Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

People of the Expedition

Bill Smith, the cook on the Scotia expedition

William (Bill) Smith was a cook on the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition. When the main party embarked on its homeward voyage, Smith, along with meteorologist Robert C Mossman, remained at Omond House on Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands for a further year in the company of three Argentinian meteorologists.

A typical day's diet there might have been: breakfast of porridge and penguin eggs, with bacon on Wednesdays and Thursdays and coffee or cocoa week about. Lunch of eggs with bully beef or bread and cheese and tea. Dinner of penguin "hare soup", then stewed penguin, with some farinaceous pudding or preserved fruit to follow.

Smith's substantial physique is a good advertisement for the value of his own work.