Shackleton’s
Rise to
Fame
Journey to
South Georgia
The Ship
The Crew
Death
of Shackleton
The Quest
Continues
The Quest
Returns
End of the
Heroic Era
Reflections
of Shackleton
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The Ship

Quest on the Thames, passing the Billingsgate Fish Market, London Image ©SPRI
Quest on the Thames, passing the Billingsgate Fish Market, London
Image ©SPRI

‘Apart from her white crow’s nest and exceptionally large bridge, there is little to distinguish the vessel… but the romance of her mission and the fame of her chief, Sir Ernest Shackleton, invested the Quest with a glory of her own.’

Leeds Mercury, 17 August 1921

Quest was launched in 1917 in Norway and originally named Foca I. She was a small, two-masted wooden schooner of 205 tons, purchased by Shackleton for the expedition and renamed Quest at the suggestion of Lady Shackleton.

The ship was small, poorly fitted and reckoned exceedingly uncomfortable by those who sailed in her. She rolled significantly, making even cooking and eating extremely difficult. Built for Arctic waters, she had a 125-horsepower steam engine and a reinforced bow sheathed in steel but needed extensive refitting for the Antarctic pack-ice. Modifications included a new crow’s nest, an enclosed bridge and with eighteen men on board, the addition of an extra deckhouse was much needed.


The ship sailed with Kipling’s inspirational poem ‘If’ on a brass plate placed on the bridge, affirming Shackleton’s motivation and motto for life.
Adaptation of Kipling's ‘If’ poem, signed by the officers of the Quest. Shackleton gave a copy of the original poem to each of the crew. Image ©Royal Museums Greenwich
Adaptation of Kipling's ‘If’ poem, signed by the officers of the Quest . Shackleton gave a copy of the original poem to each of the crew
Image ©Royal Museums Greenwich
R.S.Y Quest Leaving St Katharine Docks September 18, 1921
R.S.Y Quest Leaving St Katharine Docks September 18, 1921
Print of watercolour painting of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Quest. Shackleton was elected to the Royal Yacht Squadron, an honour that entitled Quest to fly the white ensign. South Georgia Museum.1995.6.216
Print of watercolour painting of Quest
Scale model of Quest A scale model made by crewmember James Dell. A schooner-rigged steamship. Digital loan from the Scott Polar Research Institute.
Digital Loan: Scale model of Quest
A brass clock, given to Shackleton at the outset of the Quest Expedition and sat in his cabin. It is engraved ‘To the Boss from the Boys’. On loan from the Scott Polar Research Institute. Pop-up link to SPRI Catalogue
Digital Loan: Brass clock from Quest
The deck plan and equipment of Quest.
The deck plan and equipment of Quest

Equipment of the Quest

Shackleton was keen for his ship to utilise the latest technological equipment including the latest wireless equipment and an instrument for measuring a ship’s course called an odograph. Most radical was the plan to take a small Avro ‘baby’ sea plane. As Shackleton stated in his official proposal, a plane was ‘a powerful help to the modern oceanographic expedition’. However, a change of Quest’s route meant that vital parts were never retrieved from storage in Cape Town and the aircraft was never deployed.

The deck plan and equipment of Quest. Scientific American Jan 1922
The deck plan and equipment of Quest
Scientific American Jan 1922
Detailed illustration of the Avro ‘baby’ sea plane Image courtesy of Rowett-Chojecki Family Collection
Detailed illustration of the Avro ‘baby’ sea plane
Image courtesy of Rowett-Chojecki Family Collection

Australian aviator and Quest crew member, Hubert Wilkins, later became one of the first men to carry out aerial explorations of Antarctica in 1928.

There was much public interest in the equipment and living arrangements of the crew, with many newspaper reports commenting on their kit and food provisions, including rumours of taking edible candles.

‘The eatables for the journey include such things as about three tons of flour, two or three tons of biscuits, and large quantities of sugar and tea.’    The Scotsman August 1921

The Graphic – Equipment’s of the Quest
Equipment’s of the Quest
Image © The Graphic

‘Sir Ernest and his party will use no other soap than Pears on the voyage. Indeed every toilet article on the Quest has been supplied by Pears.’ The Graphic, September 24, 1921

Bite oft the Light - Toffee Ad - The Sketch Oct 1921_1000px
Bite oft the Light Toffee
Image © The Sketch
‘Wireless operator, Harold Watts tucking into the ‘well know delights of Sharp’s Super-Kreem Toffee.’
The Sketch, October 12, 1921

‘Her berths for the most part are fitted with spring mattresses, and electric light is installed throughout. The kitchen —the most compact little place imaginable—and the cook’s cabin back on to one another.’  The Scotsman August 1921

Letter from Shackleton (on behalf of the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition) to Berry’s Electric Ltd., 85 Newman Street, London. Dated 15 September 1921. South Georgia Museum.2007.1
Letter signed by Shackleton
Berry’s Magicoal electric fire advertisement (Image courtesy of Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History
Berry’s Magicoal electric fire advertisement
Image courtesy of Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History

The Quest Crow's Nest

Quest was built as a sealer in Norway in 1917, bought for Shackleton’s last Antarctic expedition and taken to Southampton for refitting to prepare for the expedition. A large new deckhouse was added including several cabins; one of these was allocated as Shackleton’s. A second addition was a lookout barrel or crow’s nest. Constructed like a normal wooden barrel it was secured at the top of the main mast by two iron hoops. This was the highest point on the ship and afforded the best view to spot icebergs and hazards when in polar seas. Shackleton was keen to try new technologies and had the crow’s nest fitted with an electric heater.

After the expedition, Quest was sold to a Norwegian ship-owner, returned to Norway for a re-fit in 1924 and used once again for sealing. The Quest crow’s nest and deckhouse were removed and taken ashore. The crow’s nest became the property of Reverend Philip Clayton of All Hallows by the Tower where it remains today.

The Quest crow's nest in the crypt of All Hallows by the Tower Image courtesy of South Georgia Museum archives
Digital Loan: The Quest crow's nest on display in the crypt of All Hallows by the Tower
A close up of the plaque attached to the Quest crow's nest

Interactive 3D model of the Quest Crow's Nest

The Quest crow’s nest is being loaned to the South Georgia Museum to be on display as part of the ‘Shackleton’s Last Quest’ exhibition on the island of South Georgia. Here you can explore the object.
(The 3D model may take a few moments to load.)

Shackleton's Crow's Nest by artfletch on Sketchfab

Next Chapter: The Crew