Jump to content

SY Aurora: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Added ship weight
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
5,384,394 edits
m Alter: isbn. Add: url, jstor, pages, author pars. 1-1. Removed URL that duplicated unique identifier. Removed parameters. | You can use this bot yourself. Report bugs here.| Activated by User:Marianne Zimmerman
Line 50: Line 50:
|}
|}
[[File:Aurora cover Tasmania and Victoria Land 1912.jpg|thumb|A 1912 envelope from the Aurora to New Zealand postmarked Hobart, 17 March 1913. From the [[John Clemente]] collection.<ref name=spink>''The John Clemente collection of Tasmania postal history''. Spink, London, 2016, p. 87.</ref>]]
[[File:Aurora cover Tasmania and Victoria Land 1912.jpg|thumb|A 1912 envelope from the Aurora to New Zealand postmarked Hobart, 17 March 1913. From the [[John Clemente]] collection.<ref name=spink>''The John Clemente collection of Tasmania postal history''. Spink, London, 2016, p. 87.</ref>]]
'''SY ''Aurora''''' was a 600-tonne<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27616990|title=Antarctica, great stories from the frozen continent.|date=1985|publisher=Reader's Digest|isbn=0949819646|location=Sydney|oclc=27616990}}</ref> barque-rigged<ref>A.L. Rice D.Sc. (1986) British Oceanographic Vessels 1800-1950. Minerva Press, Brentwood, Essex CM13 1TF p.16 {{ISBN|0903874 19 9}}</ref> [[steam yacht]] built by [[Alexander Stephen and Sons]] Ltd. in [[Dundee]], [[Scotland]], in 1876,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Shipbuilding/Shipyards/Stephen&Sons-3.html| title=Alexander Stephen & Sons, Dundee Yard-list| publisher=Maritime History Virtual Archives| accessdate=2 July 2012}}</ref> for the Dundee Seal and Whale Fishing Company. It was {{convert|165|ft}} long with a {{convert|30|ft|adj=on}} beam. The hull was made of oak, sheathed with greenheart and lined with fir. The bow was a mass of solid wood reinforced with steel-plate armour. The heavy side frames were braced by two levels of horizontal oak beams. Her primary use was whaling in the northern seas, and she was built sturdily enough to withstand the heavy weather and ice that would be encountered there. That strength proved useful for Antarctic exploration as well and between 1911 and 1917 she made five trips to the continent, both for exploration and rescue missions.
'''SY ''Aurora''''' was a 600-tonne<ref>{{Cite book|title=Antarctica, great stories from the frozen continent.|date=1985|publisher=Reader's Digest|isbn=0949819646|location=Sydney|oclc=27616990}}</ref> barque-rigged<ref>A.L. Rice D.Sc. (1986) British Oceanographic Vessels 1800-1950. Minerva Press, Brentwood, Essex CM13 1TF p.16 {{ISBN|0903874 19 9}}</ref> [[steam yacht]] built by [[Alexander Stephen and Sons]] Ltd. in [[Dundee]], [[Scotland]], in 1876,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Shipbuilding/Shipyards/Stephen&Sons-3.html| title=Alexander Stephen & Sons, Dundee Yard-list| publisher=Maritime History Virtual Archives| accessdate=2 July 2012}}</ref> for the Dundee Seal and Whale Fishing Company. It was {{convert|165|ft}} long with a {{convert|30|ft|adj=on}} beam. The hull was made of oak, sheathed with greenheart and lined with fir. The bow was a mass of solid wood reinforced with steel-plate armour. The heavy side frames were braced by two levels of horizontal oak beams. Her primary use was whaling in the northern seas, and she was built sturdily enough to withstand the heavy weather and ice that would be encountered there. That strength proved useful for Antarctic exploration as well and between 1911 and 1917 she made five trips to the continent, both for exploration and rescue missions.


