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Endurance Obituaries |
 Endurance Obituaries |
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LEWIS RAPHAEL RICKINSON
( 1883 - 16/04/1945 )
BORN : ENGLAND
DIED : KILLED IN ACTION AT SEA
NICKNAME : RICKY
DUTY : 1ST ENGINEER.
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Rickinson lines up onboard the “Endurance” whilst being presented to Queen Alexandra. July.1914.
AWARDED SILVER POLAR MEDAL
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Rickinson was selected by Shackleton as Chief Engineer. A.J.Kerr was to assist him as 2nd Engineer. Lewis was a rather quiet, good-looking dependable kind of man. The question has always been asked why such a man who was known to detest the cold would want to take part in a voyage to Antarctica! Nevertheless he did, and seemed to have preformed his duty well.
Lewis 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 Midwinter's Day 1915 concert held on the “Endurance” when he played the part of a “flapper”. (a flighty young woman ).
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 his boat 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 was to spend 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 WW11 aged 62 whilst serving as Engineer Commander on H.M.S. Pembroke.
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”.
Rickinson, Punto Arenas 1916 after having been rescued by The Yelcho.
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