By Kirsty Gilchrist
The Scottish Maritime Museum holds several records related to the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (SNAE), which took place from 1902 to 1904. Led by naturalist and polar scientist William Speirs Bruce, the SNAE is often overlooked due to the British Discovery expedition occurring in the same period. [1] However, the Scottish expedition had a lasting impact despite its lack of official recognition in the form of medals or honours for the Scottish and South American crew involved. [Crew List – Appendix 1]
During his planning process for the expedition, Bruce purchased the Norwegian barque Helka, originally built in 1872 for the whaling industry, and changes were made to convert the ship into a suitable research vessel. [2] This reinforcement work was completed on the renamed Scotia at Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. in Troon in 1902, and ensured that the ship could withstand the pressure of being frozen in. [3]
The assembled crew of scientific researchers and Scottish seamen then started their journey, leaving Troon on the 2nd of November 1902 around 11am. We can gain insight on the journey from a record in the Scottish Maritime Museum collection – a diary written by crew member John Stuart MacMurchie who detailed his experience daily in short entries addressed to his wife. These diaries have been digitised and transcribed to improve accessibility. In this extract, on the 31st of December 1902, MacMurchie writes an entry about the New Year celebrations on board the Scotia, stating:
‘Oh what a noise, bell ringing and whistle blowing and tin cans beating and shouting and shaking hands and good wishes to all at home and may we all be spared to see many more of them. We know there is many a one thinking of their absent friends at sea & we are not forgotten…Happy New Years to you Wifie & Baby Georgie from Dada.’ [4]
First heading for Dublin, the Scotia was accompanied by the Watson designed yacht Glennifer as they left Troon. The Glennifer reached Dún Laoghaire Harbour first, with the Scotia arriving later on the 3rd of November, around 3pm. Whilst sheltering from the heavy winds the crew were visited by many locals, including representatives from the Dublin branch of the Geographical Society who were ‘highly pleased with everything on board.’ [5] The crew also received a gift of two porter casks from Guinness while they were windbound in the harbour. [6]
The Scottish Maritime Museum also has some photographs taken by the SNAE crew when they eventually reached Antarctica in our collection. These photographs of the crew with animals such as penguins and Weddell seals are included in a small nature book published in 1907, Life in the Antarctic, with the relevant photographer named on each page. [Appendix 2] The introduction to the book states that many of the mammals and birds shown had never been photographed before this expedition and makes note of the difficult environmental conditions under which these photographs were taken and preserved. This small book is a significant record of Scottish maritime expedition that captures the landscape of Antarctica in a specific moment in history. Follow this link to learn about the dramatic changes in Antarctica as a result of the climate crisis.
The museum collection also contains records of the Scotia returning to Scotland in 1904. Photographs of the ship arriving in Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae show the vessel still in good condition after the two-year expedition. [Appendix 3]
A later Antarctic expedition led by Ernest Shackleton is currently being explored at the Scottish Maritime Museum through a new exhibition by Italian artist Paola Folicaldi Suh. The exhibition Fortitudo, running from the 27th of September 2025 until the 18th of January 2026, highlights the perseverance needed to survive at the time of these early twentieth century polar expeditions.