==Whaling==
==Whaling==
Line 65: Line 65:


===1917 Ross Sea Party rescue===
===1917 Ross Sea Party rescue===
The Australian, New Zealand and British governments agreed to fund the refit of ''Aurora'' for the rescue of the [[Ross Sea Party]]. An Advisory Committee was established in [[Melbourne]], consisting of [[William Rooke Creswell|Rear Admiral Sir William Cresswell]], [[David Orme Masson|Professor Sir Orme Masson]], Captain J.R. Barter, [[John Bryan Stevenson|Commander John Stevenson]] and [[Thomas Griffith Taylor|Dr Griffith Taylor]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Relief of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party|journal=The Geographical Journal|volume=49|issue=3|date=March 1917|page=218|doi=10.2307/1779498}}</ref>
The Australian, New Zealand and British governments agreed to fund the refit of ''Aurora'' for the rescue of the [[Ross Sea Party]]. An Advisory Committee was established in [[Melbourne]], consisting of [[William Rooke Creswell|Rear Admiral Sir William Cresswell]], [[David Orme Masson|Professor Sir Orme Masson]], Captain J.R. Barter, [[John Bryan Stevenson|Commander John Stevenson]] and [[Thomas Griffith Taylor|Dr Griffith Taylor]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Relief of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party|journal=The Geographical Journal|volume=49|issue=3|pages=218–221|date=March 1917|doi=10.2307/1779498|jstor=1779498|last1=Mill|first1=Hugh Robert|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1449310}}</ref>


Shackleton's expedition funds were fully expended. After his legendary ordeal on ''[[Endurance (1912 ship)|Endurance]]'' in the [[Weddell Sea]] sector, Shackleton arrived in [[New Zealand]] during December 1916. The three governments involved were adamant that he would not lead the rescue expedition and at their insistence [[John King Davis]] was appointed to captain ''Aurora''. After negotiation Shackleton sailed aboard ''Aurora'', but Captain Davis had total authority on the voyage. On 10 January 1917, the ship pulled alongside the pack ice near [[Cape Royds]] and worked her way to [[Cape Evans]]. One week later, the seven survivors of the original ten members of the ''Ross Sea Party'' were headed back to [[Wellington, New Zealand]] aboard ''Aurora''.
Shackleton's expedition funds were fully expended. After his legendary ordeal on ''[[Endurance (1912 ship)|Endurance]]'' in the [[Weddell Sea]] sector, Shackleton arrived in [[New Zealand]] during December 1916. The three governments involved were adamant that he would not lead the rescue expedition and at their insistence [[John King Davis]] was appointed to captain ''Aurora''. After negotiation Shackleton sailed aboard ''Aurora'', but Captain Davis had total authority on the voyage. On 10 January 1917, the ship pulled alongside the pack ice near [[Cape Royds]] and worked her way to [[Cape Evans]]. One week later, the seven survivors of the original ten members of the ''Ross Sea Party'' were headed back to [[Wellington, New Zealand]] aboard ''Aurora''.
Line 87: Line 87:
==Captains==
==Captains==
This is a partial list of [[Captain (nautical)|Captains]] of ''Aurora'':
This is a partial list of [[Captain (nautical)|Captains]] of ''Aurora'':
*Alexander Fairweather (1880–1882) <ref>{{cite book|last1=Rycroft|first1=Nancy|title=Captain James Fairweather Whaler and Shipmaster|date=2005|publisher=Fairweather Books|location=Ripponden, West Yorkshire, England|isbn=09551739 06|page=53}}</ref>
*Alexander Fairweather (1880–1882) <ref>{{cite book|last1=Rycroft|first1=Nancy|title=Captain James Fairweather Whaler and Shipmaster|date=2005|publisher=Fairweather Books|location=Ripponden, West Yorkshire, England|isbn=09551739-06|page=53}}</ref>
*James Fairweather (1883–1888)
*James Fairweather (1883–1888)
*Jackman (c.1895)
*Jackman (c.1895)

Revision as of 02:53, 1 July 2019

For other uses, see Aurora (disambiguation).

