On April 15, 1922, the Quest arrived at Leith Harbour (WAP GBR-41), South Georgia, marking the effective end of the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition after Frank Wild attempted to continue following Sir Ernest Shackleton’s death on January 5. The crew, led by Wild, spent two weeks in South Georgia for repairs and to honor Shackleton, who was buried at Grytviken (WAP GBR-29) on March 5, 1922.
Despite Shackleton’s death, Frank Wild was determined to “carry on,” as he described in his diaries, trying to fulfill the expedition’s objectives. The ship returned to the island to rest, repair, and pay final respects to “The Boss”. While at Leith Harbour (WAP GBR-41) and Stromness (WAP GBR-NEW), the crew, including Leonard Hussey and Frank Worsley, erected a stone cairn with a wooden cross on Hope Point in memory of Shackleton.
The Quest eventually left South Georgia on May 8, 1922, heading back to England, arriving in Plymouth on September 16, 1922.
The Shackleton’s ‘Quest’ Expedition was later viewed as a significant, though truncated, expedition that collected important scientific and geological data in the South Atlantic.
The Antarctic Heritage Trust (https://www.facebook.com/Antarctic.Heritage.Trust) post on this day highlights the emotional end of the expedition and the crew’s dedication to honoring their fallen leader.