In January 1912 Captain Scott and a small party of men arrived at the South Pole. Unfortunately the team of five perished in extremely bad weather conditions ~ which lasted for days ~ on their return journey. Edgar Evans and Oates were the first to perish ~ Scott, Bowers and Wilson were unable to leave their tent during the raging blizzard. Scott's last diary entry is dated March 29th. Their bodies were found by a search party some nine months later.
Bowers had taken party in several earlier Antarctic expeditions and was a very experienced. A letter by Scott to Bowers's mother was recoverd from the tent which summarizes him well ~ "I write when we are very near the end of our journey, and I am finishing it in company with two gallant, noble gentlemen. One of these is your son. He had come to be one of my closest and soundest friends, and I appreciate his wonderful upright nature, his ability and energy. As the troubles have thickened his dauntless spirit ever shone brighter and he has remained cheerful, hopeful, and indomitable to the end."