Quest for legacy: from original Antarctic adventure to a call for new explorers

“Complete hourly observations while on ship.

Take evidence of rainfall, prevalent winds and take continuous records of temperatures and pressure by self-recording instruments.

Make a study of upper air currents by pilot balloons; this is of vital importance to the advancement of aviation.

Make a study of temperatures and pressures at higher levels to enquire into the possible existence of currents similar to ocean currents which will be of use in the formation of air routes.

Arrange general cooperations with meteorological bureaus of Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and U.S.A.

Determine suitable place for the erection of more or less permanent meteorological stations [throughout ocean areas of the Southern Hemisphere] in connection with these Governments.”

So wrote the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton in his early plans for what would become the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition of 1921-22, aboard the converted Norwegian sealer, Quest. The principle of scientific research for social and economic benefit was enthusiastically endorsed by the expedition’s financer, the businessman John Quiller Rowett, Shackleton’s school friend. No intentions of repeating Shackleton’s previous attempts to reach the Pole or cross the Antarctic Continent, Shackleton described this voyage as to be his “swansong”.  In fact, he would die of a heart attack on board Quest soon after reaching the island of South Georgia in January 1922, aged 47. The expedition was in due course recalled by Rowett and never fulfilled all of its scientific and technical ambitions.

Nonetheless, meteorology was a high priority for Quest.  A recent drought in South Africa had been extremely costly and was fresh in the memory. The arrival of wireless radiocommunication and the recognition of the polar regions as major influencers of global weather meant that solutions to weather prediction, particularly for farming, were now within reach, if only the monitoring and communications networks could be established in the empty and uninhabited sub-polar regions of the globe. Quest was furnished with all kinds of “instruments and equipment necessary for meteorological observations” and was appointed as an official reporting ship of the Meteorological Office. The bridge was furnished with a “meteorological screen with barograph, thermograph, dry and wet bulbs etc”.

When preparing Quest, in a successful move to attract global publicity, through a nationwide competition Shackleton appointed two Scouts to join the crew — James Marr from Aberdeen and Norman Mooney, from Orkney. Mooney was sent home early with seasickness, but Marr went on to play a full role. 

Each of Quest’s 19 crewmen had a specialist role in addition to routine ship’s duties. Shackleton in his wisdom appointed Leonard Hussey — a part-qualified doctor — as the expedition’s meteorologist, and most of the crew joined in in one way or another with the meteorological recordings. These proved extremely challenging in the rough conditions that the 125-foot, shallow-drafted Quest regularly found herself in the open oceans. For instance, launching kites and pilot balloons was difficult and keeping track of their positions with binoculars on a rolling deck was all but impossible.

After Shackleton’s death, the Quest continued for some months carrying out research and recordings on South Georgia and into the Weddell Sea, reaching 100 miles from the coast of Antarctica before retreating from the ice pack. Investigations covered not only meteorology but also depth soundings (key sea-charting data), magnetic recordings (vital for navigation), biological specimen collection, and geological surveys. 

After the expedition, Quest returned to sealing and eventually sank in 1962, in the Labrador Sea. In June 2024, her wreck was found by a team from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. 

Although Quest’s ambitions were curtailed by Shackleton’s death, James Marr, the Scout, was inspired to a career in science and exploration. He joined and even led several more polar expeditions. He commanded the secret 1943 British Operation Tabarin to establish permanent bases in Antarctica. This and subsequent initiatives led to what is now the British Antarctic Survey. Marr’s special expertise was the biology of krill — the hugely important indicator species — and his foundational work on the topic was published in 1968, three years after his death.

A new foundation – inspiring youth polar projects

In 2022, a group of Scouts from Kent and Scotland undertook the ReQuest2021 project, travelling to Antarctica and marking the centenary of James Marr’s involvement in the Quest expedition.

As a specific legacy objective from ReQuest2021, a new charity — the ReQuest Foundation — has been established and becomes fully operational in 2025.  ReQuest will provide financial and in-kind support to young adults aged 16-24 to engage in polar-related projects of all kinds. The Foundation has a wide and growing network of partners and project mentors and is keen to welcome new supporters and project collaborators. 

Applications for funding and support are invited, and further details can be found at the ReQuest Foundation website. 

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Images: All Quest expedition images are from the Chojecki-Rowett Collection, unless otherwise indicated

About the author

Jan Chojecki is the grandson of John Quiller Rowett, Shackleton’s friend and the backer of the Shackleton-Rowett (Quest) Expedition. 

Jan is the author of The Quest Chronicle – The Story of the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition (2022) and We Are All Flourishing – The Letters and Diary of Captain Walter J J Coats MC (2016).  

Walter was Jan’s great uncle, who served with the Glasgow Highlanders throughout WW1. 

Jan is a bioscientist by training and is a Trustee of the ReQuest Foundation.