 Bruce , and those close to him , blamed Markham for this omission . The matter was raised , repeatedly , with anyone thought to have influence . Robert Rudmose Brown , chronicler of the Scotia voyage and later Bruce 's first biographer , wrote in a 1913 letter to the President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society that this neglect was " a slight to Scotland and to Scottish endeavour " . Bruce wrote in March 1915 to the President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh , who agreed in his reply that " Markham had much to answer for " . After Markham 's death in 1916 Bruce sent a long letter to his Member of Parliament , Charles Price , detailing Sir Clements 's malice towards him and the Scottish expedition , ending with a heartfelt cry on behalf of his old comrades : " Robertson is dying without his well won white ribbon ! The Mate is dead ! ! The Chief Engineer is dead ! ! ! Everyone as good men as have ever served on any Polar Expedition , yet they did not receive the white ribbon . " No action followed this plea . 
