The Patriot Files

Queen Elizabeth II Corona

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 01:00:45 -0700

by: David

Description: Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

Pacific Star

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:59:23 -0700

by: David

Description: Pacific Star The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the area round the Pacific from the 8th of December 1941 until the 2nd. September 1945. Qualifying service for the Army units was restricted to that territory which had been subjected to enemy or allied invasions. Operational service in Burma was excluded for this award as its had its own Star, but operational service in China and Malaya between the 8th of December 1941 and the 15th of February 1942 was qualified for the Pacific Star. Also operational service in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea was qualified for this award. The award was issued for one day or more of operational service in these areas. However, for Army personnel there was no minimum service period required for this award. RAF crews had to complete at least one operational sortie in these areas. Those who also qualified for the Burma Star could wear a bar or a rose emblem on the ribbon, of the first star earned. The Pacific Star is a bronze six pointed star with the Royal Cipher ?GRI VI? surmounted by a crown with the inscription ?THE PACIFIC STAR?. The reverse is plain and blank and the award is issued unnamed. The ribbon consists of seven coloured stripes : red, dark blue, green, yellow, green, light blue and red and the colours respresent the jungle, the beaches and the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Atlantic Star

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:58:33 -0700

by: David

Description: Atlantic Star The Atlantic Star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic to crew of the Royal Navy and the Royal Merchant Navy for operational services afloat for 6 months in the Atlantic, Home waters and Russian convoys or 2 months for air crew in this areas between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945 or 2 september 1945 for operational services in the Pacific. The Atlantic Star may not be awarded unless the 1939-1945 STAR has been qualified for by 180 days operational service afloat or by 2 months service for airborne service and therefore, the total requirement for the Atlantic Star is 12 months afloat or 4 months for airborne service. Though this award was normally granted to the Royal Navy and the Royal Merchant Navy, many Army and Royal Air Force personnel could qualify for this award. For example, soldiers were frequently used to man the guns of armed merchant ships, but to qualify for this award a soldier must go to sea for the same time and in the same areas as the service with which he served. Those who also qualified for the France & Germany Star and the Aircrew Europe Star could wear a clasp on the ribbon of the first star earned. The Atlantic Star is a six pointed star with the Royal Cipher ?GRI VI? surmounted by a crown with the inscription ?THE ATLANTIC STAR?. The reverse is plain and blank and the award is issued unnamed. The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with three equal stripes of dark blue, white and green and respresents the colours of the Atlantic Ocean.

Italy Star

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:56:19 -0700

by: David

Description: Italy Star The Italy Star was awarded for operational service in Sicily or Italy, around the Aegean, in Corsica, Greece, Sardinia, Yugoslavia and Elba between the 11th. of June 1943 and the 8th. of May 1945. Entry into Austrian territory during the last few days of the Second World War also qualified for this star, and not for the France and Germany Star. RAF aircrew who took part in operations within the Mediterranean theatre, including operations over Europe from Mediterranean bases, also qualified. Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel qualified by service afloat in and around the areas mentioned, including operations off the south of France. Service in Sicily after the 17th. of August 1943, in Sardinia after the 19th. of September 1943 and in Corsica after the 4th. of October 1943, did not qualify. There was no clasps to this medal, and the ribbon consists of equal vertical stripes of red, white, green, white and red. The colours represent the colours of the Italian flag.

Burma Star

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:55:37 -0700

by: David

Description: Burma Star The Burma Star was awarded for one day or more of operational service during the Burma campaign, between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. For the Army, the theatre included any part of service in the provinces of Begal and Assam in the period 1 May 1942 to 2 September 1945 and service in China and Malaya between 16 February 1942 and 2 September 1945. The Naval operational area was restricted to the Bay of Bengal, and a area within 300 miles of the southern point of Ceylon or Sumatra, including the Malacca Straits. RAF aircrew had to make one operational flight above this area and the groundcrew of the RAF had the same restrictions as the Army. Personnel qualifying for the Pacific Star and the Burma Star, only received the first earned Star with a suitably inscribed clasp for the second award attached on the ribbon. The award is a six-pointed star with in the middle the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE BURMA STAR. The reverse of the award is plain and the medal is issued unnamed. The ribbon exists of three equal bands of dark blue (British forces), Red (Commonwealth forces) and another dark blue band. The dark blue bands each have at their centres a stripe of bright orange, representing the sun.

