The Black Watch Regiment’s Musuem is in Perth, Scotland, housed in an old castle, Balhousie Castle, Hay Street.

In the castle/museum grounds are several memorials. The entrance gates are dedicated to the memory of General Wavell.

This is a generalised one of a bagpiper but in Second World War battledress I think:-

These are memorials to various other campaigns in which the Black Watch has taken part, most prominently here, Iraq:-

When I visited in April last year this Great War commemoration took up a prominent position:-

The museum itself is very interesting and took us longer to get round than we had anticipated. This cross – an original bettlefield one from the Great War – was in memory of Captain W D MacL Stewart, 2nd Lieut P R Husband and 44 NCOs and men of the 1st Battalion Black Watch, who all died on 20/9/1916.

As I recall this group of medals was awarded to Fergus Bowes-Lyon the brother of the late Queen Mother and who is commemorated on Glamis War Memorial:-

On a less sombre note the museum has an excellent cafe/restaurant in a modern building connected to the castle via the museum’s entrance and which is always very well patronised.

Before we reached the Edouard Suenson Memorial (previous post) we passed this old terraced housing on Storekongensgade. Note the lampshades attached to the building:-

This is Copenhagen City Hall, in Town Square (Radhuspladsen):-

Also on Radhuspladsen, Scandic Palace Hotel to right, with gold plaques of some sort where you might expect a clock face:-

Thorvaldsen’s Museum, on Vindebrogade:-

Penguins are a feature of Antarctic life.

Outside Discovery Point Dundee stand four penguin statues. The road is just behind here so not all the Discovery Point Museum building is in shot.

View from Museum. The new Dundee Railway Station building is across the road behind the penguins:-

Watercolour of “Penguins at Cape Crozier” painted by a member of the Discovery Expedition, Edward Wilson:-

As is the ships’s harmonium – also good for keeping up morale I should think. It’s behind glass so difficult to photograph. Its cast iron pedals say “mouse-proof” on them.

Brass struts:-

Salt boxes. The salt absorbed any water that entered between the inner and outer hull and between the frames, so helping preserve the timber:-

Panting beams plaque. These beams go from one side of the ship to the other, preventing the ship’s hull from flexing when under way and helped in resisting crushing by the ice:-

Equipment room:-

Store room:-

Gangway:-

Science cabin:-

Root of main mast:-

Mizzen mast:-

Chart room:-

Office:-

Engines:-

Plaque for the engines’ builders, Gourlay Brothers & Co Ltd:-

Due to the need for hull strength to withstand the crushing forces of the Antarctic ice, the RRS Discovery had no portholes. Instead internal illumination and ventilation were made possible by the use of mushroom vents in the deck. The crew nicknamed these ankle crushers as they presented obstacles to easy movement.

Mushroom vents:-

This deck structure also contains “portholes” pointing skywards:-

Steering wheel and binnacles:-

To the right above you can see the plaques denoting the location of the steering wheel, the binnacles and the ship’s cuddies.

Shipbuilders plaque. Dundee Shipbuilders, Panmure Yard:-

See previous posts on RRS Discovery here and here.

RRS Discovery Wardroom. Fairly sumptuously appointed:-

By contrast here’s the Mess room. The ‘men’ lived and slept here, in hammocks:-

Galley:-

Junior Officer’s Quarters. A grade or so up from the ‘men’ you’ll note:-

These do look reasonably comfortable – but they were apparently the coldest part of the ship and the mattresses could freeze under the sleeping officer:-

Senior Officer’s quarters, a bit less spartan:-

Shackleton’s Quarters weren’t quite so plush:-

Scott’s, though, seem very salubrious:-

In the Discovery Point Museum at Dundee are many fascinating exhibits. These few photos feature some about the ship itself.

Model of RRS Discovery:-

Cut away showing engines:-

Cut away showing hull construction and its reinforcing:-

Hull construction illustration. Three different woods, Green Heart Pitch Pine, English Oak and Riga Fir, build for strength and flexibility:-

RRS Discovery was Scott’s and Shackleton’s research ship in the Antarctic, now berthed at Dundee, centrepiece of a museum at Discovery Point, Dundee. New V&A in background:-

RRS Discovery viewed from left:-

RRS Discovery, bow section:-

Stern portion. Again V&A in background:-

Main mast:-

Mast and lifeboat:-