Sources for further information
Scott Polar Research Institute: Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge » Picture Library catalogue
Royal Scottish Geographical Society: William Speirs Bruce and the Scotia | The Royal Scottish Geographical Society
Climate Crisis in Antarctica: https://www.asoc.org/campaign/climate-crisis-in-antarctica/
[Appendix 1]
Scotia Crew
| Name: Surname, Forename (Age) | Role | From | Address at time of Expedition |
| Anderson, Henry (26) | Able Seaman | Dundee | 4 Parker’s Court, Dundee |
| Davidson, Robert (40) | Second mate and ice master | Peterhead | 8 Graham Place, Dundee |
| Duncan, Alexander (29) | Fireman | Peterhead | 1 Constitution Street, Peterhead |
| Fitchie, John (53) | Promoted from 3rd to 1st mate | Dundee | 237 Blackness Road, Dundee |
| Florence, Edwin | Chief cook, promoted to 1st steward | Peterhead | 22 Queen Street, Peterhead |
| Gravill, Henry (28) | 2nd engineer, promoted to chief engineer | Dundee | 93 Arbroath Road, Dundee |
| Grieg, Andrew (22) | Able seaman | Tayport | Dalgleish Street, Tayport, Fife |
| Haymes, Carlos | Chief engineer | Uruguay | Unknown |
| Kerr, Gilbert | Ordinary seaman, lab assistant, piper | Pennicuick | 241 Causeway, Edinburgh |
| Low, David (42) | Fireman | Peterhead | Constitution Street, Peterhead |
| MacMurchie, John (28) | Able seaman | Dundee | 17 Laurimer Street, Dundee |
| Mackenzie, Thomas (38) | Chief steward (discharged sick in Buenos Aires, January 1904) | New Zealand | 20 West Princess Street, Rothesay |
| Mackenzie, Robert (23) | Able seaman (discharged for misconduct in Buenos Aires, January 1904) | Dundee | 29 Wellgate, Dundee |
| Mackenzie, James (23) | Able seaman | Dundee | 59 Wellgate, Dundee |
| Martin, William Adams (29) | Able seaman, scientific staff | Dundee | 42 Step Road, Dundee |
| McDougall, James (37) | 3rd mate and boatswain | Peterhead | 145 Princess Street, Dundee |
| Murray, William (30) | 2nd cook, promoted to chief cook | Peterhead | Stirling Village, Boddam, Aberdeenshire |
| Patrick, David (38) | Boatswain and quarryman (joined in Buenos Aires, January 1903) | Britain | 10 Church Street, Dundee |
| Ramsay, Alan (25) | 1st engineer (died on board Scotia, 6th August 1903) | Dundee | 6 Wellington Street, Dundee |
| Rice, James (42) | Carpenter | Troon | East Union Street, Troon |
| Robertson, Alexander (46) | Able seaman | Peterhead | 1 Caith Street, Peterhead |
| Robertson, Thomas (48) | Captain | Unknown | Unknown |
| Smith, James (26) | Carpenter’s mate | Dundee | 1 Middle Street, Dundee |
| Smith, John (26) | Ordinary seaman | Lerwick | East Wharf, Shetland |
| Smith, William (42) | 2nd steward | Aberdeen | 2 St. Matthew Street, Dundee |
| Thomas, Bryce Allan (28) | 1st mate (left at Stanley, Falkland Islands) | Tobermory | Alva Villa, Tobermory |
| Walker, Alexander John (28) | Able seaman, skinman and lampman | Peterhead | 13 Sea Gate, Peterhead |
| Wilson, Robert, (22) | Fireman and blacksmith | Glasgow | 11 Armour Street, Kilmarnock |
Scotia Scientific Staff
| Name: Surname, Forename | Role | Address at the time of Expedition |
| Bruce, William Speirs | Expedition leader | 2 Milton Road, Joppa |
| Brown, Robert Neal Rudmose | Botanist | 52 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen |
| Cuthbertson, William | Artist | Unknown |
| Harvey-Pirie, John H. | Scientist | Unknown |
| Mossman, Robert Cockburn | Scientist | Unknown |
| Ross, Alastair | Taxidermist | Unknown |
| Wilton, David W. | Scientist | Unknown |
[Appendix 2]
[Appendix 3]
References
[1]Medals awarded to the personnel of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, 1902–1904 [2]https://web.archive.org/web/20190803064533/http://www.lardex.net/andersmarcussen/skipstekst/1900hekla.htm [3]https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/library/files/special/exhibns/month/apr2004.html [4] 2013-006(001) MacMurchie Diary Vol. 1, © Scottish Maritime Museum. [5] Ibid. [6] Ibid.
Appendices
[Appendix 1] Scotia crew list <https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/antarctic_whos_who_scotia.php> [Appendix 2] 2024-003(3) Life in the Antarctic, © Scottish Maritime Museum. [Appendix 3] 2006-381, 2006-382 & 2006-383 Photographs of SS Scotia return to Scotland (1904), © Scottish Maritime Museum.
