Arnold Spencer-Smith

Arnold Patrick Spencer-Smith
Arnold Spencer-Smith photographed by J. Palmer Clarke in 1907
Born	(1883-03-17)March 17, 1883 Streatham, London
Died	March 9, 1916(1916-03-09) (aged 32) The Antarctic
Education	Westminster City School, King's College London and Queen's College, Cambridge
Occupation	Curate

Arnold Patrick Spencer-Smith (1883–1916) was a British clergyman and amateur photographer who joined Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–17, as Chaplain and photographer on the Ross Sea party. The hardship of the expedition resulted in Spencer-Smith's death. Cape Spencer-Smith on White Island at 78°00′S 167°27′E / 78.000°S 167.450°E / -78.000; 167.450 is named in his honour.

Born in Streatham (he shared his birthday, 17 March, with Captain Lawrence Oates but was three years younger), he attended Westminster City School,King's College London and Queen's College, Cambridge. He did not attend his exams and was given a pass degree in history. After a few years teaching at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, Spencer-Smith was ordained as deacon into the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1910, subsequently being appointed curate of All Saints, Edinburgh. He was ordained as priest shortly before leaving England to join the Aurora.

It is unclear how he came to join the expedition. One version is that he had wanted to enlist in the army at the outbreak of war, but as a clergyman was barred from combatant service. He therefore volunteered himself to Shackleton as a replacement for one of the original party who had left for active service. After arrival in Antarctica his unfamiliarity with polar work and limited physical stamina were in evidence during the first (January–March 1915) depot-laying journey, before he was sent back to base by expedition leader Aeneas Mackintosh. During the 1915 winter season he worked at the Cape Evans base, mainly in the darkroom where he sometimes held religious services.