Scott Polar Research Institute
Alias: None
Title: Mr
Dates: 1886-1947
Nationality: British, New Zealand
Awards: Polar Medal (bronze)
William Drummond Ansell was born on 14 November 1886 in Wimbledon. He joined the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-09 (Nimrod) at the age of 21, signing on in Poplar on 26 July 1907 as second steward. He took part in all four expedition voyages, from London to New Zealand, to the Antarctic and back twice, and back to London.
After the expedition, Ansell settled in Christchurch, New Zealand and married Ruth Robinson in 1912, following a port romance which had begun in Lyttelton immediately before the expedition first headed south. They had two daughters and two sons. Ansell later worked as a tram conductor in Christchurch, until his death on 30 June 1947.