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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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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22-31 August, 1921
Monday 22 August, 1921 Because of the enormous public and media curiosity, Quest moves from Hay’s Wharf to St Katharine Docks, where she can be more easily and safely viewed by the public. The Evening News reports a policeman on duty at Hay’s Wharf as saying “I shall be glad when the Quest goes away.…