Koettlitz, Reginald, 1860-1916

Reginald Koettlitz was born on 23 December 1861. Of German extraction, he trained at Guy's Hospital and went into practice as a physician in Dover. In 1894 he volunteered as surgeon for the Jackson-Harmsworth Arctic Expedition, 1894-1897 (leader Frederick George Jackson) to Franz Josef Land and spent nearly three years in the Arctic Circle. Sledging expeditions were undertaken and the expedition met the Norwegian North Polar Expedition, 1893-1896 (leader Fridtjof Nansen) on 17 June 1896.

His experience gained him a place on the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) where he doubled the role of senior surgeon with that of bacteriologist. He took part in several sledging expeditions, including an attempt on Cape Crozier in March 1902.

After the expedition he returned to his practice in Dover but failed to settle down, and in 1911 emigrated to South Africa. He and his wife died of influenza within a few days of each other at Port Elizabeth in 1916.

From the guide to the Reginald Koettlitz collection, 1894 - 1903, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)