Bravery, Distinguised Conduct & Conspicious Medals
1. Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
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| Ribbon Ribbon with bar |
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| Obverse Reverse |
The Distinguished Conduct Medal, (oldest British Award for Gallantry), was established on 4 December 1854 by Queen Victoria, during the Crimean War, as a decoration for gallantry in the field to Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men for "distinguished, gallant and good conduct in the field". For all ranks below commissioned officers, it was the second highest award for gallantry in action after the Victoria Cross.
2. Conspicious Gallantry Medal (CGM)
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| Ribbon Ribbon with Bar |
The original Royal Navy medal was instituted briefly in 1855, and fully on 7 July 1874. The Medal was the other ranks' equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order which could be awarded for bravery to commissioned officers, although it ranked well below that in order of precedence, between the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal.
3. Distinguised Service Medal (DSM)
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| Ribbon |
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) was established on 14 October 1914. It was the Other Ranks' equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers, although it ranked below that decoration in order of precedence, between the George Medal and the Military Medal after those medals' respective establishments in 1940 and 1916. It was awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy and members of the other services.
4. Military Medal (MM)
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| Ribbon Ribbon with bar |
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| Obverse Reverse |
The Military Medal (MM) was established on 25 March 1916. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Military Cross (MC), which was awarded to commissioned officers. The MM was awarded for individual or associated acts of bravery which were insufficient to merit an award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).
5. Distinguised Flying Medal (DFM)
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| Distinguished Flying Medal ribbon bars |
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| Obverse Reverse |
The Distinguised Flying Medal was instituted at the same time as the DFC on 3 June 1918. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers, although the latter could also be awarded the DFM. The decoration ranked below the DFC in order of precedence, between the Military Medal and the Air Force Medal.
6. Air Force Medal (DFM)
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| Air Force Medal ribbon bars |
The Air Force Medal {AFM) was instituted at the same time as the AFC on 3 June 1918 and was awarded by British military authorities to non-commissioned officers as a means of recognizing acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, but not while in active operations against an enemy.
7. Albert Medals (Sea) Blue & (Land) Red
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| Obverse Reverse Land version Both versions of the medal |
Different Ribbons
Albert Medal 1st Class (Land)
Albert Medal 1st Class (Sea)
Albert Medal 2nd Class (Land)
Albert Medal 2nd Class (Sea)
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was first instituted 10 years after the VC by a Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and was awarded to recognize the saving of life at sea. It has since been discontinued in 1971 and replaced by the George Cross. The medal was named in memory of Prince Albert. The original medal had a blue ribbon with 2 white stripes. A further Royal Warrant in 1867 created two classes. The two classes became The Albert Medal in Gold and The Albert Medal in Bronze in 1917 and it had been extended to saving life on land in 1877.
8. Silver War Badge (SWB)
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| Obverse Reverse |
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| King’s Certificate of Discharge |
On 12 September 1916, King George V authorized the Silver War Badge (SWB) to honor all military personnel who had served at home or overseas since 4 August 1914 and who had been discharged because of wounds or illness. It became known also as the “Services Rendered Badge”.
9. King’s Police Medal (KPM)
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| Obverse Reverse Medal with bat |
The King’s Police Medal was instituted by royal warrant by King Edward VII on 7 July 1909, and was to be awarded to police officers and fireman for i.a :Conspicuous gallantry in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals; the risks incurred to be estimated with due regard to the obligations and duties of the officer concerned.
10. Mention in Despatches (MID)
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| MiD on Ribbon |
A member of the armed forces Mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy, but do not receive a medal for their action, are nonetheless entitled to receive a certificate and wear a decoration. For 1914–1918 and up to 10 August 1920, the decoration consisted of a spray of oak leaves in bronze, worn on the ribbon of the Allied Victory Medal.
12. Citation for a Galantry Award
Awards to British nationals often survive as a public announcement in the official government newspaper the London Gazette (ZJ 1). Depending on the award, a record of a citation or a recommendation may also survive. A citation is a brief official statement of why a medal was awarded (taken from the recommendation). A recommendation is usually a fuller statement supplied by a superior, usually a commanding officer which includes :
* military and civilian gallantry
* operational honors for the armed forces
* the Imperial Service Medal for long service and good conduct in the civil service
* the Polar Medal for service in the polar regions.
