absolute fav detail from michael smith’s crozier biography - in 1827 william parry and james ross set out on foot over the ice to see how far north they could get (the answer was NOT FAR, this was the time they tried to get reindeer to pull the sledges and it was a total fiasco) and they left crozier in charge of the ships while they were gone. he made his own trips north to plant supply caches along their planned route back, and he would leave extremely cute notes for ross with some of them:

Unlike the blithely optimistic Parry, Crozier had reservations about the difficult trek and knew the party faced a tougher journey than Parry was prepared to publicly admit. Crozier’s concerns were reflected in a letter to his friend Ross that he left behind in a food depot: “I cannot explain the mingled sensations I experienced the day I parted with you at Walden Isle. I did not think I was so soft (amiable weakness you must say). But I assure you my heart was in my mouth till I got on board. God bless you my boy and send you all back safe and sound by the appointed time is the constant prayer of your old messmate.”

and:

The food depots laid by Crozier following Parry’s departure proved to be vitally important for the survival of Parry and Ross. When the polar party stumbled into the depot at Little Table Island, the men had been on the march for over two days without proper food or rest. It was a grateful Ross who reported the discovery of ‘various little luxuries’ that had been deposited by Crozier. Ross also found a welcoming note from Crozier, which read: “I hope with the blessing of God you will find us right here on your arrival in due season. We think of you sometimes, always at dinner time. How much we would give just to know whereabouts you are, whether sailing or hauling. God send the former.”