William
H. Stephenson
1889 - 1953
Biographical notes
Fireman Endurance 1914-17 - 25 at the start of the expedition
The Endurance Expedition
William Stephenson was the senior stoker on board the Endurance (fireman in the days of steam engines meant someone who kept fires going rather than someone who put them out), his task was to to tend the engine boiler and ensure there was enough steam to power the engines. When the Endurance was crushed therefore, his job as well as that of his mate Holness, came to an end.
It is somewhat unclear why Stephenson and Holness were not recommended for Polar Medals by Shackleton on return to England. Only four of the crew were not given Polar Medals, the other two being McNish and Vincent for whom there were reasons of a lack of loyalty and breaches of discipline that are understandable. It is generally thought that for whatever reason, Shackleton decided that Stephenson and Holness did not come up to the standards that he expected. It does seem intriguing though that they happened to be the two men whose direct jobs quite clearly ended with the Endurance, perhaps it was unclear as to what their roles were following that event?
He is mentioned only occasionally and in passing in the diaries of Shackleton and Orde-Lees which otherwise give some indications as to the activities and characters of the men.
Biography
William Stephenson was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England, he had been a trawlerman on the fishing boats sailing out of Hull, Grimsby and Bridlington.
There is little known about him, either prior to, or after
the Endurance expedition. He had been a Royal marine in the
Chatham division, and had been an officers servant.
After
the expedition, he is assumed to have returned to Hull and carried
on his previous job working on trawlers. The next record of
him is that he died of cancer, in a Hull hospital aged 64 in
1953.
Some of the crew of the Endurance photographed
in Buenos Aries 1917
picture courtesy Robin Mackenzie-
Stornoway Historical Society
References to William Stephenson by Orde-Lees in "Elephant Island and Beyond" buy USA buy UK
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Except on blizzard days, we mostly prefer the outside work. We are allowed to provide substitutes. Stephenson aleways deputises for me in return for half a penguin steak. Cutting blubber into thin strips and stuffing them on the fire every five minutes is just the work he seems cut out for.
Other Crew of the Endurance Expedition
Bakewell,
William - Able Seaman
Blackborow,
Percy - Stowaway (later steward)
Cheetham,
Alfred - Third Officer
Clark, Robert S.
- Biologist
Crean, Thomas
- Second Officer
Green, Charles J.
- Cook
Greenstreet,
Lionel - First Officer
Holness, Ernest
- Fireman/stoker
How, Walter E.
- Able Seaman
Hudson, Hubert T.
- Navigator
Hurley, James Francis
(Frank) - Official Photographer
Hussey,
Leonard D. A. - Meteorologist
James,
Reginald W. - Physicist
Kerr, Alexander.
J. - Second Engineer
Macklin,
Dr. Alexander H. - Surgeon
Marston,
George E. - Official Artist
McCarthy, Timothy
- Able Seaman
McIlroy, Dr. James
A. - Surgeon
McLeod, Thomas
- Able Seaman
McNish, Henry
- Carpenter
Orde-Lees, Thomas
- Motor Expert and Storekeeper
Rickinson, Lewis
- First Engineer
Shackleton,
Ernest H. - Expedition Leader
Stephenson,
William - Fireman/stoker
Vincent, John
- Able Seaman
Wild, Frank
- Second in Command
Wordie, James M.
- Geologist
Worsley, Frank
- Captain
Biographical information
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Ernest Shackleton Books and Video
South - Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance Expedition (1919)
original footage - Video
Shackleton
dramatization
Kenneth Branagh (2002) - Video
Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure (2001)
IMAX dramatization - Video
The Endurance - Shackleton's Legendary Expedition (2000)
PBS NOVA, dramatization with original footage - Video
Endurance : Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
Alfred Lansing (Preface) - Book
South with Endurance: Frank Hurley - official photographer
Book
South! Ernest Shackleton Shackleton's own words
Book
Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer
Book
