 not given Vol 36, No 199, Page 364 October 2000 Field Commander later leader, FIDS 1947-53; leader, Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic expedition 1957-58
Gillies, F. J. not given 2 June 1941 not given Vol 3, No 22, Page 457 July 1941 Chief Engineer of the Aurora during five cruises of the Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14; Chief Engineer, Ross Sea Relief expedition, 1916
Hanssen, Helmer Julius not given 2 August 1956 Tromsø, Norway Vol 8, No 55, Page 377 January 1957 Member, Amundsen's polar party, 1911
Harbord, Commander Arthur Edward, R.N. 13 September 1883 11 October 1961 not given Vol 13, No 83, Page 218 May 1966 Member, Nimrod expedition 1907-09
Hare, Christopher 2 December 1880 31 May 1967 not given Vol 14, No 88, Page 77 January 1968 Member, Discovery expedition 1901-04
Hart, Thomas John 1907 4 May 1970 not given Vol 15, No 97, Page 555 January 1971 Member, Discovery II expeditions 1929-31, 1933-35, 1937-39; William Scoresby expeditions 1936-37, 1950
Herdman, Henry Francis Porter 11 March 1901 3 September 1967 not given Vol 14, No 89, Page 233 May 1968 Member, Discovery II expeditions 1929-31, 1933-35, 1937-39, 1950-51
Holland, Clive 13 December 1946 15 September 2000 Haslingfield, Cambridgeshire Vol 37, No 203, Page 371 October 2001 Polar historian and former archivist of Scott Polar Research Institute
Hooper, Frederick J. not given 20 June 1955 Southport Vol 8, No 53, Page 188 May 1956 Member, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Horton, Engineer Lieut.-Cmdr. W. A. not given November 1939 Durban Vol *, No 19, Page 209 January 1940 Member, Terra Nova expedition, 1910-12; Chief Engineer, R.R.R. Discovery and R.R.S. Discovery II from 1929-37
Hunter, John George, CMG 1888 27 December 1964 Sydney, Australia Vol 12, No 80, Page 632 May 1965 Chief Biologist, Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14
Hurley, Captain James Francis (Frank), O.B.E. not given 17 January 1962 Sydney, Australia Vol 11, No 71, Page 210 May 1962 Photographer, Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14; Endurance expedition 1914-17; BANZARE 1929-31
Hussey, Dr Leonard Duncan Albert, OBE not given 26 February 1965 London Vol 12, No 81, Page 775 September 1965 Member, Endurance expedition 1914-17; Quest expedition 1921-22
Jack, Andrew Keith not given 26 September 1966 Melbourne, Australia Vol 13, No 85, Page 492 January 1967 Member, Ross Sea Party, Endurance expedition 1914-17
James, Reginald William, FRS 9 January 1891 7 July 1964 Cape Town, South Africa Vol 12, No 79, Page 497 January 1965 Physicist, Endurance expedition 1914-17
Johnston, T. Harvey 9 December 1881 30 August 1951 not given Vol 6, No 44, Page 550 july 1952 Chief Biologist, BANZARE 1929-30, 19030-31
Jones, A.G.E. [Alfred Godfrey Elton] 19 August 1914 1 April 2002 not given Vol 38, No 207, Page 372 October 2002 Polar historian and author
Joyce, Ernest Mills 1875 2 May 1940 not given Vol 3, No 20, Page 338 July 1940 Member, Discovery expedition 1902-04; Nimrod expedition 1907-09; Ross Sea Party, Endurance expedition 1914-17
June, Harold I. 12 February 1895 22 November 1962 Connecticut, USA Vol 11, No 75, Page 793 September 1963 Member, Byrd Antarctic expeditions 1928-30 and 1933-35
Kirwan, Sir Laurence 13 May 1907 16 April 1999 London Vol 36, No 198, Page 267 July 2000 Executive officer, Norwegian-British-Swedish expedition 1949-52
la Grange, Johannes Jacobus 13 October 1927 21 April 1999 South Africa Vol 37, No 203, Page 369 October 2001 Meteorologist, Commonwealth Trans-Antartcic expedition 1959-61
