Adam Ayles (1850 – 4 April 1912) was an Arctic explorer who served under

George Nares Vice-Admiral Sir George Strong Nares (24 April 1831 – 15 January 1915) was a Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. He commanded the ''Challenger'' Expedition, and the British Arctic Expedition. He was highly thought of as a leader an ...

as the Petty Officer of HMS ''Alert'' in the

British Arctic Expedition The British Arctic Expedition of 1875–1876, led by Sir George Nares, was sent by the Admiralty (United Kingdom), British Admiralty to attempt to reach the North Pole via Smith Sound on the west coast of Greenland. Although the expedition fail ...

."British immigrant made mark in Arctic world"
''Wairarapa Times-Age'', 9 November 2002. Ayles was born of an unmarried mother at

Marnhull Marnhull ( ) is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Dorset, southern England. It lies in the Blackmore Vale, north of Sturminster Newton and north of Dorchester, Dorset, Dorchester. Marnhull is sited on a low ridge of Cor ...

, Dorset. He left school aged twelve and worked on a farm for a few years. He joined the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

in 1867 and served in the

British expedition to Abyssinia The British Expedition to Abyssinia was a rescue mission and punitive expedition carried out in 1868 by the armed forces of the British Empire against the Ethiopian Empire (also known at the time as Abyssinia). Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, ...

in 1868. Ayles served on the British Arctic Expedition from 1875 to 1876. He was the one member of the expedition that did not succumb to

scurvy Scurvy is a deficiency disease (state of malnutrition) resulting from a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Early symptoms of deficiency include weakness, fatigue, and sore arms and legs. Without treatment, anemia, decreased red blood cells, gum d ...

, and walked more than 100 miles across the ice to get relief to the others. The Ayles Ice Shelf and Mount Ayles were both named after him. It was noted at the time that he was the only

teetotaller Teetotalism is the practice of voluntarily abstaining from the consumption of alcohol, specifically in alcoholic drinks. A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler (US) or teetotaller (UK), or said to be ...

on the expedition, and '' Punch'' celebrated his achievement in verse: A health to gallant Adam Ayles,
Who o'er the topers still prevails,
From scurvy safe and Arctic gales,
Through drinking only Adam's Ales. Ayles left the navy in 1885 and lived in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

for a few years, then moved to New Zealand. He lived in Carterton from 1893 to 1899, working as the town's librarian, before moving to

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

. He died suddenly in April 1912 while at his work tending the bowling green at the Rocky Nook Bowling Club in Auckland.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayles, Adam 1850 births 1912 deaths People from Dorset 19th-century Royal Navy personnel British military personnel of the Abyssinian War Explorers of the Arctic English polar explorers English emigrants to New Zealand