Lewis Rickinson was born at 2 Chetwynd Place.High Road, Lee, Lewisham. His father was Charles Napier Rickinson (occupation, traveller) and his mother, Emma Rickinson (nee Isaac). The Rickinson family originate from the North Yorkshire area of England:
| Charles Napier Rickinson. | Born 1856 Whitby, Yorkshire. |
| John Bedlington Rickinson. | Born 1809 Yorkshire. |
| John Rickinson. | Born 1784. Robin Hood’s
Bay, Yorkshire.
|
Rickinson was selected by Shackleton as Chief Engineer. A.J.Kerr was to assist him as 2nd Engineer. Lewis was a rather quiet, dark haired, good looking, dependable kind of man. The question has always been asked why such a man who was known to dislike cold weather would want to take part in a voyage to Antarctica. Orde-Lees wrote in his diary on 25th September 1915:
“Rickinson never really had any
desire to spend the winter down here and perhaps at
first was affected more by the cold than anyone else,
but is now so much acclimatised to it as the rest of us,
and does not regret having come
”.
Possibly he was seeking adventure or glory, who knows. Shackleton took a shine to him and he performed his duty well.
Lewis, although generally a shy character, possessed a good sense of humour. It was he who during the head shaving episode on the Endurance, agreed to have his head shaved only on the condition that he could shave Shackleton’s head first. Needless to say Shackleton emerged from the ordeal looking like a Dickensian convict!
Lewis also
enjoyed himself at the Midwinters Day.1915 concert held
on the “Endurance” when he played the part of a
“flapper
”. (a flighty young woman ).
He often accompanied Hussey’s banjo sessions with his fiddle playing during the days spent on the ice at Ocean and Patience camps.
He suffered badly during the terrible voyage to Elephant Island and was troubled greatly with salt-water boils and had a mild heart attack when the “Stancomb Wills “ eventually landed on Elephant Island.
Shackleton wrote:
“We were
still labouring at the boats when I saw Rickinson turn
white and stagger in the surf. His heart had been
temporarily unequal to the strain placed upon it. He was
one of those eager souls who do more than their share of
work, and who try to do more than they are physically
capable of doing
.”
Rickinson spent much of his time on Elephant Island confined to the makeshift hut, (the snuggary) along with Blackborow and Hudson, the other two injured men in the party.
During WW1 he served in the Royal Navy and went on to become a Naval Architect and Consulting Engineer. He died during WWII aged 62. He was taken ill with Lung Cancer whilst serving as Engineer Commander at the shore-based H.M.S. Pembroke, and died in a Naval Nursing Home in April 1945.
Rickinson was buried at Shaw Cemetery, Newbury, Berkshire, England. Grave 1039.
Extracts from the local newspaper the “ Newbury Weekly News” read:
“
The funeral service of the late Commander L. R. Rickinson took place in
the Newbury Municipal Cemetery on Thursday last. The service was taken
by the Rev. N. B. Kent, the rector of Highclere.
The Rector, in his address, stated that when invited to take the service
he felt it not only a privilege, but rather a duty, as he happened to be
the only Naval Chaplain in the Antarctic 30 years (to the week) ago,
when Sir. Ernest Shackleton's Expedition came into South Georgia, but
unfortunately he missed the Expedition by one and a half days, although
he did contact the "Quest" in Sir Ernest Shackleton's later Expedition.
Although he was retired from the Service, he felt it a duty to render
the last services to a fellow officer, who had served his country with
such quiet, but nevertheless, unusual distinction.
The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and upon it was the late
Commander's hat, sword and medals, one of which was the Polar medal awarded for the 1914-1916 antarctic expedition.
Owing to the son serving at sea, he was unable to attend the funeral, but he was represented by Mrs.Wayn. Commander Rickinson's sister”.
Two strange coincidences arise in Rickinson’s life story relating to Shackleton. Firstly the house he was born in was named Chetwynd Place. Shackleton’s mistress was one Rosalind Chetwynd. Secondly, his Great, Great Grandfather, John Rickinson, was born at Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire. The very place where most of the Elephant Island scenes were shot in Charles Sturridge’s film “Shackleton”.
Rickinson on board “Endurance” London. July.1914
Rickinson Millwall Docks August 1914
Rickinson, Punto Arenas 1916 after having been rescued by The Yelcho.
( With Thanks to Susan McArthur. Grandaughter of Lewis Raphael Rickinson.)
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