Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

People of the Expedition

Three explorers with huskies and a flag

Unlike some other contemporary expeditions, the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, led by William S Bruce on the exploration ship Scotia, used only a small number of dogs.

Two "huskies" (actually Siberian samoyeds) were brought from Scotland, and six sheepdogs were bought en route at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. One of the samoyeds and two of the sheepdogs are seen here. Later, after one death and three fatal accidents, only one samoyed and three sheepdogs remained.

The occasion depicted in the photograph is unspecified. But judging by the cairn and flag, it appears to mark a significant point in the exploratory survey of Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands, where the expedition had established a base.