Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

People of the Expedition

The Scotia medal presented to Gilbert Kerr

After the safe return of the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, the master of the Scotia and the scientific staff all received medals from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

After an unsuccessful campaign of 15 years to have the British Polar Medal awarded to the members of his expedition, William S Bruce, on his own initiative, had special silver medals made by Alexander Kirkwood and Son, Medallists, of 9 St James Square, Edinburgh, and presented these to the members of the expedition "for valuable services".

This example is engraved with the name of laboratory assistant and expedition piper Gilbert Kerr - well known from his appearance in full Highland dress in the famous "Piper and the penguin" photograph.