Arthur Harry Blissett (21 January 1878 – c. 14 August 1955), was a Lance Corporal, Royal Marine who joined Captain Robert Falcon Scott on the Discovery expedition of 1901–1904.

By 1861[4] his father was a carter (servant) in the parish of Mere and by 1871[5] he was a police constable at Market Rasen, moving to Barrowby in Lincolnshire and by 1881 Rueben and Ann were married and had four of their six children, including Blissett.

His service throughout WWI was on board HMS Monarch, a 'super-dreadnought' in the Grand Fleet, based at Scapa Flow, the ship was present at the battle of Jutland, on 31 May 1916.

It closed as a naval establishment in 1968, and is now the St. Vincent 6th Form College, run by Hampshire County Council Education Authority.

Discovery, under the command of Robert Falcon Scott, left the Isle of Wight on 6 August 1901, stopping to refuel and restock at Lyttelton, New Zealand.

Computing the weight of what they had to man haul on sledges, the food they must consume to be able to do this, a diet to prevent scurvy[10] and other ailments, temperatures falling to well below -70°, sleeping in frozen tents, falls down crevices etc., skiing and walking in treacherous conditions, in thick cloud, blizzards and avalanches.

Trial sledge journeys were undertaken during January to March 1902, enabling the men to practise travelling techniques and get used to the conditions.

On 11 March 1902, a party returning from an attempted journey to Cape Crozier, Able Seaman George Vince was killed when he slid over the edge of a cliff, never to be seen again.

(1) Blissett set out in March 1902 on his first recorded Autumn Journey[1] man hauling sledge trains of up to a ton.

[11] Preparations were underway for the next season's work, observations were undertaken and leisure activities perused including amateur theatricals (performed in Discovery Hut[12]), educational lectures, football and publication of the South Polar Times.

6 days later, 29 miles from the ship, progress was delayed due to ill health and Cross and Blissett were left at the base of the Ferrar Glacier whilst the remainder pushed on up the valley hoping to find a new road into the interior of Victoria Land.

(2) 3 to 17 November 1902 Blissett journeyed with Plumley to Cape Crozier led by Royds (who hated the idea), taking provisions and food for 15 days.

Scott writes "Blissett has discovered an Emperor penguins egg, and his mess mates expect him to be knighted".

The following spring, two weeks after the sun's return, days were short and nights were long and cold and discomfort was intense,[24] Royd's party undertook further journeys to Cape Crozier to improve their knowledge of penguins.

(3) 7 September 1903 Royd returned to Cape Crozier embarking on the first spring journey with Edward Wilson, polar explorer, ornithologist, natural historian, physician and artist), Blissett, Cross, Whitfield and Williamson.

[25] The men were left exhausted due to irregular sleeping patterns, hard work and temperatures dropping to -62°.

The party succeeded in finding several eggs and took two chicks safely back to Discovery for observation, despite capsizing the 11-foot sledge.

Wilson (who acted as junior surgeon, zoologist and expedition artist) started a series of sketches in the South Polar Times which still continue to fascinate nature lovers[27] 9 September 1903 Scott embarked on journey to find new road over Ferrar Glacier.