Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

The Ship

Newspaper cutting concerning the voyage of the Scotia

This cutting from the Westminster Gazette of 3 July 1902 shows the preparations taking place for the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition organised and led by William S Bruce.

In particular, the progress of fitting out of the Scotia at the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company's yard in Troon, Ayrshire, is covered in some detail. The fitting out of the former Norwegian whaler Hekla was done to the designs of George L Watson.

The planned itinerary was not adhered to quite as reported, in that the push southwards from the Sandwich Group did not proceed immediately from the Falklands but as part of a later voyage from the expedition's winter base on Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands.