[5] Sailing from London for the Southern Ocean on 17 September 1921, Quest reached South Georgia on 4 January 1922 while preparing to enter Antarctic waters.

The following night, Shackleton died aboard the vessel while she was at anchor in Grytviken, ending all prospects of the expedition's carrying out its original program of exploring the Antarctic coastline of Enderby Land.

[5] Led by Frank Wild, Quest carried out a desultory survey of the Weddell Sea area before returning to the South Atlantic.

She touched the Tristan da Cunha archipelago in early May,[6] and at Inaccessible Island, ornithologist Hubert Wilkins took type specimens of the grosbeak bunting.

The expedition returned to England in July 1922, having posted disappointing results that were attributed by author Roland Huntford both to replacement commander Wild's alcoholism[5] and deficiencies in Quest's performance in polar sea ice.

The ship's engine was weakly powered and caused continuous difficulties, and the vessel's straight stem made her unsuitable for use in icy seas.

[14][16] The team included shipwreck hunter David Mearns and lead researcher geographer Antoine Normandin; the explorer's granddaughter Hon.