Honours, Awards, Orders, Decorations, National Gifts

and The Memorial Plaque and Scroll

British Awards and Decorations for Gallantry

"It is ordained that the Cross shall only be awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy"   The VC is the highest decoration that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.   It was instituted by Royal Warrant in 1856 (but was made retrospective to the Autumn of 1854 to cover the Crimean War) and has been bestowed only 1354 times and can only be bestowed for actions "in the presence of the enemy".  

Full details of Cheltonians who have received the VC can be found here.

(Photo from the Sarah Janes Framing and Medals website to whom we are most grateful)

The award of the DSO is generally not given to commissioned officers below the rank of Captain and it is almost always awarded for gallantry in action.   In order of precedence, the DSO ranks below the VC and above the MC.

(Photo taken from the Sarah Janes Framing and Medals website to whom we are grateful)

There was no gallantry award, lesser than the VC and DSO, for junior officers and warrant officers until shortly after the outbreak of the First World War when the MC was instituted. Originally awarded to Captains, Lieutenants and Warrant Officers of the Army (including the RFC), it was subsequently extended to include equivalent ranks of the RAF when performing acts of bravery on the ground and there was even provision for the Royal Naval Division and the Royal Marines during the First World War.  Awards were extended to Majors by an amending warrant of 1931. As a result of the 1993 Review of Gallantry Awards and resultant changes to the operational gallantry award system, this award is now available to both officers and other ranks, the Military Medal having been discontinued.

(Photo from the Sarah Janes Framing and Medals website to whom we are grateful)

Established in 1918 for Officers and Warrant Officers of the RAF in respect of acts of valour while flying in active operations against the enemy.  As a result of 1993 Review of gallantry awards and resultant changes to the operational gallantry award system, this award is now available to both officers and other ranks, the distinguished Flying Medal having been discontinued.

(Photo from the Sarah Janes Framing and Medals website to whom we are grateful)

The need for a gallantry medal for other ranks was first recognised during the Crimean War, although previously the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) had very occasionally been awarded for gallantry in the field.   Since 1916 the DCM has ranked as a superior decoration to the Military Medal and was thus the second highest award for gallantry in action (after the Victoria Cross) for all army ranks below commissioned officers and was available to navy and air force personnel also for distinguished conduct in the field. As a result of the 1993 Review of gallantry awards and resultant changes to the operational gallantry award system, the decoration has been replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.

(Photo from the Sarah Janes Framing and Medals website to whom we are grateful)

The Military Medal was instituted in March 1916 and awarded to NCOs and men of the Army (including RFC and RND) for individual or associated acts of bravery not of sufficient heroism as to merit the DCM.   In June 1916 it was extended to women, two of the earliest awards being to civilian ladies for their conduct during the Easter Rising in Dublin that year. As a result of the 1993 Review of gallantry awards and resultant changes to the operational gallantry award system, this award has been replaced by the MC which is now available both to officers and other ranks.   In the Great War a total of 115,600 + 5796 first bars + 180 second bars + 1 third bar were awarded.

(Photo from the Sarah Janes Framing and Medals website to whom I am most grateful)

Croix de Guerre (C de G)

(Photo from Wikipedia)

British Campaign Medals

Pip, Squeak and Wilfred are the names given to the trio of commemorative medals issued to personnel of the British and Empire Forces who took part in the Great War.   Pip, Squeak and Wilfred were characters in a comic strip which first appeared in the Daily Mirror on 12th May 1919 and became very popular in the 1920's coinciding with the issue of the medals to forces personnel.

(Photo from Jimmy's collection)

The Star was awarded to all officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces, (including civilian medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others who were employed with military hospitals), and a very small number of Australian and Canadian servicemen, who served in France or Belgium on the establishment of the British Expeditionary Forces between 5th August 1914 and midnight of 22/23rd November 1914.   The medal was not issued for service afloat.   It is often called the 'Mons Star'.   In 1919 King George V authorised a clasp bearing the dates for those who had actually been under fire during that period.   The majority of the recipients of the star were officers and men of the pre-war British Army, the "old Contemptibles" who landed in France soon after the outbreak of the First World War and who took part in the retreat from Mons, hence the popular nickname of Mons Star.   About 378,000 were issued.

