MacGregor Medal

MacGregor Medal
Obverse and Reverse of the medal
TypeMilitary award
Awarded forFor military intelligence through reconnaissance, exploration and survey; later, for adventure
Country India
Presented byUnited Service Institution of India
StatusActive
EstablishedMay 1887; 137 years ago (May 1887)[1]
First awarded1889
Last awarded2020
Total122
Ribbon[2]

The MacGregor Medal (also referred to as the MacGregor Memorial Medal) is awarded for valuable military intelligence through reconnaissance, exploration, survey or other similar activities of national importance.[3][4][5] Awardees have included Survey of India personnel, military attaches, consuls, political officers and Indian Army, Navy and Air Force personnel (including British officers before Independence).[6] Post 1947 the medal has only been awarded to military personnel. A few medals have been awarded for escapes from enemy-occupied territory while some medals were awarded for successful operations inside enemy territory.[7] Sometimes the awardee would be conferred the medal years after the journey had been made.[8] Currently the domains incorporated are land, sea and air. Over the years the necessity and opportunities related to exploration have declined and this in turn has been coupled with a decline in recommendations. In this light the eligibility has been expanded to adventure activities mountain and desert expeditions, rafting, world circumnavigation, polar expedition and flights.[9][10][7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :established was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Ever Observed Colorful Ribbons On Soldier's Uniform? Here's What They Mean". SSBCrack. 18 February 2017. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. ^ Hamond, USI Journal (1990), p. 471.
  4. ^ Executive Committee Meetings Minutes, USI & 1988-2002, p. 152.
  5. ^ USI Journal (2020), p. 582.
  6. ^ Hamond, USI Journal (1990), p. 476.
  7. ^ a b Hamond, USI Journal (1990), p. 477.
  8. ^ Hamond, USI Journal (1990), p. 472.
  9. ^ Hamond, USI Journal (1990), p. 474.
  10. ^ Sood, President's Report USI Journal (1991), p. 4-5.