Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

William Speirs Bruce, 1867-1921

Royal Geographical Society patron's medal presented to William S Bruce in 1910

The initial reaction of the Royal Geographical Society (of London) president Sir Clements Markham toward William S Bruce's proposed Scottish National Antarctic Expedition was one of furious hostility. Markham accused Bruce of "mischievous rivalry" with the contemporary British Expedition led by Captain Robert F Scott.

Markham later courteously apologised, and the Royal Geographical Society eventually formally recognised Bruce's achievements with the award, in 1910, of its patron's medal "for explorations in the Arctic and Antarctic".

The medal, made by Wyon of 2 Langham Chambers, London, bears the bas-relief image by Allan Wyon (H M Engraver of Seals) of King Edward VII (then patron of the Royal Geographical Society) on the obverse, and a classical female figure by W Wyon on the reverse.