This is a facsimile reprint of the fascinating account by the young master of an old Dundee whaling ship in the ‘heroic era’ of Antarctic exploration (Davis Reference Davis1919). The ship, Aurora, operated for longer, and farther to the unknown west, than did her sister ex-whalers Nimrod or Terra Nova. The master, John King Davis, was on his second of what would be four Antarctic expeditions, a career longer than even that of his friend, Douglas Mawson. Arguably the greatest of the polar navigators of this period, he described this venture as ‘My main life's work’ (The Age 1959). By any reasonable measure then, it is an important subject.

Davis was with SY Aurora for the duration of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE). (The book does not cover his later Aurora relief voyage following the debacle of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition's Ross Sea operations.) As second-in-command, he had a unique role and perspective on this most ambitious of Antarctic ventures, with four planned land bases, all entirely ship-dependent. Importantly, Aurora also carried out pioneering oceanographic scientific work. Davis not only successfully satisfied these demands, he described this in a compelling narrative. It was his motivation, as he stated in the preface, for writing ‘from a sailor's point of view, [which] may be useful to future explorers . . . and not without interest to the general public.’

The rapid rise of Davis through the ranks was impressive by peacetime standards. Serving in polar waters, with similarities to that of war, only partly explains his promotions. Having first run away to sea around the turn of the last century, he had passed his Board of Trade exams up to and including that of first mate by 1907. The Antarctic factor kicked in after his persistence secured the appointment as chief officer on Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod expedition. This was for the outward voyage from England, but by the return, his proved abilities had led to a first command. (In fact, he was unfortunate not to be in command earlier, as his published diaries reveal (Crossley Reference Crossley1997).)

Those abilities had certainly impressed Mawson, also a veteran of the Shackleton venture. Mawson had to combine the organising of the AAE in Europe with a full-time academic career in Australia. This was only possible after the first few intense months because of Davis, who remained in Europe until Aurora was fitted out. What began as a personal friendship was above all a sound working relationship.

With the Aurora in the Antarctic begins in London, after an introduction to Antarctic exploration, and a brief history of the vessel (including Greely expedition relief work in 1884). This is followed by details of the voyage to Australia, often in diary form, and the exploratory work required of them. Included are nearly 150 detailed sketches and informative photographs. One slight criticism concerns the quality of some reproduced photographs, which is not always of the highest standard. However, this does not compromise their value in highlighting the central role of the all-important deep-sea programme, noted in early reviews (Taylor 1921). One important addition to the facsimile is the excellent introduction by Beau Riffenburgh, which gives additional background to the book.

Davis explains the thinking behind the course taken after reaching Macquarie Island. This was based on the frequently unreliable data gleaned from earlier voyages. A synopsis of these voyages is one of the more informative aspects to this publication, and sets the huge parameters of their operations. This is Davis at his best, still in his mind's eye at the helm of Aurora, and providing a comprehensive maritime narrative not found elsewhere.

The expedition's Western Base, the second and last of what was originally to be three continental bases, was always a major concern for Davis. Perched on an ice-shelf that was by its very nature unstable, it was also considerably more remote than originally planned, and (having been persuaded by base commander Frank Wild to set it up there) relieving it was always at the back of his mind. After dealing with the sub-Antarctic deep-ocean trials in the southern winter and spring of 1912, Davis resumes his account. Having safely voyaged back to Commonwealth Bay and within sight of the Main Base, he recounts the agonising delay while waiting for Mawson's missing sledging party. This, perhaps the most well-known aspect of the whole expedition, was something for which Davis was criticised. Always balanced in his comments, his decision to leave is covered well. These actions are best understood by a 22 February deadline. This was the date that Gauss, the only other ship to have really explored this region, was trapped in the ice for a winter, a contingency that Aurora had not been provisioned for, and needed to avoid at all costs. As it was, Aurora was very nearly lost, his entry for 22 February 1913 revealing:

While much of this detail is found in the rare two-volume account by Mawson (Mawson Reference Mawson1915), or to a lesser extent later abridged versions, as well as Davis' published diaries (Crossley Reference Crossley1997), this unbroken, detailed narrative most effectively conveys the extreme circumstances and conditions.

Davis dramatically extracted the Western Base members from the Antarctic, but without sufficient resources to then relieve the Main Base a second time that season. Once back in Australia, he had to face the responsibility of raising the funds for a relief voyage the next summer. As was typical in this period, he does not delve into his feelings in such matters. The only hint is to be found in the preface, where he wrote he had difficulty in expressing what the assistance of Professors T.W. Edgeworth David, and Orme Masson had meant to him. Raising the necessary funds involved travel back to England, where it may have been made more difficult in the aftermath of the death of Robert Falcon Scott's sledging party. That Davis succeeded, and then discharged his remaining duties to conclude the expedition, makes it all the more impressive.

It is hard to fully explain why there is not greater British familiarity with the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, particularly given the strong connections, including no less a person than Davis himself, although he later resided in Australia. Scott's demise, as well as the later Shackleton endeavours (for which Davis declined being appointed) are only partly an explanation. Hopefully this superb facsimile will help to rectify this.