Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

William Speirs Bruce, 1867-1921

Gold medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, presented to William S Bruce in 1904

In 1904, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society recognised the achievements of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition by awarding this gold medal to William S Bruce, the expedition's organiser and leader. The RSGS President, Sir John Murray, presented it to Bruce at Millport, on Great Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde, on his return from the Antarctic.

In the same year the RSGS silver medal was awarded to Captain Thomas Robertson, master of the Scotia. In 1905 Robert C Mossman, the expedition meteorologist, also received the silver medal.

Bronze medals were awarded to the remaining scientific staff: David W Wilton (zoologist), Robert N Rudmose Brown (botanist), John H Harvey Pirie (surgeon and geologist), William A Cuthbertson (artist) and Alastair Ross (taxidermist).