Afrika Star

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:54:49 -0700

by: David

Description: Afrika Star The Africa Star is awarded for at least one day of active service in or over North Africa between 10 June 1940 (the date of Italy?s declaration of war) and 12 May 1943 (the end of operations in North Africa). Active service in Abyssinia, Somaliland, Eritrea and Malta during this period also qualified the award, just as Royal or Merchant Navy service in the Mediterranean. Three bars were awarded for : 1. 8th Army, for service in the Eighth Army between 23 October 1942 and 23 May 1943. The silver coloured cipher ?8? is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote this clasp. 2. 1st Army, for service in the First Army or any unit under its command from 23 October 1942 and 23 May 1943. The silver coloured cipher ?1? is worn on the ribbon in indress to denote this clasp. 3. North Africa Star 1942-1943, to Naval, RAF and Merchant Navy personnal operating in specified areas from 23 October 1942 to 12 May 1943. In undress, a rosette on the ribbon denotes this bar. The bronze award has the shape of a six-pointed star. On the obverse the Africa Star has a circular centre with the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE AFRICA STAR around the ribbon. The reverse of the award is plain and is issued unnamed. The ribbon is pale buff with in the centre a wide vertical red stripe and on the left a narrow vertical dark blue strip and on the left a narrow vertical light blue stripe. The colours represent the desert, Army, Navy and Air Force.

1939-1945 Star

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:54:06 -0700

by: David

Description: 1939-1945 Star The 1939-1945 Star was awarded for active service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945, being the period of active operations in the second world war. For the Royal Navy six months service in areas of active operations were required and for the Army six months service in an operational command were required, but only one day?s service in Dunkirk, Norway and certain specified commando raids. Airborne troops qualified for an award on participation in an airborne operation provided they had completed two months service in an operational unit. The RAF qualified for an award for any flying qualifications against the enemy, provided that two months service had been completed in operational units and groundcrew had to complete six months service in the area of an operational command except for Dunkirk and Norway. For Merchant Navy personnel qualified after six months service afloat with at least one voyage through ?dangerous waters?. Irrespective of the six months qualified period, all service personnel qualified who had been decorated, killed in action, evacuated as the result of wounds or were evacuated from Dunkirk, Norway, Crete and Greece. Time spend as a prisoner of war also counted. A bar with the inscription BATTLE OF BRITAIN was awarded to those members of the crews of fighter aircraft who took part in the Battle of Britain between 10 July and 31 October 1940. The award is a six-pointed bronze star with in the middle the GRI/VI monogram, surmounted by a crown and inscribed THE 1939-1945 STAR on the ribbon. The reverse is plain and the award is issued unnamed. The ribbon consists of three equal stripes : dark blue, red and light blue, representing the Navy, Army and Air Force.

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War Medal 1939-1945

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:53:21 -0700

by: David

Description: War Medal 1939-1945 The War Medal 1939-1945 was awarded for all the personnel of the armed forces and merchant marines for serving for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. For members of the Merchant Navy the 28 days had to be served at sea. A few categories of civilians, such as war correspondents, also qualified. A single oak leaf emblem is worn to signify a ?Mention-in-Despatches? and the silver oak leaf signifying a ?King?s Commendation for Brave Conduct? is worn on the medal. There is no bar or clasps other than these emblems. The medal is a silver circular medal, 1.42 inches in diameter. The obverse shows the crowned coinage effigy of King George VI, facing left, and the legend GEORGIVS VI D : BR : OMN : REX ET INDIAE IMP :. The reverse of the medal shows a lion standing on the body of a dragon. This dragon is double-headed, one of an eagle and one of a dragon to signify the principal occidental and oriental enemies. At the top are the dates 1939/1945. The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide and consists of the following vertical coloured stripes : red, dark blue, white, red, (narrow in the centre), white, dark blue and red. The medal was issued unnamed, except those awarded to personnel of the Canadian Merchant Marine and RCMP, and the Australian and South-African versions, which were named on the rim. The awards was established on 16 August 1945 and there were 700,000 issued, including 4,450 to the Canadian Merchant Marine.

