The Quest Chronicle blog and its origins
In early 2021, it was suggested that I set up a blog to document the “100-years-ago” story of the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition as an unfolding diary. The blog launched in March 2021 and ran though the year up to January 4 2022, the eve of the centenary of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s death at South Georgia. By this time, I had decided that the story should be presented in a book and so transferred efforts to that cause – resulting in The Quest Chronicle being published in September 2022. This part of our website contains just some of the posts from the original blog.
Blog posts are listed below in reverse chronological order.
Jan Chojecki
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1-16 May 1921
Friday 6 May 1921 Despite all Shackleton’s efforts, the Canadian government have not committed their support. Seeking to force an outcome Shackleton cables the Prime Minister, Arthur Meighen: “Urgently awaiting your action. Please cable Government’s definite support and amount bearing in mind the Government’s Arctic Expedition would have cost approximately quarter million dollars” But the…
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April 1921 (ii)
Monday 18 April 1921 Shackleton returns from his latest trip to Canada, arriving at Southampton on RMS Aquitania. At this time, his home is at 14 Milnthorpe Road, Eastbourne, where Emily Shackleton is District Commissioner of the Eastbourne Girl Guides and their daughter Cecily (14) is at nearby Roedean School. Also today, Cecily Shackleton arrives…
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Early April 1921
On Saturday 2 April, Shackleton arrives in New York City on RMS Mauretania, to travel onwards to Canada, in another attempt to secure funding for the Arctic expedition. Quest is being refitted at the JI Thornycroft yards at Southampton. Work is slow because of ongoing strikes and so it is decided to retain the original…