A glimpse of Aurora from within the cavern in the wall of the shelf-ice of the Mertz Glacier Tongue, Commonwealth Bay, Adelie Land, Australasian Antarctic Expedition, December 1913. Photo by Frank Hurley. From the National Library of Australia ID No. nla.pic-an23478533
History
 United Kingdom
BuilderAlexander Stephen & Sons Ltd. Dundee, Scotland
Launched1876
FateDeclared lost by Lloyd's of London, 2 January 1918
General characteristics
Class and typeSteam yacht
Tonnage380 grt
Length165 ft (50 m)
Beam30.5 ft (9.3 m)
Draught18.75 ft (5.72 m)
Propulsion
  • Compound Steam Engine
  • Cunliffe and Dunlop of Glasgow
  • 98 bhp
Sail planBarquentine
A 1912 envelope from the Aurora to New Zealand postmarked Hobart, 17 March 1913. From the John Clemente collection.[1]

SY Aurora was a 600-tonne[2] barque-rigged[3] steam yacht built by Alexander Stephen and Sons Ltd. in Dundee, Scotland, in 1876,[4] for the Dundee Seal and Whale Fishing Company. It was 165 feet (50 m) long with a 30-foot (9.1 m) beam. The hull was made of oak, sheathed with greenheart and lined with fir. The bow was a mass of solid wood reinforced with steel-plate armour. The heavy side frames were braced by two levels of horizontal oak beams. Her primary use was whaling in the northern seas, and she was built sturdily enough to withstand the heavy weather and ice that would be encountered there. That strength proved useful for Antarctic exploration as well and between 1911 and 1917 she made five trips to the continent, both for exploration and rescue missions.

Whaling

Between the years 1876 and 1910, Aurora made the annual trip from Dundee, Scotland to St. John's, Newfoundland to take part in the whale and seal hunt in the North Atlantic. There were a couple of notable events in this time. In 1884,[5] along with other whalers in the area Aurora made an attempt to rescue the Greely Expedition and her captain, James Fairweather[6] assisted with a repair to the US relief ship Bear,[7] and in 1891, the ship came to the rescue of the crew of Polynia when she was crushed in sea ice.[8]

Douglas Mawson Expedition

In 1910, she was bought by Douglas Mawson's deputy, Captain J.K. (Gloomy) Davis, for ₤6,000 for his Australasian Antarctic Expedition.[9] Aurora made the journey from Hobart, departing on 2 December 1911, Australia to Macquarie Island,where a radio relay station was established. She left the island on 25 December, arriving at Cape Denison, 8 January 1912, where the main base was built (Mawson's Huts). She departed on 19 January, heading West to establish the Western Base. The site was decided in what is now known as Queen Mary Land, on 1 February 1912. After building the main hut 'The Grottoes' on the stable ice shelf, Aurora left for Hobart on 20 February, arriving in Hobart on 12 March. In December 1912, Aurora returned to find that Douglas Mawson, Xavier Mertz, and Belgrave Edward Sutton Ninnis had set out on a sled expedition, and were overdue on their return. The captain attempted to wait for the expedition to return, but poor anchorage and extremely strong winds combined to cause a number of anchor chains to break. At the end of January the ship had to leave to pick up the Western Base Party. After yet another long blizzard delaying them further, they left on 8 February, reaching the Western Base party on 23 February, loaded quickly and headed North, arriving in Hobart on 15 March. Over the ensuing months, Davis raised extensive rescue funds, and had Aurora refitted. Departed Hobart 15 November 1913, collected the radio relay party under George Ainsworth at Macquarie Island, anchoring in Commonwealth Bay at 07h00 3 December 1913. She left Commonwealth Bay 25 December, and after an extensive coastal exploration, finally arrived in Port Adelaide 26 February 1914.

Trans Antarctic Expedition

Main article: SY Aurora's drift

In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton tasked Aurora to help set up supply depots along the route for his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. After being delayed by sea ice in McMurdo Sound in January 1915, Aurora managed to make her way further south, and sent teams off to set up the depots. Eventually she made her way to Discovery Bay on 12 March 1915, where she anchored and continued to offload supplies. In May, Aurora was trapped in the ice, and was carried out to the sea, stranding the men that were setting up the depots. She remained trapped in the ice for the better part of a year, drifting some 1600 nautical miles. It was not until 12 February 1916 that the ship escaped from the ice, making it back to Dunedin, New Zealand on 3 April.

