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 24/11/1911; £5 per month; promoted to boatswain on 17/5/1912; wages increased to £9 per month. Did three days in galley at extra 2 shillings per day as cook. Went to Lyttleton and finished 18/3/1912. Notes from Davis 14/4/1913 saying ‘he had been talking a good deal in Hobart’ and unlikely to be reengaged. Another 2/9/1913 saying Adams ‘is much annoyed that I have declined to reengage’. A letter 8/9/1913 sent from solicitor claiming £30 for breach of contract.

Anderson, Enoch. Fireman signed on 18/11/1913 to 27/2/1914 on £5 per month.

Baxter, James. Fireman from 2/9/1912 to 18/9/1912 at £5 per month.

Bethell, H. Cook, commissioned 4/8/1911 to 3/9/1911 at £7 per month.

Beverley, A. Donkey man (third engineer), commissioned 9/10/1913 to 19/3/1914 on £7.10.00 per month. Paid £6 bonus on discharge.

Blake, J. Fireman, commissioned on 10/9/1913 to 28/2/1914 on £5 per month. Paid bonus of £7 on discharge.

Boyce, W.H. Paid £2.8.0 for eight days as steward from 24/4/1912 to 3/5/1912.

Bradley, R. Commissioned on 1/11/1912 to 19/3/1913 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 4/8/1911 to 8/11/1911 at £5 per month.

Campbell, R. Employed on Adelaide-Hobart run as second engineer on £8.

Crossley, G. Fireman, commissioned on 4/8/1911 to 15/3/1912 on £5 per month.

Coombe, H. Fireman, commissioned on 23/11/1911 to 13/3/1912 on £5 per month.

Cooper, W. Steward’s boy, engagement 26/11/1911 on £2 per month.

Corner, Harry. Second engineer; commissioned 4/8/1911 at £10. Completed Antarctic voyage and summer expeditions from Lyttleton. Paid off 10/9/1912.

Correll, Percy C. 18/11/1913 received £30 from Prof. TE David. Described as having travelled aboard Aurora as a passenger on the final relief voyage.

Dawson, A. Commissioned 2/4/1912 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton; paid off 3/8/1912.

Dobbs, S.C. Paid £4.10. on 1/11/1913.

Doherty, J. Paid, 1/11/1913 (£2) and 4/3/1914.

De May, A. Joined 5/11/1913 on £5 per month and paid off in Hobart on 19/11/1913.

Desmond, F.W. Commissioned 2/12/1911 on £5 per month and paid off 14/3/1912.

Dobbs, C.C. Cook, commissioned on 23/9/1912 on £9 per month finished on 8/10/1912. Recommissioned on 1/9/1913 as cook on £9 per month; finished on 11/11/1913.

Dodds, Edward. Fireman, commissioned 25/11/1911 on £5 per month. Paid off 12/13/1912.

Doherty, J. Aviator, loaned by RAAR to expedition. Commissioned 30/4/1912 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton finished 18/3/1913. Commissioned as boatswain on 20/10/1913 on £9 per month; paid off on 19/3/1914 and paid £6 bonus.

Doyle W. Fireman, commissioned on 4/8/1911 on £5 per month; finished 8/11/1911.

Ereckson, E. Paid £4 for run from Adelaide to Hobart from 7/3/1914.

Evans. F.E. Engineer, commissioned 3/8/1911 on £7.10.0; finished 2/11/1911.

Fifoot, A. Chief cook, commissioned 15/11/1911 on £9 per month, finished 12/3/1912.

Fletcher, Frank D. Chief Officer (third voyage), commissioned 18/4/12 on £14 a month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off 18/3/1913.

Foley, M. Commissioned on 10/10/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off on 19/3/1914 and paid £6 bonus on discharge.

Folvik, Anders. Commissioned on 10/9/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off on 31/10/1913.

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 JK Davis specially recommended him for his work as during the first two Antarctic voyages and both of Aurora’s sub-Antarctic cruises. Commissioned 26/7/1911 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 19/11/1913 on £10 per month. Paid off on 27/2/1914.

Gibbon, S.E. Second steward, commissioned on 19/11/1912 on £6.10.00 per month. Paid off on 18/3/1913.

Goddard, H. Second steward, commissioned on 19/11/1913 on £6.10.00.per month. Paid off on 19/3/1914 and paid bonus of £5 on discharge.

Hackworth, C. Commissioned 6/5/1912 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off 18/3/1913.

Hansen, J. Commissioned on 19/11/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off on 19/3/14. 28/2/1914 signed cash advances as Chief Officer. Paid a bonus of £4 on discharge (4 months at £1 per month).

Hardy, Arthur. Fireman, commissioned on 2/9/1913 on £5 per month finished on 17/11/1913.

Harrison, Chas. T. 4/9/1913 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 24/4/1912.

Haugan, H. Fireman, commissioned on 18/4/1912 on £5 per month. Promoted to donkeyman at Lyttleton on 17/5/1912 with wages increased to £7.10.0 per month. Paid off on 27/8/1912.

Hoare, George. Steward, commissioned 4/8/1911 at £8 per month 26/7/1911 for 10 days; paid £7 as ships cook. Paid off 8/11/1911.

Joss, Leslie K. Commissioned 13/11/1911 on £5 per month finished 24/4/1912.

Kelly, D. 10/11/1913 to 17/11/1913 at £5 per month. Paid for 7 days.

Kohler, A. Engaged at £5 per month from Hobart 14/5/1912 to 19/3/1913.

