Leonard Hussey

Leonard Duncan Albert Hussey, OBE (6 May 1891 – 25 February 1964) was an English meteorologist, archaeologist, explorer, medical doctor and member of Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic and Shackleton–Rowett Expeditions. During the latter, he was with Shackleton at his death, and transported the body part-way back to England.

Hussey was also a member of the armed forces during World War I, serving in France and with Shackleton in Russia. After returning to private practice, Hussey rejoined the war effort in 1940 and became a decorated medical officer with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Returning once again to civilian practice in 1946, he was a member of the Royal College of Physicians, a lecturer, author, and Boy Scouts leader prior to retirement. Many of the items he collected during his career were donated to a number of museums.

Early life

Hussey was born to James Hussey and Eliza Hussey (née Aitken) in Norman House, Norman Road in Leytonestone, in London. His father was a machine operator in the stationery printing industry . three brothers, James, William and Percy and five sisters, Maude, Beatrice, May, Blanche and Daisy.

Hussey attended Strand School and Hackney P.T. Centre. On 6 October 1909, Hussey entered the University of London, taking as course in psychology and gaining a Bachelor of Science second class at King's College London, as well as degrees in meteorology and anthropology. Sudan as part of Henry Wellcome's Expedition. Alongside O. G. S. Crawford, Hussey worked on a monthly pay of £8. Shackleton agreed to select him for the expedition, later telling him that he did so because he "looked funny". in company with Dr. James McIlroy's imitations of the trombone and bagpipes. On 22 June 1915, Hussey and the crew staged a four-hour "smoking concert" and costume party, during which Hussey dressed as a black minstrel. Roland Huntford recorded in Shackleton of Hussey's tendency to be "determinedly cheery to the point of egregiousness". On 24 April 1916, while Shackleton took five other men from camp on South Georgia on the James Caird to find help, Hussey was one of the 22 men left behind on Elephant Island to await rescue, and continued to use his banjo to improve morale.

World War I Hussey initially joined the London University contingent of the Officers' Training Corps, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the cadets on 13 November 1912. Hussey progressed to the full armed forces in the later years of the First World War, serving in France, as well as operating with Shackleton on operations at Murmansk in northern Russia as part of the Polar Bear Expedition. He was promoted to temporary lieutenant on 19 July 1918, and to the temporary rank of captain on 8 October. Hussey was demobilised on 14 May 1919, retaining the rank of captain.

Shackleton–Rowett Antarctic Expedition 1921–22

The vagaries of the climate quite bewilder Hussey. For just when he thinks it is going to do one thing the precise opposite happens. He served in Iceland as First Senior Medical Officer in the temporary rank of squadron leader, to which he was promoted on 1 July 1943 and then at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire. He was Mentioned in Despatches on two occasions in 1945, on 1 January and 14 May. Hussey retained his links to the RAF for a time after the end of the war, serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a squadron leader, until his retirement on 10 February 1954.

Later career Following the end of the war, Hussey resumed his medical practice, and in 1949 he served on the SS Clan Macauley as a ship's surgeon, sailing from England to South Africa and Australia. Hussey was involved in the re-formation of the London Banjo Club and served for several years as president despite often being abroad for his work as ship's surgeon. He also published his account of the Trans-Antarctic expedition entitled South with Endurance. and was survived by his wife, who died in 1980. The couple had no children, and his estate was passed to his housekeeper, Margaret Mock, until her own death in 1999.

Published works and decorations Hussey published a number of works throughout his life, including editing the records of both of Shackleton's expeditions, and a number of articles in partnership with other expedition members.

South with Shackleton – Hussey's account, published in 1949, of the 1914–1916 expedition. Scurvy in Polar Regions – in The Lancet

He was also the recipient of a number of decorations for his work in both world wars and as a member of Shackleton's expeditions.

A Military OBE British War Medal Mercantile Marine War Medal Victory Medal Defence Medal War Medal 1939–1945 with Oak leaves for Mention in Despatches, 1 January and 14 May 1945. Silver Polar Medal with the Antarctic 1914–16 bar.