Crean, Tom, 1877-1938

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Thomas Crean, explorer, was born in Ireland on July 20, 1877. He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1893 and was serving in New Zealand when he volunteered to join the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) as an Able Seaman. On his return to the Navy, he became a Petty Officer and was subsequently selected to join the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) as an expert sledger and pony handler. As a member of the final support party, he accompanied Scott's polar party as far as the Beardmore Glacier. On the return journey with Lieutenant Edward R.G.R Evans and William Lashly, he walked the last 35 miles alone with very few rations to summon help for Evans who was dangerously ill. For his role in rescuing Evans, Crean received the Albert medal for bravery and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer.

After returning to Britain, Crean was selected as second officer of the Endurance for the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition,[Weddell Sea Party] 1914-1916 (leader Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton). After the Endurance was crushed in the pack ice of the Weddell Sea, the company escaped in boats to Elephant Island. Crean was a member of the party of six selected by Shackleton to make the epic journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia to seek help from the Stromness whaling station.

After the expedition, Crean served in the First World War, retiring from the Navy in 1920. His remaining years were spent in Ireland where he ran a pub named the South Polar Inn. He died on 27 July 1938.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn British National Antarctic Expedition collection, 1899-1964 Scott Polar Research Institute
referencedIn Apsley Cherry-Garrard collection, 1910-1950 Scott Polar Research Institute
referencedIn Edward R.G.R. Evans, collection, 1903 - 1948 Scott Polar Research Institute
referencedIn British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913, 1885-1913 Scott Polar Research Institute
referencedIn Emily Shackleton collection, 1885-1935 Scott Polar Research Institute
referencedIn William Lashly collection, 1901- 1937 Scott Polar Research Institute
referencedIn Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition [Weddell Sea Party], 1914-1916 Scott Polar Research Institute
referencedIn Thomas Crean collection, 1905 - 1920 Scott Polar Research Institute
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Apsley George Benet Cherry-Garrard person
associatedWith Crean, Thomas person
associatedWith Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans person
associatedWith Emily Mary Shackleton person
associatedWith Lashly, William person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cork M IE
Ireland 00 IE
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Birth 1877-07-20

Death 1938-07-27

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