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{{Short description|Military award for adventure}}
{{Infobox military award
|name=MacGregor Medal
|image=MacGregor Medal.jpg
|image_size=250px
|caption=Obverse and Reverse of the medal
|type=Military award
|country={{flag|India}}
|established={{start date and age|df=yes|May 1887}}<ref name=":established" />
|firstawarded=1889
|lastawarded= 16 Apr 2025
|total_awarded=125
|presenter=[[United Service Institution]]
|awarded_for=For military intelligence through reconnaissance, exploration and survey; later, for adventure
|image2=MacGregor Medal Ribbon.jpg
|image2_size=150px
|caption2=Ribbon<ref>{{cite web |title=Ever Observed Colorful Ribbons On Soldier's Uniform? Here's What They Mean |url=https://www.ssbcrack.com/2017/02/ribbons-on-soldiers-uniform.html |website=SSBCrack |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222010332/https://www.ssbcrack.com/2017/02/ribbons-on-soldiers-uniform.html |archive-date=22 February 2018}}</ref>
|higher=
|lower=
|status=Active}}

The '''MacGregor Medal''' (also referred to as the '''MacGregor Memorial Medal''') is awarded for valuable military intelligence through [[reconnaissance]], [[exploration]], [[Surveying|survey]] or other similar activities of national importance.{{Sfnp|Hamond, USI Journal|1990|p=471}}{{Sfnp|Executive Committee Meetings Minutes, USI|1988-2002|p=152}}{{Sfnp|USI Journal|2020|p=582}} 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).{{Sfnp|Hamond, USI Journal|1990|p=476}} 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.{{Sfnp|Hamond, USI Journal|1990|p=477}} Sometimes the awardee would be conferred the medal years after the journey had been made.{{Sfnp|Hamond, USI Journal|1990|p=472}} 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.{{Sfnp|Hamond, USI Journal|1990|p=474}}{{Sfnp|Sood, President's Report USI Journal|1991|p=4-5}}{{Sfnp|Hamond, USI Journal|1990|p=477}}

== History ==
The medal was instituted in May 1887 to honour the memory of [[United Service Institution of India]] founder, Major General Sir [[Charles MacGregor]].<ref name=":established">{{Cite web|last=Chhina|first=Squadron Leader (Retd) Rana TS|date=October–December 2020|title=The MacGregor Memorial Medal|url=https://usiofindia.org/publication/usi-journal/the-macgregor-memorial-medal/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210225085610/https://usiofindia.org/publication/usi-journal/the-macgregor-memorial-medal/?_sf_s=MacGregor+Medal|archive-date=2021-02-25|access-date=2021-02-25|website=United Service Institution of India|publisher=Journal of the United Service Institution of India, Vol. CL, No. 622|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="usi">[https://usiofindia.org/macgregor-medal/ Macgregor Medal.] United Service Institution of India. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511232257/http://www.usiofindia.org/mcgro.htm|date=2008-05-11}}. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210101214120/https://usiofindia.org/macgregor-medal/ Archived] on 1 January 2021.</ref> The original criteria for award of the medal were enunciated out on 3 July 1888 at [[Shimla]] at a meeting in the presence of Commander-in-Chief General Sir [[Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts|FS Roberts]] and the [[Viceroy of India]].<ref name=":established" /> After the partition of [[British India]] into [[India]] and [[Pakistan]], the award was adopted by India and continues to this day. 122 medals have been awarded: 7 gold medals to officers, 67 standard size silver medals to officers (including 5 [[Viceroy's commissioned officer|VCOs]] and [[Junior Commissioned Officer|JCO]]s), and 48 reduced size silver medals to other ranks/soldiers.<ref name=":established" /><ref name="usi" /> One British officer has been awarded the medal twice, A. S. Lancaster, as a major in 1938, and again as a colonel in 1946;<ref name="usi" /> and one British Indian, Shahzad Mir, first as Daffadar, in 1897, then again as Risaldar in 1906.{{Sfn|Hamond|1994|p=55}} For reconnaissance in 1891, Havildar Ramzan Khan, [[Punjab Frontier Force]], was the first Indian to be awarded the medal.

