{{Short description|English sailor (1885–1972)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox military person |width_style = animal |name = Walter How |birth_name = Walter Ernest How |birth_date = {{birth date|1885|12|25|df=y}} |birth_place = [[Bermondsey]], London, England |death_date = {{death date and age|1972|08|05|1885|12|25|df=y}} |death_place = London, England |allegiance = {{flagu|United Kingdom}} |branch_label = Branch |branch = [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|British Merchant Navy]] |rank = Able seaman |battles_label = Expeditions |battles = [[Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition|Imperial Trans-Antarctic]] }}
'''Walter Ernest How''' (25 December 1885 – 5 August 1972) was an English sailor, known for taking part in the [[Ernest Shackleton]]-led [[Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition]] from 1914 to 1917.
Born in [[Bermondsey]], London, he became a sailor when he was 12 years old.<ref>{{cite web|title = Endurance Obituaries - Walter Ernest How|url = http://www.enduranceobituaries.co.uk/how.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130310000551/http://www.enduranceobituaries.co.uk/how.htm|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2013-03-10}}</ref> He married Helen Varey in 1913, and his first daughter was born only six weeks before his departure on the {{ship||Endurance|1912 ship|2}}.
When the ''Endurance'' made a stop at [[Buenos Aires]] ''en route'' to the [[Antarctica]], How, along with [[William Lincoln Bakewell|William Bakewell]], helped smuggle [[Perce Blackborow]] on board as a stowaway.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/biography/how_walter.php|title=Walter Ernest How – (1885–1972) – Biographical notes|website = Cool Antarctica|accessdate = 2019-04-16|df = dmy-all}}</ref> After the ''Endurance'' sank, trapped in the sea ice around [[Antarctica]], How was forced to survive upon the icebergs along with the rest of the crew. When they later used the three wooden lifeboats to row to [[Elephant Island]], How was in the ''Stancomb Wills''.
On return to England after their eventual rescue, How was awarded the [[Polar Medal]] and joined the [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]] during the [[Great War]].
== Footnotes == {{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Polar exploration}} {{Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:How, Walter}} [[Category:1885 births]] [[Category:1972 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century English explorers]] [[Category:Sailors from London]] [[Category:Personnel of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition]] [[Category:British explorers of Antarctica]] [[Category:People from Bermondsey]] [[Category:Recipients of the Polar Medal]]