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Medals for gallantry or superior service. |
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Victoria
Cross. (VC) For Valour
This is the highest award available in the British Empire or Commonwealth. So highly regarded is it that when the Australian Government instituted 100% Australian awards they realised that the Australian public has a deep regard for the VC and they made arrangements to have instituted a Victoria Cross for Australia. It was the only Imperial award that was maintained in any form. The same was done in New Zealand. |
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The
George Cross (GC)
. A very rare award that started out as
the civilian equivalent of the Victoria Cross. It is now also awarded to
military personnel for bravery in situations where the VC would be
inappropriate; peacetime, POWs etc.
Only 14 recorded awards to Australians. 1 was to an Australian POW of the Chinese from the Korean War. 1 was as a result of the Voyager Disaster, when HMAS Voyager was cut in half in a collision with HMAS Melbourne. The others were WW2, 4 RAN, 3 Army, 1 exchange, balance civilian.
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The Distinguished
Service Order (DSO) dates back to 1886,
during the reign of Queen Victoria.
The award is generally not given to officers below the rank of Major. In terms of gallantry awards, the DSO ranks below the Victoria Cross and above the Military Cross, in order of precedence. It can be awarded for gallantry in action but it is more common for it to be awarded for leadership in the field. Shown here in front (obverse) and rear (reverse) views.
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Bar
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Royal Red Cross (for female nursing staff) RRC |
Associate Royal Red Cross (ARRC) |
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DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL (DCM) (Queen Victoria issue, left) (King George V Issue, right) Founded by Queen Victoria in 1854. The DCM is awarded for acts of gallantry which, though conspicuous, do not merit the award of the Victoria Cross. |
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Officers and men of the Army. Bars are awarded for subsequent acts of gallantry.
Boer War DCMs (above left) shared the 'Trophy at Arms' design for the face (obverse) with several other medals. The ribbon was different from tose other medals, as was the reverse. |
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The Military Cross (MC) and the Military Medal (MM) were created to recognize the gallantry of junior officers and other ranks in the field. The two were awarded for "Gallantry in the Field," & "Bravery in the Field" the only difference being that the MC was for officers & Warrant Officers (although not above the rank of captain), and the MM for other ranks. In both cases, additional awards are indicated by silver bars worn over the ribbon. At first, recipients of the Military Cross were not allowed to use the letters MC after their names to indicate their award, but this restriction was later withdrawn. These awards equate with the DSO but at different rank levels and as the DSO is for Majors and above it is rarely awarded for personal "gallantry", more often for "distinguished service". Bar to MC or MM. For second and any subsequent award. Worn on the ribbon (riband). | |
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Right.
Military Medal with
likenesses of George VI & QE2
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Far right. The reverse of the MM (Reverse photo by www.cqms.com) |
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Silver
rosette/s worn on ribbon bar (when medals are not worn) indicates a
further award. |
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Distinguished
Service Medal (DSM) Founded by King George V in
October 1914 as a junior award to the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for acts
of gallantry by Petty Officers and men of the Royal Navy and NCO's and men
of the Royal Marines. It may also be awarded to men of equivalent rank in
the other two services and the Merchant Navy, when serving afloat. A 2nd
award bar is also available.
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Distinguished
Flying Cross (DFC).
This is the Air Force equivalent of the Military Cross
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Air Force Cross (AFC) |
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Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) (CGM) |
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George Medal: Geo VI issue |
George Medal: QEII issue (Reverse. Photo by www.cqms.com) | ||
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Albert Medal (AM) in Gold or Bronze; for gallantry in saving life (war or peace time, on land or sea) 8 awarded to Australians. Only 1 to AIF. |
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The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) In 1916, the MSM was awarded to all ranks if: duly recommended for the grant in respect of gallant conduct in the performance of military duty otherwise than in action against the enemy, or in saving, or attempting to save the life of an officer or soldier, or for devotion to duty in a theatre of war. The gallantry portion was cancelled on 07 September 1928 because the British Empire Medal now served this purpose. The King's Regulations and Order's of 1939 listed the MSM and stated that it could be awarded to a soldier of the active militia who is recommended on account of gallant conduct in the performance of military duty (not necessarily on active service) or in saving or attempting to save the life of an officer or soldier, or for devotion to duty in a theatre of war. |
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Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) A soldier would be "Mentioned in Despatches" for 'conspicuous service'. It may be for bravery or for exemplary service of another sort. Recipients in WW1 wore the oak leaf on the ribbon of the Victory Medal. WW2 recipients on the ribbon of the 1939/45 War medal. >>>>>>> |
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War medals and service decorations of any sort may be worn only by the
person
upon whom they were conferred, and in no case does the right to wear war
or service medals, or their ribbons, devolve upon a widow, parent, son, daughter or
any relative
when the recipient is dead. Modifications
of the above rule are permitted in connection with Remembrance
Day and Anzac Day
ceremonies, when relatives who
desire to avail themselves, on those days only, of the distinction of
wearing the decoration and medals of deceased relatives, may do so,
wearing them ON
THE RIGHT BREAST.
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