Unloading stores from the Aurora
Belgrave Ninnis was a member of the 36 man Australasian Antartctic Expedition of 1911 ~ The 'Aurora Expedition' ~ led by Douglas Mawson [113819]. Belgrave's father ~ Belgrave Snr ~ was previously an Antarctic explorer, and Belgrave Jnr was keen to continue such adventures whilst granted a secondment from his position in the British Army.
The expedition was exploring and discovering scientific matters in uncharted ~ and very inhospitable ~ territory. All the requirements for living for a year or more in extreme winter conditions ~ food ~ accommodation ~ fuel ~ transport ~ instruments ~ were shipped out with the expedition in the sail and steam powered vessel 'Aurora'. After building a wooden hut as their base small groups of men went on short ~ or longer ~ expeditions to map features and take rock samples. Mawson had organized a wide selection of people to undertake various specialist tasks ~ aphotographer ~ medical man ~ scientists ~ explorers ~ anyone with useful and appropriate skills and enthusiasm.
Ninnis and a colleague ~ Xavier Mertz [113855]~ were tasked with caring for the 48 Greenland sledge dogs along with other expedition duties.
In 1912 Mawson, Mertz (a skiing expert), and Ninnis were on a scientific discovery expedition ~ lasting several months ~ away from the main base. After several weeks of mapping, collecting information and rock samples, the group was returning to base. Mawson and Mertz were scouting ahead with lightly loaded sledges planning the best route for Ninnis who was following them a short way behind with the main sledge and dog-crew. A huge crack in the ice was invisibly covered by a bridge of compacted snow. The snow bridge collapsed under the heavier weight of the sledge, dogs and Ninnis. He fell into a deep crevasse ~ together with dogs and sledge. The other two men peered over the edge and called into the depths for several hours, but could not see or hear any sign of Ninnis, nor could they manage any form of rescue with their small remaining stock of equipment.
Mertz and Mawson began their return to base with very little equipment or provisioning ~ most of their food and tentage had gone. They both suffered from ill-health and malnutrition and ~ unwittingly ~ of toxic food. Mertz became delirious and died in spite of Mawson's best efforts to help him. Mawson ~ also in great ill-health ~ managed to reach main base ~ in spite of falling down another crevasse. Unfortunately ~ hours before his arrival at base ~ the supply ship had set sail ~ returning the main party to Australia. The onset of bad weather prevented Aurora from turning back.
A handful of men had been left at the main base to overwinter and search for the missing men. Mawson was slowly nursed back to health and all the survivors returned to their homes serve in the following Summer. Mawson in the military for a time and lead a distinguished scientific career in Australia.
A memorial for Ninnis and Mertz was later erected near to the base camp. Mawson's contribution to all this research was widely recognized.