== Specifications ==
There are three versions of the medal. The standard silver medal {{convert|2+3/4|inch|mm|abbr=}} without any attachments, the reduced gold medal {{convert|1+1/4|inch|mm|abbr=}} without any attachments and the reduced silver medal {{convert|1+1/4|inch|mm|abbr=}} with attachments to suspend around neck. The obverse side contains an effigy of Major General Sir Charles MacGregor. Inscribed on the upper periphery is "Major General Sir Charles MacGregor KCB CSI CIE". Inscribed on the lower periphery is "In Memoriam 1887". The reserve side contains various figures of army personnel. Details of the awardee are inscribed on the outer rim.{{Sfnp|Hamond, USI Journal|1990|p=474–475}} The colours of the ribbon are (from left to right) — Red, Green, Red, Green, Black, White, Black, Green, Red, Green, Red. The colours are based on the '[[Clan Gregor|MacGregor tartan]]'.{{Sfnp|Hamond, USI Journal|1990|p=476}}

== Recent winners ==
<gallery widths="140">
File:RAM RATAN JAT.jpg|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}} '''Jat, 2024:''' For the extreme adventure in long distance running<ref name="tweet">{{Cite tweet | user=HQ_IDS_India | number=1912469218169151493 | title=General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff felicitated the awardees of the prestigious MacGregor Memorial Medal for 2023 & 2024 at USI, New Delhi...}}</ref>

File:Rahul Kumar Pandey Macgregor Medal 2023.jpg|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}} '''Pandey, 2023:''' For the extreme adventure in long distance running<ref name="tweet"/>
File:Sanjay Kumar Indian Navy.jpg|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}} '''Kumar, 2020:''' For accomplishments in long distance running<ref name=":SKumar" />
File:Abhilash Tomy receiving Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2012 (cropped).jpg|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}} '''Tomy, 2013:''' first Indian to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe under sail.<ref name=":AbhilashTomy" />
File:Capt Dilip Donde 2 (cropped).jpg|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}} '''Donde, 2010:''' first Indian to complete a solo, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe under sail<ref name=":DilipDonde" />
File:Pilots of Round The World Expedition Wg Cdr R Monga (Rt) and Wg Cdr Anil Kumar alongwith their Aircraft prior to flag off at Air Force Station, Hindon, U.P. on June 01, 2007.jpg|{{Flagicon image|Air Force Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}} '''Monga & Kumar, 2007:''' world trip in a microlight aircraft<ref name=":MongaKumar" />
</gallery>

== Pre-1947 recipients ==
'''Key'''

