Tom Crean, as those familiar with his story are already aware,, was the lifesaver extraordinaire and, after being recruited as Second Officer by Shackleton, for the Imperial TransAntarctic expedition aboard Endurance, it didn’t take long for his life saving instincts to kick in as one lucky drunken sailor can testify to.
The date was 16 September 1914 and to celebrate ‘Crossing the Line,’ a traditional celebration aboard naval vessels for those making their first journey across the equator, Frank Worsley, the ship’s captain, gave the order to ‘Splice the Mainbrace,’ another naval term for allowing sailors their ration of grog ( generally a tot of rum).
With Shackleton making his own arrangements to travel to Buenos Aries to meet up with the crew of Endurance, the rations of liquor given out, under Worsley’s watch, were more free-flowing than they would have been had Shackleton been aboard.
For a couple of the crew, their craving for more alcohol was too great and soon they were rendered as drunk as skunks. One inebriated, unidentified crew member, tried to throw himself overboard, making to dive off the quarterdeck.
Fortunately for him, salvation arrived in the form of Tom Crean, who grabbed him by one leg and hauled him back on deck. It’s an incident documented in the diary of crew member, Thomas Orde-Lees, that the drunken sailor then spoiled for a fight with everyone, including Worsley, whilst screaming obscenities at his crew mates.
We can only make assumptions as to the identity of the crew member and he was left to sober up as Endurance made an enforced diversion to Montevideo to collect a supply of coal before heading on to Buenos Aries.
To be hoped that when the drunken sailor came around, he showed his gratitude to Tom Crean for coming to his rescue and saving his life.
To read Tom Crean’s full story the book, published by Merrion Press in May 2023, can be purchased at all good bookstores and is widely available online. The following page provides further details and links to booksellers who offer the biography. You will also find links to purchase the biography Tom The Mighty Explorer, for children aged 6-10 years-old.
Biography of Tom Crean – Crean – The Extraordinary Life of an Irish Hero
Source used for this post:
Thomas Orde-Lees Diary Manuscript
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