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{{short description|UK award}}
{{About|the British medal|the Canadian medal|Polar Medal (Canada)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox military award
|name= Polar Medal
|image= POLAR MEDAL.jpg
|caption= Reverse of the medal
|presenter= [[Sovereign of the United Kingdom]]
|type= [[Medal]]
|eligibility= 
|awarded_for= Outstanding achievement in the field of polar research
|status= 
|description=
|clasps=
|established= 1857 (as the Arctic Medal)
|firstawarded=
|lastawarded=
|total_awarded= 
|total_awarded_posthumously=
|total_recipients=
|individual=
|precedence_label= Order of wear
|higher= [[British campaign medals|Campaign Medals and Stars]]<ref name=OoW>{{London Gazette|issue=56878|page=3352 |supp=y |date=17 March 2003}}</ref>
|same=
|lower= [[Imperial Service Medal]]<ref name=OoW />
|image2= Polar Medal (UK) ribbon.png
|caption2= Ribbon of the medal
}}

The '''Polar Medal''' is a medal awarded by the [[Sovereign of the United Kingdom]] to individuals who have outstanding achievements in the field of polar research, and particularly for those who have worked over extended periods in harsh climates. It was instituted in 1857 as the '''Arctic Medal''', and renamed the '''Polar Medal''' in 1904.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=What is the Polar Medal? {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/103898|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>

== History ==
===Arctic Medal===
The first medal was awarded in 1857, named the Arctic Medal. The Admiralty issued the medal for several expeditions,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 320 {{!}} Issue 21963, 30 January 1857 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21963/page/320|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> including the expedition to discover the fate of [[John Franklin|Sir John Franklin]] and his crew, who were lost [[Franklin's lost expedition|while looking for the Northwest Passage in 1847]]:

<blockquote>Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to signify her commands that a Medal be granted to all persons, of every rank and class, who have been engaged in the several Expeditions to the [[Arctic]] Regions, whether of discovery or search, between the years 1818 and 1855, both inclusive.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=21997|page=1580|date=5 May 1857}}</ref></blockquote>

The second presentation of the Arctic Medal was to the crews of three ships [[British Arctic Expedition|exploring the Arctic]] in 1875–76.

===Polar Medal===
In 1904, the medal was awarded to the members of [[Robert Falcon Scott|Captain Robert Falcon Scott's]] [[Discovery Expedition|first expedition]] to [[Antarctica]], and therefore renamed the Polar Medal.<ref name=":0" /> It was also awarded to the crews of both rescue ships, ''[[Terra Nova (ship)|Terra Nova]]'' and ''[[SY Morning|Morning]]''. Subsequent medals were awarded to members of [[Ernest Shackleton]]'s expeditions in [[Nimrod Expedition|1907–09]] and [[Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition|1914–17]].

== Eligibility ==
The Polar Medal is awarded to individuals for outstanding service to the field of polar research.<ref name=":0" />

Until 1968, the Polar Medal was presented to anyone who participated in a polar expedition endorsed by the governments of any [[Commonwealth realm]]s.<ref name=":0" /> However, since 1968 the rules governing its presentation have been revised with greater emphasis placed on personal achievement.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Polar Medal|url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/cultural-collections/medals/collection/polar-medal/history/|website=UK Parliament}}</ref>

Since 1998, the criteria for being awarded a Polar Medal are:<blockquote>The period of service living and working in the arduous conditions of a Polar environment required to be considered for this Medal shall normally be not less than twelve months, shorter periods of service may be aggregated to meet this criterion. Service in the support of the acquisition of knowledge of Polar regions shall normally be at least ten years' such service in order to be considered for the Medal, although, in exceptional cases, a shorter period of outstanding service may be considered.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Other Notices {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-55252-4SI|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref></blockquote>The award is primarily given to citizens of the United Kingdom. However, citizens of Commonwealth countries can be honoured. Nominees for the Polar Medal are made on the advice of the Polar Medal Assessment Committee, who make recommendations to the monarch via the [[Secretary of State for Defence]].<ref name=":0" />

==Medals awarded==
{{Main article|List of recipients of the Polar Medal}}
By 2005, a total of 880 silver had been issued for Antarctic expeditions{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}. Another 73 silver medals had been issued for service in the Arctic. The character Private Frazer in the BBC series ''[[Dad's Army]]'' was a recipient of the medal for his participation in Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition of 1904–1907.<ref>[[Private Frazer]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=February 2025}}

Prior to all awarded medals becoming silver in 1939,<ref name="mills" /> 271 bronze medals and clasps were awarded.

