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28 – 31 December, 1921
Wednesday 28 December, 1921 At 07.20, still in atrocious conditions, Quest heaves to and all hands take in the sail. Dell gets a foot caught in a rope and suffers a nasty injury. Oil bags are deployed to calm the water. Green heroically keeps serving food despite atrocious conditions, assisted by Naisbitt. Thursday 29 December,…
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24-27 December, 1921
Saturday 24 December, 1921 – Christmas Eve At 8 am, in 40 ft waves, with the engines still giving trouble, the ship is turned to head the storm and Shackleton orders the helm to be lashed. Oil-containing gunny bags are deployed to calm the seas. Everyone and everything is completely soaked. Carr is injured with…
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19 – 23 December 1921
Soon after leaving Rio, Shackleton complains of severe neuralgic pains in the chest and back but resists suggestions to return for medical treatment. He begins an ‘uncharacteristic practice’ of taking champagne in the mornings. Monday 19 December, 1921 Shackleton transmits via Rio: Our engines are running perfectly. There is a fair wind. All well and…
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16-18 December 1921 – Rio & South Georgia
Friday 16 December, 1921 Gerald Lysaght, “the General” to the Quest crew, is back in England after leaving the expedition at St Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands on 28 October. Today he arrives at Ely Place to spend the weekend with the Rowetts. In Rio de Janeiro, Shackleton swelters as final repairs are done…
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8-15 December 1921, Rio & South Georgia
Thursday 8 December, 1921 The Woodville, carrying Douglas and Wilkins reaches South Georgia and docks at Port Olav Harbour, the Lever Bros whaling station, with assistance from Captain Lars Andersen (“catch” manager). Once on shore they meet Mr B R Bostock (chemist and factory manager), Mr Evans (accountant and store manager) and Dr Matheson of…
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4-7 December 1921, Rio
Sunday 4 December, 1921 Sir Alfred Yarrow, the shipbuilding magnate, invites Shackleton to lunch at the Club Central this coming Wednesday, 7 December. Sir Alfred has only very recently arrived from England on RMSP Avon, which departed Southampton on 11 November. Yarrow has in the past built and supplied torpedo boats for the Brazilian Navy.…
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22-26 November 1921, Rio
Tuesday 22 November, 1921 After a beautiful sunrise, Quest arrives at Rio de Janeiro. Engineers from Messrs Wilson, Sons &Co come aboard to inspect the vessel. Most of the crew are billeted on shore. Wednesday 23 November, 1921 Sir John Tilley, British Ambassador, visits the Quest accompanied by the Brazil Minister for Marine and other…
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9-21 November, 1921
After the visit to St Paul’s Rocks on Tuesday 8 November, instead of heading to Cape Town as originally planned, Quest is now en route to Rio de Janeiro for further repairs. The engines are playing up again. Added to this, the top mast is giving concern, yielding excessively to the gaff rig. In his…
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8 November, 1921 – St Paul’s Rocks
Tuesday 8 November, 1921 Quest stops at St Paul’s Rocks, at the equator. Wilkins and Douglas make the most of the opportunity to investigate the rocks and wildlife. Wilkins is assisted by Marr and Dell, and Douglas by Hussey and Carr who also send up meteorological balloons. Wild, Macklin, Jeffrey and Eriksen man the landing…
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1-7 November, 1921
The Quest is now en route to Rio. The weather has become very warm and and conditions below deck are uncomfortable so the crew spend time whenever possible under shade on deck. Friday 4 November, 1921 At midday, Eriksen lands a 7ft 7” (2.3m) male dolphin. The ship is stopped for 10 minutes to bring…