Defence Medal 1939-1945

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:52:37 -0700

by: David

Description: Defence Medal 1939-1945 The Defence Medal was awarded for service in the forces in non-operational areas subjected to air attack or closey threatened for at least three years service in Great Britain until 8th May 1945 or six months in territories overseas until 2 September 1945. In the case of mine and bomb disposal units the time qualification was three months and Canadians serving for one year in Newfoundland were eligible and persons serving for six months in Hong Kong were also eligible. Service in West Africa, Palestine and India, other than operational air crew, qualified also for this award. Those awarded the George Cross or the George Medal for civil defence received this award and the Home Guard gualified also for this award. Owing to the terms of reference it was not unusual to find a person with this awards who had never heard a shot fired, but a person with only the Defence Medal, for example, whilst serving in the rescue services in London earned also this award and only the man who wears this award knows how it was earned. The award has the coinage head of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse shows the Royal Crown resting above a small oak tree and flanked by two heraldic lions. The dates 1939 and 1945 appear in the top left and right respectively on the reverse, whilst beneath are the words THE DEFENCE MEDAL. The light green ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with a central stripe of orange, which is 0.5 inches wide, and a narrow black stripe in the middle of each green stripe. The orange (flame colour) represents the enemy attacks on the green land of England and the black stripes represents the black-outs.

Sea Gallantry Medal

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:51:50 -0700

by: David

Description: Sea Gallantry Medal

1 comment

General Service Medal 191

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:51:11 -0700

by: David

Description: General Service Medal 1918-1962

British Empire Medal

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:50:02 -0700

by: David

Description: British Empire Medal The British Empire Medal was created by Royal Warrant on 29 December 1922 and replaced the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (1907-1922). The medal was awarded for meritorious service in the British Empire. In 1922, the medal was divided into ?The Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (known as the Empire Gallantry Medal - EGM)? and ?The Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service ? BEM)?. After the EGM was superseded by the George Cross on 24 September 1940, the BEM continued to be awarded for gallantry, but a degree less than that required to earn the George Medal. A bar was awarded for additional acts of gallantry and in 1957 a silver oak leaf emblem was worn on the ribbon to signify that the award was for gallantry and not for service. The award is a circular silver medal with a diameter of 1.42 inches. On the obverse is the picture of ?Britannia? seated, with the sun to her right. Legends around the edge reads FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE and on the below of the award is the inscription FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. The EGM had the inscription FOR GALLANTRY on the below. On the reverse of the award are the Royal Cypher inscribed surmounted by a crown with the words : INSTITUTED BY KING GEORGE V within a border of four heraldic lions. Until 1938 the civil ribbon was purple (1.25 inches wide) and the military ribbon had a narrow central stripe added. From 1938 the civil ribbon is pink with pearl-grey edges and the military ribbon has a narrow, pearl-grey central stripe added. Military awards have the service number, full name and unit or service engraved and civil awards have the names in full engraved. During World War 2 a total of 1236 medals were awarded. For merit 1202 medals and for gallantry 34 medals.

Distinguished Conduct Med

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:49:21 -0700

by: David

Description: Distinguished Conduct Medal This decoration was instituted by Queen Victoria on 4 December 1854, during the Crimean War, as a mean of recognising acts of gallantry in action performed by Warrant-officers, non-commissioned officers and men. The decoration was recommended by the Commander-in-Field, and the D.C.M. was the second highest award for gallantry in action, after the Victoria Cross, for all ranks below commissioned officers. Recipients may use the letters DCM after their name. Acting upon the fear during the First World War that the overwhelming demand for medals would devalue the prestige of those already available, the Military Medal was issued as an alternative to the D.C.M. from March 1916. Although the D.C.M. remained available, the lesser Military Medal was usually awarded from this date and the D.C.M. was reserved for exceptional acts of bravery. The silver coloured award has a diameter of 36 mm, and the obverse shows the head of the reigning monarch. The reverse contained the legend ?For Distinguished Conduct in the Field? and the rank, initials, surname and unit of the recipient are impressed on the reverse. In 1993 the Distinguished Conduct Medal was replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Awards of the medal were announced in the London Gazette accompanied by a citation. The crimson ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with a vertical dark blue central stripe (0.375 inches). A bar was awarded for a subsequent act or acts of distinguished conduct in the field.

Distinguished Service Med

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:48:31 -0700

by: David

Description: Distinguished Service Medal The Distinguished Service Medal was instituted on 14 October 1914 and was awarded to (Chief) Petty Officers and men of the Navy, Army and Air Force personnel of equal rank serving with the fleet, who show themselves to the force in action, and set an example of bravery and resource under fire, but without performing acts of such pre-eminent bravery as would render them eligible to receive the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. A silver-coloured bar is awarded for additional acts of bravery. The silver-coloured award has the shape of a circular medal, 1.42 inches in diameter. The obverse shows a crowned effigy of : KING GEORGE VI:A, facing left and one of the legends : GEORGEIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP: (for WWII). GEORGEIVS VI DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: (for Korea). QUEEN ELIZABETH II, facing right and the legend : ELIZABETH II D: G: BR: OMN: REGINA R: D: (for Korea and Vietnam). The reverse shows the legend FOR / DISTINGUISHED / SERVICE in three lines, encircled by a laurel wreath and surmounted by an Imperial Crown. The medal is awarded with the inscription of the service number, rank, initials, surname and service of the recipient. The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide and consists of three equal vertical stripes : dark blue, white and dark blue, with a thin dark blue stripe down the centre of the white. Total issued to Canadians : 116 plus 2 bars, 114 + 2 bars during the Second World War and two awards during the Korea War.

Distinguished Flying Meda

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:47:49 -0700

by: David

Description: Distinguished Flying Medal The Distinguished Flying Medal was instituted on 3 June 1918 to be was awarded to non-commissioned-officers and men for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. The silver-coloured award has the shape of an oval medal, 1.375 inches wide and 1.625 inches long. On the obverse you can see the bareheaded coinage effigy of : King George V, facing left and the legend : GEORGEIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP: King George VI, facing left and the legend : GEORGEIVS VID: G: BR: OMN: REX F.D: IND: IMP: On the reverse, within a wreath of laurel, Athena Nike is shown seated on an aeroplane, a hawk rising from her right arm above the words : FOR COURAGE. The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of alternate violet and white stripes (0,0625 inches) leaning 45 degrees to the left. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal. The medal was engraved with the service number, rank, initials, surname and service of the recipient.

Military Medal

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:46:59 -0700

by: David

Description: Military Medal The Military Medal was established during the First World War by King George V on 25 March 1916, a year and a half after Britain declared war against Germany. Its inception was intended to meet the enormous demand for medals during the First World War. The medal was initially awarded tot Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the army, including the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Division, for individual or associated acts of bravery which were insufficient to merit an award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The Military Medal, which was recommended by a Commander-in Chief in the field, was not restricted to British or Commonwealth subjects, but also foreign subjects could be awarded. The medal was subsequently awarded to women and awards of the medal were announced in the London Gazette. Recipients of the medal, which was silver and circular of 36 mm in diameter, were allowed to use the letters ?MM? after their name. A bar is awarded for a subsequent act or acts of bravery. On the obverse is the head of the monarch shown and on the rim the regimental or equivalent number, rank, initials, surname and unit of the recipient is engraved in plain block capitals. The ribbon is dark blue, 1.25 inches wide, with five equal vertical centre stripes of white, red, white, red and white, each 0.125 inches wide. As many as 115,600 Military Medals were awarded during the First World War, along with 5,796 first bars, 180 second bars and 1 third bar. A further 15, 000 Military Medals were awarded during the Second World War.

Air Force Cross

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:46:18 -0700

by: David

Description: Air Force Cross The Air Force Cross was established on 3 June 1918, the birthday of King George V, and is awarded to officers and warrant officers of the RAF for an act of valour and courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations but not while in active operations against the enemy. Since the 1993 review of gallantry awards it is now available for all ranks of the RAF services. A bar is awarded for an additional act which would have warranted the AFC. The bar has an eagle in the centre and the year of the award is engraved on the reverse. The Air Force Cross has the shape of a silver cross and is composed of aeroplane propellor blades, with the end of the four blades enscribed with the Royal Cypher G (top), R (left), VI (bottom) and I (Right). The top arm is ensigned by a crown. In the centre of the obverse is a roundel displaying Hermes, mounted on a hawk in flight, bestowing a wreath. On the reverse of the award, within a central circle, the Royal Cypher GV, GVI, EIIR are engraved, above the date 1918, the year when the award appeared. The AFC is issued unnamed. The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide and consists of alternating red and white stripes (0.125 inches) leaning to the left at 45 degrees. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal.

