Photograph of Henry Robertson 'Birdie' Bowers (1883-1912) standing in full length wearing a hat, waterproof and furry gloves. Taken against an expanse of ice. Henry Robertson Bowers, born in Greenock, western Scotland, was serving in the Royal Indian Marine Service before he joined Scott’s expedition. Initially Scott was unimpressed by him, but he soon came to value Bowers’ capacity for hard work, organisation and general cheerfulness. He was the surprise ’fifth man’ in the Polar Party, all previous calculations having been made for four men.