Tag Archives: Gallantry
The Distinguished Service Medal
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) was instituted by Royal Warrant on 14 October 1914 and was awarded to members of the Royal Navy, up to and including Chief Petty Officer, and other services for acts of bravery at sea. The other ranks’ equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross, the DSM was awarded to approximately 4100 individuals during […]
Continue readingThe Meritorious Service Medal
The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) was instituted on 19 December 1845 and was originally awarded to warrant officers and sergeants of the British Army and Royal Marines in recognition of long and meritorious service. This eligibility continued following the outbreak of World War One, however, in 1916 it was decided to extend the award to all non-comissioned […]
Continue readingThe Air Force Cross
The Air Force Cross (AFC) was instituted alongside the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 3 June 1918 and was awarded to officers and warrant officers of the Royal Air Force for ‘an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy.’ A supplementary Bar was also introduced, eligible to holders of […]
Continue readingThe Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was established by Queen Victoria on 4 December 1854 and was issued in recognition of distinguished, gallant and good conduct shown in the field by warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the British Army and those of her commonwealth, dominions and colonies. It was the first such award for ‘other ranks’ and was second only […]
Continue readingThe Distinguished Flying Cross
The Distinguished Flying Cross was instituted by Royal Warrant on 3 June 1918 and was awarded to officers and warrant officers of the Royal Air Force and other services for ‘an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy’. Just over 1,100 DFCs were awarded during the […]
Continue readingThe Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was instituted by Royal Warrant on 3 June 1918 and was awarded to non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Air Force for ‘an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy’. Issued to just 104 recipients during World War One, […]
Continue readingThe Military Cross
The Military Cross was instituted by King George V on 28 December 1914 and was awarded to junior army officers – those holding the rank of captain and below – and warrant officers of the British and Dominion forces for gallantry in the field. More than 37,000 were issued during the First World war, with four […]
Continue readingBritish Gallantry Awards of the First World War
In addition to the various campaign medals that were instituted for issue to members of the British Armed Forces for operational service during the First World War, there were also a number of decorations that could be awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry and/or distinguished and meritorious service. These medals were normally awarded to recognise […]
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