James McIlroy was the Quest expedition’s surgeon and long-time friend and comrade of Ernest Shackleton. He was with Shackleton when he died suddenly at Grytviken harbour off South Georgia in the early hours of 5th January 1922.
The 'K2' compass – made by Henry Barrow (1790-1870), one of the finest scientific instrument makers of the 19th century. The connection to the second highest mountain in the world is to be found in the name engraved on the brass case - 'T. G. Montgomerie'. . .
'Orders have just arrived saying we are to go into the trenches for Xmas-Day which from my point of view is very disappointing, I had been hoping to spend it in billets. I should hate to be killed on Xmas-day it would not be right at all. It is freezing hard now’.
