Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

William Speirs Bruce, 1867-1921

Scientific staff and crew of the Princesse Alice

A chance encounter with the Prince of Monaco at Tromso in 1898, on the return of Andrew Coats' steam-yacht Blencathra to that port after a sporting trip in the Barents Sea, led to Dr. William Bruce's invitation to join the Prince's magnificent steel yacht Princesse Alice, not only on an immediate reconnaissance voyage, but also on a longer hydrographical survey expedition to Spitzbergen, planned for the following year.

In addition to Bruce, at least another two Scotsmen went on the expedition: W. Smith, an artist, and Wedderburn, the ship's harpooner.

This photograph shows the assembled scientific staff and crew of the yacht (including, unusually in those days, two female members), with the bearded Dr. Bruce on the extreme right-hand side.