Scott's Medals
In 1901, Scott was made Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, a dynastic order of knighthood established by Queen Victoria in 1896. The order recognizes distinguished personal service to the British monarch. He would also earn the first, renamed British Polar Medal with two clasps, one for each expedition. The Polar Medal was established in 1904 to recognize outstanding achievements in the field of polar research.
Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Scott in the Antartic
Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO)
Polar Medal Edward VII for Discovery and Terra Nova Expeditions
The Polar Medal took its unusual octagonal shape from a medal awarded by Queen Victoria in the 19th century (1818-1855) for Arctic exploration. The obverse shows the current monarch's head, on this particular medal, Edward VII.
Its reverse was designed by the sculptor Ernest Gillick, RA (1874-1951) and shows Scott's ship the Discovery in winter quarters, with a sledging party in the foreground. Some fifty years later, Gillick's wife Mary was to design the obverse for the new Elizabeth II version of the medal.
The clasps of Scott's medals read ANTARCTIC 1902-04 and ANTARCTIC 1913-14. The medal was also awarded to the crews of the rescue ships, Terra Nova and Morning with the clasp, ANTARCTIC 1902-04. Subsequent Polar Medals were also awarded to members of the Shackleton Expeditions with ANARCTIC 1907-09 and ANARCTIC 1914-17.
The bronze Polar Medal without clasp was awarded to five members of the Discovery Expedition, who did not otherwise satisfy the requirement for a silver medal and to the crews of the rescue ships, Morning and Terra Nova.
In 1901, Scott was made Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, a dynastic order of knighthood established by Queen Victoria in 1896. The order recognizes distinguished personal service to the British monarch. He would also earn the first, renamed British Polar Medal with two clasps, one for each expedition. The Polar Medal was established in 1904 to recognize outstanding achievements in the field of polar research.
Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Scott in the Antartic
Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO)
Polar Medal Edward VII for Discovery and Terra Nova Expeditions
The Polar Medal took its unusual octagonal shape from a medal awarded by Queen Victoria in the 19th century (1818-1855) for Arctic exploration. The obverse shows the current monarch's head, on this particular medal, Edward VII.
Its reverse was designed by the sculptor Ernest Gillick, RA (1874-1951) and shows Scott's ship the Discovery in winter quarters, with a sledging party in the foreground. Some fifty years later, Gillick's wife Mary was to design the obverse for the new Elizabeth II version of the medal.
The clasps of Scott's medals read ANTARCTIC 1902-04 and ANTARCTIC 1913-14. The medal was also awarded to the crews of the rescue ships, Terra Nova and Morning with the clasp, ANTARCTIC 1902-04. Subsequent Polar Medals were also awarded to members of the Shackleton Expeditions with ANARCTIC 1907-09 and ANARCTIC 1914-17.
The bronze Polar Medal without clasp was awarded to five members of the Discovery Expedition, who did not otherwise satisfy the requirement for a silver medal and to the crews of the rescue ships, Morning and Terra Nova.
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