Larkman, Alfred Herbert not given 15 July 1962 Wanganui, New Zealand Vol 11, No 73, Page 512 January 1963 Chief Engineer on Aurora, Ross Sea Party, Endurance expedition 1914-17
Laseron, Charles Francis [First obit] not given 27 June 1959 Concord, Australia Vol 10, No 64, Page 93 January 1960 Member, Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14
Laseron, Charles Francis [Second obit] 1886 27 June 1959 Sydney, Australia Vol 10, No 67, Page 443 January 1961 Member, Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14
Lashly, William not given 12 June 1940 not given Vol 3, No 20, Pages 331, 339 July 1940 Member, Discovery expedition 1901-04; Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Lester, Maxime Charles 25 September 1891 3 March 1957 London Vol 8, No 57, Page 562 September 1957 Member, British Imperial expedition, 1920-22
Levick, Surgeon Commander George Murray, R.N. 1877 20 May 1956 not given Vol 8, No 54, Page 279 September 1956 Medical officer, Northern Party, Terra Nova expedition
Lindsey, Alton A. not given 19 December 1999 Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Vol 36, No 198, Page 270 July 2000 Member, Byrd Antarctic expedition, 1933-35
Mackenzie, Captain K.N. 26 November 1897 29 September 19531 London Vol 7, No 48, Page 234 July 1954 Member, BANZARE 1929-31
Macklin, Dr Alexander Hepburne, OBE, MC not given 21 March 1967 Aberdeen, Scotland Vol 14, No 91, Page 523 January 1969 Surgeon, Endurance expedition 1914-16; Quest expedition 1921-22
Marshall, Eric Stewart 1897 26 February 1963 Isle of Wight Vol 11, No 75, Page 793 September 1963 Physician, Nimrod expedition 1907-09
Marston, George Edward not given 21 November 1940 not given Vol 3, No 21, Page 389 January 1941 Artist, Nimrod expedition 1907-09; Endurance expedition 1914-17
Martin, Lieutenant James, R.N.V.R. not given not given, lost at sea not given Vol 3, No 21, Page 390 January 1941 Member, Mawson Discovery expedition 1929 and 1930; mate of the Penola, British Graham Land expedition 1934-37
Mather, Commander John Hugh 1887 11 April 1957 Farnborough, Kent Vol 8, No 57, Page 562 September 1957 Member, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Matthews, Drummond Hoyle 5 February 1931 20 July 1997 Taunton, Somerset Vol 34, No 190, Page 272 January 1998 Geologist, FIDS
Mauger, Clarence Charles not given 13 October 1963 Dunedin Vol 12, No 78, Page 335 September 1964 Member, Ross Sea Party, Endurance expedition 1914-16
Mawson, Sir Douglas 5 May 1882 14 October 1958 Adelaide, Australia Vol 9, No 61, Page 376 January 1959 Member, Nimrod expedition 1907-09; Leader, Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14; Led BANZARE 1929-31
McCarthy, Mortimer not given/td> 11 August 1967 not given Vol 14, No 88, Page 78 January 1968 Member, Terra Nova expedition 1901-04
McIlroy, James Archibald 3 November 1897 30 July 1968 Surrey, England Vol 14, No 91, Page 524 January 1969 Surgeon, Endurance expedition 1914-16; Quest expedition 1921-22
Meares, Cecil H. not given "died recently" Canada Vol *, No 14, Page 93 July 1937 Member, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Miller, J. J. not given 10 October 1955 not given Vol 8, No 54, Page 279 September 1956 Member, Discovery expedition 1929-31
Mossman, Robert Cockburn 7 November 1870 19 July 1940 Buenos Aires Vol 3, No 21, Page 390 January 1941 Member, Scotia expedition 1902-04
