# Tom Crean — The Worst Journey in the World character guide

> Tom Crean in The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Crean, Poor Crean, Bones, Crean with Bones

**First appearance:** 0003-the-worst-journey-in-the-world

## Snapshot

Irish seaman whose strength and cheerfulness made him a mainstay of the sledging parties, and whose endurance became the stuff of expedition legend.

## Who they are

Crean hauled with the ponies and later with the man-hauling teams, one of those steady, uncomplaining figures on whom the whole southern journey quietly depended. He was the sort of man who could be relied on to keep going when the rations thinned and the temperatures dropped, and Cherry writes of him with the affection reserved for the truly dependable. His presence matters because the middle of the story is built from the grind of these supporting men, whose labour made the polar dash possible at all.

## In the story

### [II: Making Our Easting Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/ii-making-our-easting-down)

Crean volunteers to go aloft alone to free a jammed yard during the squall, but permission is refused.

### [The Depot Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/v-the-depot-journey)

Narrates his escape from the ice floes to the Barrier using a ski stick; described as 'pretty lively' during the ordeal.

### [The Return of the Dog Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/the-return-of-the-dog-party)

Helps hold the rescued horse on the Barrier during the pony rescue.

### [XI: The Polar Journey (Continued)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/xi-the-polar-journey-continued)

Crean was also sent back with the last supporting party on January 4.

### [III: The Plateau from Mount Darwin to Lat. 87° 2′ S.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/iii-the-plateau-from-mount-darwin-to-lat-87-2-s)

Part of the supporting party that turns back with Teddy Evans and Lashly.

### [The Polar Journey (Continued)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/xii-the-polar-journey-continued)

Member of the Last Supporting Party; became snow-blind while leading, forcing Lashly to take over the lead.

### [Returning Parties](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/iv-returning-parties)

Crean suffers snow-blindness during the return, and later makes a heroic solo march of 30+ hours to reach Hut Point for help.

### [XIII: Suspense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/xiii-suspense)

Makes a heroic 35-mile solitary walk to save Teddy Evans; later returns to Cape Evans.

### [XVI: The Search Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/xvi-the-search-journey)

Member of the mule party, participates in the search journey.

### [The Pole and After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/chapters/v-the-pole-and-after)

Part of the last supporting party; was half in tears when saying goodbye to the polar party.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/characters/crean
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worst_journey_in_the_world_se/characters