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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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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18-21 September, 1921 – Gravesend to Sheerness
Sunday 18 September, 1921 Off Gravesend during the night of 17/18 September, Quest drags her anchor and collides with a nearby Thames barge. Little damage is caused but it is decided to put in at the dockyard at Sheerness for repairs. In the evening, the inaugural concert of The Adair Wounded Fund, founded by Alan…
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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”,…