* '''No.''' – Award number
* '''Rank''' – Rank at the time of the award
* '''Year''' – Year in which the exploration for which the award was given took place
{{Hr}}{{Multiple image
| image1 = Francis Younghusband 1905.jpg
| alt1 = 1
| caption1 = 1890: F. Younghusband
| image2 = George K. Cockerill.jpg
| caption2 = 1896: GK Cockerill
| image3 = Stewart Blacker in flying gear 1933.jpg
| caption3 = 1920: S Blacker
| direction =
| total_width = 250px
| perrow = 2,2
| image4 = Ordecharleswingate.jpg
| caption4 = 1943: OG Wingate
}}
''Only recipients with articles have been listed''
{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Name
!Rank
!Year
!Ref/Notes
|-
|1
|[[Mark Sever Bell|MS Bell]]
|Colonel
|1889
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|2
|[[Francis Younghusband|F Younghusband]]
|Captain
|1890
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|8
|[[Hamilton Bower|H Bower]]
|Captain
|1893
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|12
|[[Henry Rodolph Davies|HR Davies]]
|Captain
|1895
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|14
|[[George Cockerill (British Army officer)|GK Cockerill]]
|Lieutenant
|1896
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|16
|[[Eric John Eagles Swayne|EJE Swayne]]
|Captain
|1897
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|18
|[[Harold Walker (British Army officer)|HB Walker]]
|Captain
|1898
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|41
|[[Khan Bahadur Sher Jang|KBS Jang]]
|Subedar
|1910
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|44
|[[Gerard Leachman|G Leachman]]
|Captain
|1911
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|52
|[[Frederick Marshman Bailey|FM Bailey]]
|Captain
|1914
|{{Sfn|Waller|1990|p=240}}
|-
|53
|[[Henry Morshead|HT Morshead]]
|Captain
|1914
|{{Sfn|Dalal|1985|p=280}}
|-
|60
|[[Edward Noel (Indian Army officer)|EWC Noel]]
|Captain
|1918
|{{Sfn|Hopkirk|1994|p=276}}
|-
|61
|[[Edward Keeling|EH Keeling]]
|Lieutenant Colonel
|1919
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|63
|[[Stewart Blacker|LVS Blacker]]
|Captain
|1920
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|65
|[[A. L. Holt|AL Holt]]
|Major
|1921
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|69
|[[Geoffrey Bruce (Indian Army officer)|JG Bruce]]
|Captain
|1923
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|76
|[[Charles Harvey-Kelly|CHGH Harvey–Kelly]]
|Major
|1926
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|99
|[[Orde Charles Wingate|OC Wingate]]
|Major General
|1943
|<ref name="usi" />
|}

