The 1819–1820 Arctic expedition under William Edward Parry was a turning point in polar exploration. HMS Hecla and HMS Griper, commanded respectively by Parry and Matthew Liddon, were tasked with advancing westward through Lancaster Sound in search of the North-West Passage. The voyage was remarkable not only for its geographical achievement but for the difficulties endured and overcome.
The Griper, a Bold-class gun-brig of just 180 tons, was ill-suited to Arctic service. She was slow under sail, rolled heavily in rough seas, and carried limited provisions. Liddon’s crew faced repeated challenges: storms in Baffin Bay nearly overwhelmed the vessel, ice floes threatened to crush her hull, and her shallow draught made steering difficult in strong currents. At one point, the Griper lagged so far behind the Hecla that Parry feared she would be lost altogether.
These difficulties were met with practical measures. Liddon enforced strict discipline in sail-handling and ballast management to steady the ship. When gales threatened to drive the Griper onto rocks, the crew lightened her by throwing stores overboard. In heavy ice, men were sent onto the floes with saws and picks to cut channels, allowing the brig to inch forward. Cooperation between the two ships was vital: the Hecla often towed the Griper through dangerous passages, and supplies were shared to keep both crews provisioned.
Once the expedition reached Melville Island, the challenge shifted to survival through the Arctic winter. Temperatures fell below –40°C, and the ships were frozen into Winter Harbour. Liddon’s men cut trenches in the ice to relieve pressure on the hull, erected snow walls for insulation, and relied on preserved food supplemented by hunting. To combat scurvy, Parry and Liddon enforced daily rations of lemon juice, a measure that proved effective. The crews also maintained morale through organised activities: theatrical performances, lectures, and even a newspaper were produced during the long darkness.
Despite the Griper’s limitations, Liddon’s seamanship ensured she remained serviceable throughout the voyage. When the thaw came, both ships broke free and returned safely to Britain. The expedition had advanced further west than any previous attempt, proving that sustained navigation and overwintering in the Arctic was possible. In recognition of his contribution, an island off Melville Island was named Liddon Island.
Liddon’s difficulties were constant: a fragile vessel, hostile seas, and the threat of disease and despair. Yet through discipline, ingenuity, and cooperation, he and his crew overcame them. His memorial in St Andrew’s Church, Colyton, records not only his naval service but his part in one of the earliest successful Arctic expeditions, linking Devon to the history of exploration in the polar seas.
