Frank Stillwell was the leader of this small group that was assigned the task of mapping the coastline between the expedition's base at Commonwealth Bay and the Mertz Glacier Tongue. Initially his party consisted of John Close and AJ Hodgeman and they acted in support of the two other eastern parties before returning to base in late November to refresh supplies. When they took to the field again on 9 December Charles Laseron replaced Hodgeman.

Mawson maximized the work of his expedition by dividing his men into a number of smaller parties for the summer sledging season. These consisted of the Southern party led by R Bage, with Webb and Hurley. This party specialised in magnetic observations and would endeavour to reach the South Magnetic Pole. A support party which included Charles Laseron accompanied them as far as possible with extra supplies, and then returned to base.

A western party consisting of Bickerton, Hodgeman and Whetter would use the air tractor sledge and traverse the coastal ranges west of the base. The air-tractor sledge was the remains of the aircraft which Mawson had intended to take south with him. An accident during a fund raising flight in Adelaide damaged the aircraft, but the intact fuselage was taken south and used as a powered sledge, with limited success.

There were three eastern parties: the near eastern party with Stillwell is referred to above; the eastern coastal party led by CT Madigan explored the coastline beyond the Mertz Glacier Tongue and lastly the far eastern party consisting of Mawson, Xavier Mertz and Belgrave Ninnis. Equipped with the dog teams they would explore as far east as possible, beyond the reach of Madigan's party.

Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914

Mawson, Douglas, Sir, The home of the blizzard: the story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Kent Town, S. Aust.: Wakefield Press, 1996

Ayres, Philip J Mawson: a life Carlton South, Vic.: Miegunyah Press: Melbourne University Press, 1999