Kyme(r), J (‘Tas’) Cook, 11/11/1913 part of crew paid 4/3/1914. Paid bonus of £5 on discharge 18/3/1914.

Liddiard, Thomas. Commissioned on 5/11/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off on 28/2/1914 and a bonus of £5 on discharge on 19/3/1914.

Lincoln, B.C. Commissioned on 7/5/1912 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Finished on 18/3/1913. Recommissioned on 1/9/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off on 25/10/1913.

Lough E.P. Paid for 7 days from 18/4/1912 to 24/4/1912 at £9 per month or 6/- per day.

McArthur, P. Third engineer, commissioned on 20/11/1911 on £7.10.0 per month. Paid off 12/3/1912.

McGrath, B.L. Commissioned on 18/11/1911 on £5 per month finished 12/11/1912. Injured aboard Aurora on 1/4/1912 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 16/4/1912.

Macfritz. 19/11/1913 to 27/2/1914 as second engineer on £10 per month.

McKenzie, H. Chief Engineer, commissioned 13/06/1911, wages £18 for a month in England.

McNeice or McPiece, Oswald. (signed as both McNeice and McPiece) Commissioned 27/11/1911 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton and finished 18/3/1913. Recommissioned on 1/9/1913 on £5 per month. Paid bonus on discharge of £6.12.0; paid off on 19/3/1914.

Mahr, J.G. (Maher, JP his signature) Commissioned on 5/11/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off on 28/2/1914. Was still on crew and paid a bonus of £5 on discharge.

Manders, H.E. Second engineer, commissioned on 29/9/1913 on £10 per month. Paid off on 28/10/1913.

Martin, C. Commissioned 10/9/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off 9/10/1913

Marck, E. Cook, commissioned 18/7/1912 on £9 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off on 17/9/1912.

Maxfield, A. Second engineer, commissioned on 16/10/1912 on £10 per month. Paid off on 15/3/1913.

Moad, J. Fireman requesting his bonus be sent to Pt. Pirie, 14/3/1914.

Morrison, W. Commission started 27/9/1911 in England, sailed with Aurora via Cape Town to Hobart. Wages were £5 a month.

Pond A. Commissioned on 26/7/1911 at £5 per month. Paid off on 8/11/1911.

Mort, Jacob. Fireman, signed on 17/11/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off on 27/2/1914

Offin, J. Commissioned on 5/11/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off on 19/3/1914 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 9/5/1912.

Pentony, E. Second steward, commissioned on 30/7/1912 on £6.10.00 per month. Paid off on 29/8/1912.

Pettit, L. Second steward, commissioned 27/11/1911 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 4/11/1913 on £6.10.00 per month Deserted in Melbourne on 11/11/1913.

Reid, John. Fireman for the run from Adelaide to Hobart and paid £6.

Rohler. A. Fireman engaged on 14/5/1912 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Finished 19/3/1913 A £35.13.00 account for medicine was paid on 24/12/1912.

Royal, O.F. Chief steward, commissioned on 8/5/1912 on £9 per week. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off on 8/10/1912.

Rushforth J. Commissioned on 4/8/1911 on £2.10.0. Paid off on 27/9/1911 in Cape Town.

Rust, J H. Cook, commissioned 28/11/1911 on £8 per month. Paid off 10/4/1912.

Ryme, L. Cook, commissioned 11/11/1913 on £9 per month. Paid off 19/3/1914.

Saliba, J. Cook, commissioned 26/4/1912 on £9 per month. Paid off at Lyttleton on 14/7/1912.

Schroder, A. Commissioned 18/11/1911 on £5 per month, went to Lyttleton. Paid off 18/3/1913.

Simonson, C. Commissioned 4/8/1911 on £5 per month. Paid off on 8/11/1911.

Smith, J. Commissioned 4/8/1911. Paid off 3/11/1911.

Sullivan W.F. Boatswain, commissioned 26/7/1911 at £8. Paid off Hobart on 8/11/1911.

Taylor, G. Commissioned on 24/12/1912 on £5 per month. Paid off on 18/3/1913.

Taylor, G.R. Fireman, commissioned 30/10/1912 on £5 per month. Paid off on 19/3/1913.

Taylor, T. Commissioned 4/8/1911 on £5 per month but promoted to cook on 28/8/1911 on £7 per month. Paid off 8/11/1911.

Thompson, A. Fireman, commissioned on 2/5/1912 on £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton on 1/11/1912 promoted to Donkeyman and wages increased to £7.10.0. Paid off 14/3/1913.

Toutcher N.C. Chief officer, commissioned 26/7/1911 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 7/5/1912 at £5 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off on 18/3/1912. Recommissioned on 2/9/1913 on £5 per month. Paid off on 24/10/1913.

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 1/11/1912.

Whittle, D. Second steward, commissioned on 8/5/1912 on £6.10.0 per month. Went to Lyttleton. Paid off there on 29/7/1912.

Wigzell, H. Commissioned on 26/7/1911 at £5 per month travelled south. Paid off on 15/5/1912. Had two months absence 2/10/1911–2/12/1911.

Williams. G (‘Gus’?) A letter dated 12/4/1912 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 29/8/1912 on £6.10.00 per month. Promoted to Chief Steward on 8/10/1912 with wages increased to £9 per month. Paid off on 20/3/1913. Recommissioned 1/9/1913 as Chief steward on £9 per month. Paid off on 19/3/1914 with bonus of £6.12.0.

From The Friends of Mawson Inc Newsletter, No.3, 2003.

More information

Life on board SY Aurora: the experience of Captain John King Davis’ crew 1911–1914