(Photo from the Sarah Janes Framing and Medals website to whom we are most grateful)

This medal is exactly the same pattern as the 1914 Star with the exception of the scroll which is of a different design.   Awarded to all those British and Empire Forces, and civilians attached to those forces, who saw service in a  theatre of war between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915, except for those eligible for the 1914 Star.   About 2,350,000 were issued.

(Photo from Jimmy's collection)

Awarded to those who qualified by serving in the British or Empire Forces or within certain recognised voluntary organisations in all theatres of war and in certain service in the UK during the period 5th August 1914 to 11th November 1918.   Those who served in Russia during 1919 - 1920 were also awarded this medal.   It is usually found with the Victory Medal but was awarded singly.   Some 6,000,00 were issued.

(Photo from Jimmy's collection)

Awarded to military and civilian personnel who served in a theatre of war during "The Great War for Civilisation 1914 - 1919".   It could not be awarded alone and was usually issued to those who had received the 1914 Star or the 1914 - 15 Star, or the British War Medal.

(Photo from Jimmy's collection)

Mentioned in Despatches (MiD)

When an officer or soldier has distinguished himself in an act of bravery or commendable service and this act has been reported in the Despatch of a Senior Officer commanding an Army formation, the officer or soldier has been "Mentioned in Despatches".   He would be entitled to wear on campaign medals an Oak Leaf denoting the award, and he would also receive from the Monarch a certificate recording by whom the Despatch was written and the Supplement in the London Gazette in which it was published.

Award for Service

The Silver War Badge is not a medal or decoration but was awarded to Army personnel  "Who have served at home and abroad since 4th August 1914 and who on account of age or physical infirmity arising from wounds or sickness caused by military service have, in the case of Officers, retired or relinquished their commission, or, in the case of men, have been discharged from the Army".   It was issued from 1916 on authority of Army Order 316/16. 

National Gifts

(Photo from Jimmy's collection)

The Princess Mary 1914 Christmas Gift

In November 1914, an advertisement was placed in the national press inviting monetary contributions to a 'Sailors & Soldiers Christmas Fund' which had been created by Princess Mary, the seventeen year old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. The purpose was to provide everyone wearing the King's uniform and serving overseas on Christmas Day 1914 with a 'gift from the nation'.   The response was overwhelming, and it was decided to spend the money on an embossed brass box, based on a design by Messrs Adshead and Ramsey. The contents varied considerably; officers and men on active service afloat or at the front received a box containing a combination of pipe, lighter, 1 oz of tobacco and twenty cigarettes in distinctive yellow monogrammed wrappers. Non-smokers and boys received a bullet pencil and a packet of sweets instead. Indian troops often got sweets and spices, and nurses were treated to chocolate. Many of these items were dispatched separately from the tins themselves, as once the standard issue of tobacco and cigarettes was placed in the tin there was little room for much else apart from the greeting card.   The 'tin' itself was approximately 5" long by 3¼" wide by 1¼" deep with a double-skinned, hinged, lid. The surface of the lid depicts the head of Princess Mary in the centre, surrounded by a laurel wreath and flanked on either side by the 'M' monogram.   At the top, a decorative cartouche contains the words 'Imperium Britannicum' with a sword and scabbard either side. On the lower edge, another cartouche contains the words 'Christmas 1914', which is flanked by the bows of battleships forging through a heavy sea. In the corners, small roundels house the names of the Allies: Belgium, Japan, Montenegro, Servia, France and Russia are at the edges, each superimposed on three furled flags or standards.

The Memorial Scroll

A public competition to design the plaque was authorised and the winning design from over 800 entries from all over the Empire was announced in The Times on 20th March 1918.   The design, "Pyramus", by Edward Carter Preston, was put into production in December 1918 and over 1 million were produced.

The plaques commemorated those men and women who died between 4th August 1914 and 10th January 1920 and up to and including 30th April 1920 for those who died subsequently from attributable causes.

The plaques themselves were dispatched separately from the Scroll in a stiff card wrapping enclosed within white envelopes bearing the Royal Arms.  Both memorials were accompanied by a letter from King George V which bore his facsimile signature and read as follows:

"I join with my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War.   George R.I.

The scrolls started to be manufactured in January 1919 and were sent out in seven and a quarter inch long cardboard tubes.

Full details of the Memorial Plaque and Scroll as described by the Imperial War Museum can be viewed here.

The Memorial Plaque   -   often called the "Dead Man's Penny"