== Post-1947 recipients ==
Awards were accompanied with entries in the Register for MacGregor Medal. The entry for Captain S.L. Tugnait, awarded for 1958, reads:<ref name=":0" />
{{Blockquote|text="Captain S.L. Tugnait... Air OP Squadron, Regiment of Artillery. Valuable Military Recce in Northern Ladakh. Covered the route from Leh over the 21,000 ft Chang La (Sic. 17,590 ft) into the Shyok River Valley to Ponyvang Lake (Sic. Pangong Tso). From there to Quazi-Haji Langer-Quaratag Pass, and back by the Karakuram Pass to Daulat Beg Oldi - Sasar Kangri over the Sasar La into the Nubra Valley and back to Leh over the 19,600 ft Kharding La"}}{{Complete list|date=December 2024}}
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |No.
! rowspan="2" |Service
! rowspan="2" |Name
! colspan="2" |Awardee details
! rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
!Rank
!Other details
|-
|104.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|[[Zorawar Chand Bakhshi|ZC Bakshi]]
|Major
|VrC, 2nd Bn, 5th Gorkha Rifles (F.F)
|1949
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|105.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|IC Katoch
|Colonel
|MBE, 6th Bn, 5th Gorkha Rifles (F.F)
|1951
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|106.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|MS Jarg
|Captain
|3rd Bn, Jat Regiment
|1956
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|107.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|IB Goel
|2nd Lieutenant
|Bengal Engineers Group
|1956
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|108.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|Vinod Badhwar
|Captain
|5th Bn, 5th Gorkha Rifles (F.F)
|1957
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|109.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|SL Tugnait
|Captain
|Air Op Squadron, Regiment of Artillery
|1958
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Lt-Gen (retd) Baljit|date=28 June 2020|title=Enemy at the gates and a 910-km walk|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/enemy-at-the-gates-and-a-910-km-walk-105625|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Tribune India}}</ref>
|-
|110.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|[[Mohindar Lal Whig|ML Whig]]
|Brigadier
|MVC FRGS, 2nd Bn, 5th Gorkhas Rifles (F.F)
|1969
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|111.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|Prem Chand
|Major
|VSM, 13th Bn, Dogra Regiment
|1970
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|112.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|CS Nugyal
|Colonel
|6th Bn, Sikh Regiment
|1971
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|113.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|Ravindra Misra
|Captain
|4th Bn, 3rd Gorkha Rifles
|1972
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|114.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|Bel Bahadur Pun
|Subedar
|4th Bn, 3rd Gorkha Rifles
|1972
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|115.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|[[Narendra Kumar (mountaineer)|Narender Kumar]]
|Colonel
|PVSM, KC, AVSM (Retd) Kumaon Regiment
|1978 to 1981
|<ref name="usi" />
|-
|116.
|{{Flagicon image|Air Force Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}}
|Ram Karan Makkar
|Squadron Leader
|127 HU, Indian Air Force
|1986
|{{Sfnp|Executive Committee Meetings Minutes, USI|1988-2002|p=244}}
|-
|117.
|{{Flagicon image|Air Force Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}}
|[[Rana Chhina|Rana TS Chhina]]
|Flight Lieutenant
|127 HU, Indian Air Force
|1986
|{{Sfnp|Executive Committee Meetings Minutes, USI|1988-2002|p=244}}
|-
|118.
|{{Flagicon image|Flag of Indian Army.svg|size=30px}}
|NJ Korgaokar
|Lieutenant Colonel
|SM, Garhwal Regiment
|1997
|{{Sfnp|Executive Committee Meetings Minutes, USI|1988-2002|p=244}}
|-
|119.
|{{Flagicon image|Air Force Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}}
|Rahul Monga
|Wing Commander
|SC, Indian Air Force
|2007
|<ref name=":MongaKumar">{{Cite web|last=Upasani|first=Wg Cdr Mahesh|date=September 2017|title=Fabulous Fliers|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2007/sep15-07/h8.htm|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-13|website=Sainik Samachar}}</ref>
|-
|120.
|{{Flagicon image|Air Force Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}}
|Soumik Ghosh
|Flight Lieutenant
|SC, Indian Air Force
|2010
|<ref name=":MongaKumar" />
|-
|121.
|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}}
|[[Dilip Donde]]
|Commander
|Indian Navy
|2010
|<ref name=":DilipDonde">{{Cite web|last1=Sinha|first1=Cdr Rahul|last2=Vispute|first2=Narendra|date=September 2014|title=Book Release: A Solo Circumnavigation|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2014/sep16-14/h12.htm|access-date=2021-02-19|website=Sainik Samachar}}</ref>
|-
|122.
|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}}
|[[Abhilash Tomy]]
|Lieutenant Commander
|KC, NM, Indian Navy
|2013
|<ref name=":AbhilashTomy">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=24 September 2018|title=Who is Indian Navy Commander Abhilash Tomy?|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/who-is-what-is/story/who-is-naval-commander-abhilash-tomy-1347440-2018-09-24|access-date=2021-02-19|website=India Today|language=en|quote=He was also awarded the MacGregor Medal in 2013 which is awarded to Indian Armed Forces personnel for valuable military reconnaissance.}}</ref>
|-
|123.
|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}}
|Sanjay Kumar
|Electrical Artificer (P) 3
|Indian Navy
|2020
|<ref name=":SKumar">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Award of Mac Gregor Memorial Medal|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/insvalsura/content/award-mac-gregor-memorial-medal|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-13|website=Indian Navy}}</ref>
|-
|124.
|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}}
|Rahul Kumar Pandey
|Chief Electrical Artificer (Radio)
|Indian Navy
|2023
|<ref name="tweet"/>
|-
|125.
|{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg|size=30px}}
|Ram Ratan Jat
|Chief Electrical Aircraft Artificer (Radio)
|Indian Navy
|2024
|<ref name="tweet"/>
|}

== See also ==

* Wing Commander [[Jag Mohan Nath]]
* Major General [[Rajendra Nath (soldier)|Rajendra Nath]]

==References==
{{reflist}}'''<big>Bibliography</big>'''