Mulock, Captain George Francis Arthur February 1882 26 December 1963 Gibraltar Vol 12, No 77, Page 230 May 1964 Member, Discovery expedition 1903-04, replacing Shackleton
Murdoch, W. G. Burn not given 19 July 1939 not given Vol *, No 19, Page 209 January 1940 Artist, Dundee Whaling Expedition, 1892-93
Nelson, Andrew L. not given 26 August 1958 New Jersey, USA Vol 9, No 61, Page 377 January 1959 Navigator, First Officer, Captain, Discovery II, 1929-35
O'Brien, Jack not given 6 December 1938 not given Vol *, No 18, Page 99 July 1939 Surveyor, Byrd Antarctic expedition 1928-30
Orde-Lees, Thomas Hans not given 2 December 1958 Wellington, New Zealand Vol 9, No 62, Page 489 May 1959 Member, Endurance expedition 1914-16
O'Sullivan, Thomas Patrick not given 8 September 1998 Beckenham, Kent Vol 34, No 193, Page 166 April 1999 FIDS
Pirie, J.H. Harvey not given 27 September 1965 Johannesberg, South Africa Vol 13, No 84, Page 357 August 1966 Member, Scotia expedition 1902-04
Richards, Walter George 1929 October 2002 Stanley, Falkland Islands Vol 39, No 210, Page 269 July 2003 FIDS
Richardson, Harrison Holt not given 17 July 1999 Claiborne, Maryland, USA Vol 36, No 196, Page 67 January 2000 Member, Byrd Antarctic expedition 1939-41
Riiser-Larsen, Major-General Hjalmar not given 3 June 1965 Copenhagen, Denmark Vol 13, No 82, Page 97 January 1966 Aviator, three Antarctic ventures: 1929-30, 1930-31, 1932-33
Ritscher, Alfred 23 May 1879 30 March 1963 Hamburg Vol 12, No 76, Page 103 January 1964 Leader, Schwabenland expedition 1938-39
Rooney, Felix not given 4 November 1965 Wellington, New Zealand Vol 13, No 83, Page 219 May 1966 Member, Nimrod expedition 1907-09
Ross, Rear Admiral Maurice James 31 October 1908 27 October 1996 not given Vol 33, No 185, Page ? April 1997 Polar historian and author
Rudmose-Brown, Robert Neal 1879 27 January 1957 Sheffield Vol 8, No 56, Page 466 May 1957 Botanist, Scotia expedition 1902-04
Ryder, Major Lisle Charles Dudley 1902 27 May 1940 not given; killed in action Vol 3, No 21, Page 391 January 1941 Member, British Graham Land expedition 1934-37
Rymill, John Riddoch 13 March 1905 7 September 1968 Adelaide, Australia Vol 14, No 91, Page 524 January 1969 Leader, British Graham Land expedition 1934-37
Searle, Derek John Hatherhill not given (aged 75) 12 September 2003 Norwich, England Vol 40, No 214, Page 279 July 2004 FIDS
Sherrell, Frederick William 2 February 1932 5 August 2001 Tavistock, England Vol 39, No 210, Page 279 July 2003 FIDS
Simpson, Sir George Clarke, FRS 1878 1 January 1965 not given Vol 12, No 80, Page 632 May 1965 Physicist and meteorologist, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Siple, Paul Allman 18 December 1908 25 November 1968 not given Vol 14, No 92, Page 691 and Vol 14, No 93, Page 851 May and September 1969 Member, Byrd Antarctic expeditions 1928-30, 1933-35; US Antarctic Service expedition 1939-41; Operation Highjump 1946-47; Operation Deepfreeze I 1955-56; IGY 1956-57
Skelton, Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald, R.N. 1872 5 September 1956 Aldingbourne, W. Sussex Vol 8, No 55, Page 378 January 1957 Chief engineer, Scott's Discovery
Skottsberg, Carl Johan Fredrik 1 December 1880 14 June 1963 not given Vol 12, No 80, Page 633 May 1965 Member, Nordenskjöld's Swedish South Polar expedition 1901-04
Smith, David not given 1 September 1999 not given Vol 36, No 197, Page 169 April 2000 Noted Antarctic artist
Sobral, José Maria 14 April 1880 14 April 1961 not given Vol 11, No 71, Page 211 May 1962 Member, Nordenskjöld's Swedish South Polar expedition 1901-04
