Eight shipmates from the Endurance Expedition signed up, keen to return to polar waters, forming the core of the expedition. There were thousands of applicants for the remaining places; such was Shackleton’s fame by now.
Very rough weather was experienced in the Bay of Biscay along with a ’nasty knock’ in the engine, forcing a detour to Lisbon then Madeira. Here photographer John Mason and Scout Mooney, who had been overcome by seasickness, had to leave the expedition.