=== Female recipients ===
In 1986, the London Gazette announced [[Ginny Fiennes]] as the first woman to be awarded the Polar Medal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 11713 {{!}} Supplement 50650, 8 September 1986 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/50650/supplement/11713|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> The medal had also in 1953 been awarded to Ivan Mackenzie Lamb,<ref name="Llano 1991">{{cite journal |last1=Llano |first1=G. |year=1991 |title=I. Mackenzie Lamb, D.Sc. (Elke Mackenzie) (1911–1990) |journal=The Bryologist |volume=94 |issue=3 |pages=315–320 |jstor=3243974}}</ref> who [[gender transition|transitioned]] and took the name [[Elke Mackenzie]] in 1971.<ref name="Johnston 2022">{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Eddie |date=24 June 2022 |title=Lichen Adventurer: Elke Mackenzie |url=https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/elke-mackenzie |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew}}</ref> Other female Polar Medal recipients include:

* Elizabeth Harland, 1997;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 13511 {{!}} Supplement 54965, 1 December 1997 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/54965/supplement/13511|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[Jane Francis]], 2002;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jane Francis, Author at British Antarctic Survey|url=https://www.bas.ac.uk/profile/janefr/|access-date=2022-02-18|website=British Antarctic Survey|language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Margaret Bradshaw]], 2003;<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mills|first=William James|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/727737961|title=Exploring polar frontiers : a historical encyclopedia|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2003|isbn=1-57607-423-4|pages=420|oclc=727737961}}</ref>
* [[Elizabeth Morris (glaciologist)|Elizabeth Morris]], 2003;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 135 {{!}} Supplement 57169, 6 January 2004 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57169/supplement/135|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[Tavi Murray]], 2006;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 17149 {{!}} Supplement 58178, 12 December 2006 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58178/supplement/17149|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* Victoria Auld, 2007 and 2024;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 18307 {{!}} Supplement 58545, 18 December 2007 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58545/supplement/18307|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 18307 {{!}} Supplement 58545, 18 December 2007 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64275/supplement/26490|access-date=2024-03-24|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* Penelope Granger, 2008;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 19897 {{!}} Supplement 58916, 19 December 2008 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58916/supplement/19897|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[Felicity Aston]], 2015;<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Page 158 {{!}} Supplement 61108, 9 January 2015 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/61108/supplement/158|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[Sally Poncet]], 2015;<ref name=":1" />
* [[Kim Crosbie]], 2016;<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Page 302 {{!}} Supplement 61466, 8 January 2016 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/61466/supplement/302|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[Agnieszka Fryckowska]], 2016;<ref name=":2" />
* [[Myrtle Simpson]], 2017;<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Page 1174 {{!}} Supplement 61825, 20 January 2017 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/61825/supplement/1174|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* Isabelle Gerrard, 2017;<ref name=":3" />
* [[Catrin Thomas]], 2019;<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Page 1206 {{!}} Supplement 62542, 25 January 2019 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62542/supplement/1206|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* Sophie Fielding, 2019;<ref name=":4" />
* Alison Massey, 2020;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 802 {{!}} Supplement 62893, 17 January 2020 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62893/supplement/802|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* Melody Clark, 2021;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Page 1434 {{!}} Supplement 63600, 28 January 2022 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63600/supplement/1434|access-date=2022-02-18|website=thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> 
* Sarah Lurcock, 2025.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=64616| page=26458| date=31 December 2024| supp=y}}</ref> and
* Gabriele Stowasser, 2025.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=64616| page=26458| date=31 December 2024| supp=y}}</ref>

== Design ==
The medal is octagonal in shape with a white ribbon.<ref name="mills">{{cite book |last1=Mills |first1=William J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PYdBH4dOOM4C&pg=PA420 |title=Exploring Polar Frontiers: a Historical Encyclopedia, Volume 1 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-57607-422-0 |volume=1 |page=420}}</ref> The reverse of the original Arctic Medal showed a three-masted ship surrounded by ice floes.<ref name="mills" /> The die for the medal was engraved by [[Leonard Charles Wyon]]. A new design by [[Ernest Gillick]] was used from 1904, showing [[RRS Discovery|RRS ''Discovery'']], with a sledging party in the foreground.<ref>{{cite web |title=Polar Medal 1904, George V |url=http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/HOTGA/MicroObject.asp?row=49&themeid=2598&item=49 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727122222/http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/HOTGA/MicroObject.asp?row=49&themeid=2598&item=49 |archive-date=27 July 2014 |access-date=23 October 2011 |publisher=The Royal Collection}}</ref> The obverse bears a portrait of the reigning monarch. It is accompanied by a clasp that is placed on the ribbon of the medal in order to signify which region or regions service was completed.<ref name=":0" />