Sørensen, Hans Winge 21 September 1890 25 October 1968 not given Vol 14, No 93, Page 859 September 1969 "last of the great figures of the Norwegian Antarctic whaling era"
Stenhouse, Commander J.R., D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.R. not given October 1941 not given Vol 3, No 24, Page 581 July 1942 Second in command Ross Sea Party; member Endurance expedition 1914-17; commander Discovery 1925-27
Stephenson, Alfred 25 November 1908 3 July 1999 Southampton, England Vol 36, No 196, Page 53 January 2000 Member, British Graham Land expedition 1932-33
Stevens, Alexander 11 January 1886 20 December 1965 not given Vol 13, No 85, Page 493 January 1967 Chief of Scientific Staff, Ross Sea Party, Endurance expedition 1914-17
Stillwell, Frank Leslie 27 June 1888 8 February 1963 Isle of Wight Vol 11, No 75, Page 793 September 1963 Geologist, Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14
Stokes, Frank Wilbert not given 14 February 1955 New York Vol 7, No 51, Page 524 September 1955 Artist, Nordenskjöld's Swedish South Polar expedition 1901-04
Taylor, Professor Thomas Griffith 1 December 1880 5 November 1963 Sydney, Australia Vol 12, No 77, Page 230 May 1964 Senior Geologist, Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Thorne, George A., Jr. not given 7 September 1939 not given Vol *, No 19, Page 209 January 1940 Surveyor and dog driver, Byrd Antarctic expedition 1928-30
Turnbull, Captain David Harrison 24 July 1921 August 1999 not given Vol 36, No 197, Page 169 April 2000 Commanding Officer, RRS Shackleton
Van Mirlo, Jan not given April 1964 not given Vol 12, No 80, Page 632 May 1965 Last surviving member, Belgica expedition 1897-99
Watson, Andrew Dougal 27 June 1885 18 June 1963 [9 January 1962 according to grandson] not given [Cremorne NSW, Australia] Vol 12, No 76, Page 103 January 1964 Member, Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14
White, Martin Guy 1 February 1944 3 July 1999 Conington, UK Vol 36, No 199, Page 272 October 2000 Marine biologist, BAS
Wild, Commander Frank C.B.E., R.N.V.R. (rtd.) not given 20 August 1939 not given Vol *, No 19, Page 208 January 1940 Member, Discovery expedition 1901-04; Nimrod expedition, 1907-09; Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14; Endurance expedition 1914-16; Quest expedition 1921-22
Williamson, Petty Officer T.S. not given January 1940 not given Vol 3, No 20, Page 339 July 1940 Member, Discovery expedition 1901-04; Terra Nova expedition 1910-13
Wilkins, Sir George Hubert 31 October 1888 2 December 1958 Framingham, Massachusetts, USA Vol 9, No 62, Page 489 May 1959 Member, British Imperial expedition 1920-21; Member, Quest expedition 1921-22; Leader, Wilkins-Hearst Antarctic expedition (first Antarctic flight) 1928-29; William Scoresby expedition, 1929-30; involved with Lincoln Ellsworth's Antarctic expeditions, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1935-36
Wilson, Mrs E. A., C.B.E. not given 25 April 1945 not given Vol 4, No 30, Page 290 July 1945 Widow of Dr Edward A. Wilson
Wilton, D.W. not given 10 January 1940 not given Vol 3, No 20, Page 339 July 1940 Member, Scotia expedition 1902-04
Wordie, Sir James Mann, C.B.E. 26 April 1889 16 January 1962 Cambridge Vol 11, No 71, Page 212 May 1962 Chief of Scientific Staff, Endurance expedition 1914-17
Wynn-Williams, David 16 July 1946 24 March 2002 near Cambridge Vol 39, No 209, Page 161 April 2003 Microbiologist, BAS

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