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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…
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26-31 October, 1921 – Cape Verde Islands
Wednesday 26 October, 1921 In the afternoon, Quest arrives at St Vincent, Cape Verde Islands and sets about coaling. Wilkins writes to his mother: “Owing to the ship being so much out of repair there is so much to do that it leaves us very little time for letter writing. We called at Madeira last…
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20-25 October, 1921
Thursday 20 October, 1921 Quest’s engines are knocking badly again. There is much debate as to what to do. Friday 21 October, 1921 8 am: Quest is passed by the Royal Mail ship RMSP Araguaya, a few hundred miles south of Madeira Wilkins writes in his diary: “The Boss came along and said that he…
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1-7 October, 1921
Saturday 1 October, 1921 With a gale getting up, Quest lays up with the engines stopped, but they are soon restarted to better ride the storm. Lysaght writes in his diary: “The seas were now mountainous and the biggest I had ever seen in either large or small vessels. The ship was riding them like…
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Plymouth, 23 September, 1921
Friday 23 September, 1921 Quest arrives at Plymouth and slowly crosses the Sound, pausing at Drake Island. She eventually ties up at the West Wharf of the Great Western Millbay Docks. 3.00 pm: Shackleton and John Rowett arrive at Plymouth by the Cornish Riviera Express and head directly to the ship. They are accompanied by…
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Saturday 17 September, 1921
Saturday 17 September, 1921 – the day of departure On the Quest, at St Katharine Docks, the Union Jack presented by The King and Queen is hoisted by Scouts Marr and Mooney, watched by John Quiller Rowett. At 12.30 the order is given for friends and visitors to disembark. At 1.00pm, Sir Ernest Shackleton, “The Boss”,…
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10-16 September, 1921
Saturday 10 September, 1921 Donald Maxwell, artist, author and yachting correspondent writes in The Graphic “The organisers of the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition are to be congratulated on their splendid spirit and enterprise. ……..to misquote from an old and popular song….They’ve got the ship, They’ve got the men, They’ve got the money too.” Monday 12 September, 1921…
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1-9 September, 1921
(Contrary to certain legend) Quest is well equipped with a wide range of the latest scientific equipment – particularly for meteorology, topographical and hydrographical surveying, biological specimen collection and geology. This in addition to modern navigational equipment and sounding gear, a (slightly dented!) Sperry Gyrocompass, Marconi wirelesses, photographic and “kinematography” equipment, a dark-room, a seaplane…
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17-21 August, 1921
Wednesday 17 August, 1921 The selection panel takes place at Scout Head Quarters at 25 Buckingham Palace Road, London, Shackleton is assisted in the selection process by Major Wade, Organising Secretary of the Scout Association, and Sir Percy Everett. Thursday 18 August, 1921 Shackleton selects two scouts to join the expedition, instead of one –…