1917 Ross Sea Party rescue

The Australian, New Zealand and British governments agreed to fund the refit of Aurora for the rescue of the Ross Sea Party. An Advisory Committee was established in Melbourne, consisting of Rear Admiral Sir William Cresswell, Professor Sir Orme Masson, Captain J.R. Barter, Commander John Stevenson and Dr Griffith Taylor.[10]

Shackleton's expedition funds were fully expended. After his legendary ordeal on Endurance in the Weddell Sea sector, Shackleton arrived in New Zealand during December 1916. The three governments involved were adamant that he would not lead the rescue expedition and at their insistence John King Davis was appointed to captain Aurora. After negotiation Shackleton sailed aboard Aurora, but Captain Davis had total authority on the voyage. On 10 January 1917, the ship pulled alongside the pack ice near Cape Royds and worked her way to Cape Evans. One week later, the seven survivors of the original ten members of the Ross Sea Party were headed back to Wellington, New Zealand aboard Aurora.

Fate

Aurora was last seen in 1917, when she departed Newcastle, New South Wales, bound for Iquique, Chile with a cargo of coal. Lloyd's of London posted the ship as missing on 2 January 1918; it was believed she was a casualty of World War I, possibly being sunk by a mine laid by the German merchant raider Wolf. One of Aurora's lifebelts was recovered from the Tasman Sea between Sydney and Brisbane six months after her disappearance.[11]

Message on a bottle

In 1927, a Mr. G. Bressington was walking along the beach near Tuggerah, New South Wales and noticed an old wine bottle partly buried in the sand. Upon examining the bottle he saw an engraving of the picture of a ship and on the other side the following message: "Midwinter's Day, 1912, Shackleton Glacier, Antarctica. 'Frank Wild, A. L. Kennedy, S. Evan Jones, C. Arch. Hoadley, Charles T. Harrisson, George Dovers, A. L. Watson and Morton H. Moyes".[12]

The story of the bottle is that it was one of three given to Sir Douglas Mawson when his expedition left England in 1911. The bottles were given by Mr J. T. Buchanan who had them left over from the Challenger expedition and wished the party to drink them on Explorer Day. Mawson passed one bottle on to Frank Wild, who led the Western Base Party whilst Aurora was under the command of John King Davis. When the wine was drunk on the day, the party's artist Harrisson engraved a picture of Aurora on one side and the names of the party on the other. It is thought the bottle was still aboard Aurora when it left Newcastle in 1917.

Tributes

A number of Antarctic features are named for Aurora. These include:

Captains

This is a partial list of Captains of Aurora:

References

  1. ^ The John Clemente collection of Tasmania postal history. Spink, London, 2016, p. 87.
  2. ^ Antarctica, great stories from the frozen continent. Sydney: Reader's Digest. 1985. ISBN 0949819646. OCLC 27616990.
  3. ^ A.L. Rice D.Sc. (1986) British Oceanographic Vessels 1800-1950. Minerva Press, Brentwood, Essex CM13 1TF p.16 ISBN 0903874 19 9
  4. ^ "Alexander Stephen & Sons, Dundee Yard-list". Maritime History Virtual Archives. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  5. ^ Lindsay, David Moore (1911). A Voyage to the Arctic in the Whaler Aurora (First ed.). Boston, USA: Dana Estes & Company.
  6. ^ "Whaling Captains listed in 'Arctic Whalers,' by Basil Lubbock - The Whalers' Heritage Project - ExploreNorth". www.explorenorth.com.
  7. ^ Basil Lubbock (1937) Arctic Whalers. Brown, Son & Ferguson, Ltd. Glasgow pp. 414-416
  8. ^ Basil Lubbock (1937) Arctic Whalers. Brown, Son & Ferguson, Ltd. Glasgow p. 424
  9. ^ http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/antarctic_ships/aurora.php
  10. ^ Mill, Hugh Robert (March 1917). "The Relief of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party". The Geographical Journal. 49 (3): 218–221. doi:10.2307/1779498. JSTOR 1779498.
  11. ^ "Mystery of the sea. Loss of the Aurora. Victim of the Wolf". The Argus. 5 November 1921. p. 4.
  12. ^ "The Mercury (Hobart, Tasmania)". Strange Sea Story. 26 May 1927. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  13. ^ Rycroft, Nancy (2005). Captain James Fairweather Whaler and Shipmaster. Ripponden, West Yorkshire, England: Fairweather Books. p. 53. ISBN 09551739-06.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=SY_Aurora&oldid=904272018"