* {{Cite journal|last=Hamond|first=Captain Robert|date=January 1942|title=Through Western Tibet in 1939|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.2807|journal=The Geographical Journal|volume=XCIX| issue = 1|pages=|ref={{sfnref|Hamond, The Geographical Journal|1942}}|via=archive.org and PAHAR}}
* {{Cite book|last=Waller|first=Derek J.|url=https://archive.org/details/punditsbritishex0000wall|title=The Pundits: British Exploration of Tibet and Central Asia|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|year=1990|isbn=081311666X|via=archive.org}}
* {{Cite book|last=Hopkirk|first=Peter|url=https://archive.org/details/likehiddenfirepl0000hopk|title=Like Hidden Fire: The Plot to Bring Down the British Empire|publisher=Kodansha|year=1994|isbn=1568360207|location=United States of America|via=archive.org}}
* {{Cite book|last=Hamond|first=Robert|title=History of the MacGregor Memorial Medals 1889-1989|publisher=Lancer Paperbacks|others=United Service Institution of India|year=1994|isbn=9781897829073|location=|pages=}}
* {{Citation|last=|first=|title=Executive Committee Meetings Minutes (25 January 1988 to 18 November 2002)|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.284907/page/n243/mode/2up?q=%22MacGregor+Medal%22|volume=|pages=146, 152, 170, 184, 227, 230, 245|publisher=United Service Institution of India|ref={{sfnref|Executive Committee Meetings Minutes, USI|1988-2002}}}}

'''USI Journals'''

* {{Cite journal|last=Dalal|first=Brigadier J. A. F.|date=July–September 1985|title=Henry Treise Morshead—Macgregor Medal Recipient, 1914|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279649/page/n101/mode/2up?q=Henry+Treise+Morshead|journal=U.S.I. Journal|volume=CXV| issue = 481|pages=280–283|via=archive.org}}
*{{Cite journal|last=Dalal|first=J.A.F.|date=April–June 1987|title=Colonel J.B.P. Angwin: MacGregor Award Recipient 1936|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.284688/page/n61/mode/2up?q=%22MacGregor+Medal%22|journal=U.S.I. Journal|volume=CXVII| issue = 488|pages=194–197|ref={{sfnref|Dalal, USI Journal|1987}}|via=archive.org}}
*{{Cite journal|last=Hamond|first=Major (Retd) Robert|date=October–December 1990|title=The MacGregor Memorial Medal 1889-1989|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279749|journal=U.S.I. Journal|volume=CXX| issue = 502|pages=471–479|issn=0041-770X|ref={{sfnref|Hamond, USI Journal|1990}}|via=archive.org}}
*{{Cite journal|last=Sood|first=Lt Gen VK|date=January–March 1992|title=President's Report for the Year 1991: MacGregor Medal|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.279816/page/n9/mode/2up?q=%22MacGregor+Medal%22|journal=U.S.I. Journal|volume=CXXII| issue = 507|pages=2–5|ref={{sfnref|Sood, President's Report USI Journal|1991}}|via=archive.org}}
*{{Cite journal|date=October–December 2020|title=150th Anniversary Issue: USI Journal|url=https://usiofindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/USI-Journal-Oct-Dec-2020.pdf|journal=The United Service Institution of India|volume=CL| issue = 622|ref={{sfnref|USI Journal|2020}}}}
*{{Cite journal|date=January–October 1933|title=Secretary's notes/MacGregor Memorial Medalists|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.280027/mode/2up?q=%22Macgregor+Memorial+Medal%22|journal=U.S.I. Journal|volume=LXIII| issue = 270|via=archive.org}}

==External links==
* [http://usiofindia.org/ United Service Institution of India, Official website]
* [https://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/burma-rifle-citations.html Image of medal and ribbon awarded to Havildar Sein U.]
{{Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces}}

[[Category:Military awards and decorations of India]]
[[Category:Reconnaissance]]

MacGregor Medal - Revision history

Ghazal Builders at 13:04, 24 November 2025