The medal was originally struck in both silver and bronze.  Since 1939, all awarded medals have been silver;<ref name="mills" /> bronze medals were presented to personnel on relief ships for Antarctic expeditions, but not awarded to participants of Arctic expeditions.<!-- Perce Blackborrow from Shackleton's Endurance expedition received the bronze medal, according to his own Wikipedia page, presumably before 1939. -->

==Clasps==
Additional [[Medal bar|clasps]] can be awarded for further service to polar research and exploration.<ref name=":0" />

Several people have been awarded additional clasps, including [[Ranulph Fiennes|Sir Ranulph Fiennes]], who is the only person to have received a clasp each for both the Arctic and Antarctica.<ref>{{London Gazette
| issue = 53882
| date = 29 December 1994
| page = 17745
| supp = y
}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette
| issue = 50650
| date = 8 September 1986
| page = 11713
| supp = y
}}</ref> In 2024 Captain Victoria Auld was the first women to receive a clasp. [[Frank Wild]] and [[Ernest Joyce]] hold the joint record of four clasps on their Polar Medal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Antarctic Medals|url=http://www.antarctic-circle.org/medals.htm#1|access-date=9 January 2019|website=Antarctic-circle.org}}</ref>

== Australia ==
The [[Government of Australia]] replaced the Polar Medal with its own [[Australian Antarctic Medal]] in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/publications/honours/factsheets/Australian_Antarctic_medal.pdf |title=Australian Antarctic Medal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=29 September 2008 |website=It's an Honour |publisher=[[Government of Australia]] |access-date=18 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826134850/http://itsanhonour.gov.au/publications/honours/factsheets/Australian_Antarctic_medal.pdf |archive-date=26 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Canada==
The medal was awarded to members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ship ''[[St. Roch (ship)|St. Roch]]'', who patrolled extensively in the western Arctic (1940) and completed a west-to-east passage of the Arctic in 1942. Although several Canadians had received this medal,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blatherwick.net/documents/British%20Orders%20to%20Canadians/12%20-%20British%20Polar%20Medal.pdf|title=POLAR MEDAL|date=4 February 2016|quotation=Prepared by Surgeon Captain John Blatherwick, CM, CStJ, OBC, BSc, DPH, MD, FRCP(C), LLD|website=Blatherwick.net|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> it was not included in the Canadian Honours System that was promulgated in 1967. Subsequently, a Canadian decoration intended to honour explorers of Canada's polar regions and defenders of the country's sovereignty in the north was initially conceived by Governor General [[Adrienne Clarkson]] as the Governor General's Northern Medal and created on 15 September 2005, to award those who serve with distinction in northern Canada. It was replaced on 23 June 2015 by Canada's own [[Polar Medal (Canada)|Polar Medal]].

==New Zealand==
In 1996, when [[New Zealand]] revised its royal honours system, New Zealanders ceased to receive the Polar Medal. It was proposed that the medal would be preserved, with a new name, under New Zealand regulations: the [[New Zealand Antarctic Medal]]. The rationale for the renaming was that it is in relation to Antarctica that New Zealand's endeavours and achievements have been made. The report on honours that recommended the change contained the inaccurate claim that the medal was named after the North Pole.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} The new medal was formally instituted by the [[Queen of New Zealand|queen]] on 1 September 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.honours.govt.nz/honours/overview/antarctic-medal |title=The New Zealand Antarctic Medal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]] |access-date=18 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516070814/http://www.honours.govt.nz/honours/overview/antarctic-medal |archive-date=16 May 2014 }}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of geography awards]]
* [[List of recipients of the Polar Medal]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book| first=Neville W.| last=Poulsom| title=The White Ribbon: A Medallic Record of British Polar Expeditions| publisher=B.A. Seaby, London| year=1968| isbn=0-900652-00-4| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xQF-QgAACAAJ&q=the+white+ribbon}}
*Poulsom, Neville, W, and Myres, J.A.L., (2000). British Polar Exploration and Research: A Historical and Medallic Record with Biographies, 1818–1999. Savannah Publications, London. {{ISBN|1 902366 05 0}}.

{{Decorations of the United Kingdom}}
{{Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia before 1992}}

[[Category:Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Awards for polar exploration]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in the United Kingdom]]