Distinguished Service Cro

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:45:36 -0700

by: David

Description: Distinguished Service Cross Originally designated the Conspicuous Service Cross (1901-1914), this award was in October 1914 renamed the Distinguished Service Cross and awarded to naval personnel, from Warrant Officer to Lieutenant, for the performance of meritorious or Distinguished services before the enemy. In 1939, Commanders and Lieutenant-Commanders were also made eligible for this award. Members of the Air Force or Army serving with the Fleet were also eligible. Bars were awarded for the performance of subsequent acts of service before the enemy. The slip-on bar is silver, with a crown in the centre. Bars for second awards were authorised in 1916 and in 1931 eligibility for the award was enlarged to include officers of the Merchant Navy. In 1940 Army and RAF officers serving abroad naval vessels also became eligible for the award and since 1945 fewer than 100 DSC?s have been awarded. The silver coloured award, which has a height of 44 mm. and a maximum width of 35 mm., has the shape of a cross and on the obverse the Royal Cypher ?GRI?, surmounted by a crown. The reverse of the award is plain apart from the hallmark, with the year of the award engraved on the lower arm. The ribbon is 34.9 mm wide and consists of three equal vertical stripes, navy blue, white and navy blue. A total of 199 DSC?s have gone to Canadians, with 34 first and 5 second Bars.

Distinguished Flying Cros

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:44:53 -0700

by: David

Description: Distinguished Flying Cross The DFC was established on 3 June 1918, the birthday of King George V, and is awarded to Officers and Warrant officers for on act of valour and courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemey. A straight silver bar is a further enhancement of the DFC, awarded for additional acts under the same terms as the cross. The award has the shape of a silver cross. On the obverse aeroplane propellers are superimposed upon the vertical arms of the cross. Within a central winged roundel which is encircled by a wreath of laurels and surmounted by a Imperial Crown, appear the letters RAF. In the central circle on the reverse the Royal Cyphers, GV, GVI, EIIR, appears above the date. The year of issue is engraved on the lower arm of the award. The DFC is issued unnamed. The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of alternating violet and white stripes, each 0.125 inches wide, leaning at 45 degrees from the vertical. Total issued during World War II : 4.018 awards a Distinguished Flying Cross. 214 awards a bar. 5 awards a second bar.

Military Cross

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:44:12 -0700

by: David

Description: Military Cross The Military Cross was instituted on 28th. December 1915 as a recognition of distinguished and meritorious service in battle in situations not sufficient to warrant the Victoria Cross. The Military Cross can be awarded to commissioned officers of the substantive rank of Captain or below or Warrant Officers. In 1920, the terms were altered to clearly state the award was for gallant and distinguished services in action and that naval and air force officers could be awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinuished services on the ground. On performing a second or subsequent such action, the recipient will be awarded a bar to the Military Cross. On each arm of the silver-coloured Military Cross is an Imperial Crown and in the centre of the award is the ?Imperial? and ?Royal Cypher? of the reigning sovereign, GV, GVI or EIIR. The reverse of the award is plain with the year of the award engraved on the lower arm. The white ribbon is 1.375 inches wide with a central vertical purple stripe (0.5 inches wide). A total of 3,727 Military Crosses have gone to Canadians, with 324 first bars and 18 second bars.

Order of the Companions o

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:41:39 -0700

by: David

Description: Order of the Companions of Honour

Commander of the Order of

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:39:20 -0700

by: David

Description: Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Knights/Dames Commanders

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:38:45 -0700

by: David

Description: Knights/Dames Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Grand Cross of the Order

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:38:06 -0700

by: David

Description: Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire

Member of the Royal Victo

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:37:09 -0700

by: David

Description: Member of the Royal Victorian Order

Lieutenant of the Royal V

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:36:32 -0700

by: David

Description: Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order

Commander of the Royal Vi

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:35:53 -0700

by: David

Description: Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Knight/Dame Commander of

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:35:17 -0700

by: David

Description: Knight/Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Grand Cross of the Royal

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:34:45 -0700

by: David

Description: Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

Companion of the Indian E

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:33:30 -0700

by: David

Description: Companion of the Indian Empire

Commander of the Indian E

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:32:55 -0700

by: David

Description: Commander of the Indian Empire

Grand Commander of the In

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:32:21 -0700

by: David

Description: Grand Commander of the Indian Empire

Companion of the Order of

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:31:15 -0700

by: David

Description: Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George

Commander of the Order of

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:30:40 -0700

by: David

Description: Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George

Grand Cross of the Order

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:30:06 -0700

by: David

Description: Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

Companion of the Star of

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:28:57 -0700

by: David

Description: Companion of the Star of India

Order of Merit

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:27:22 -0700

by: David

Description: Order of Merit

Companion of the Order of

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:26:01 -0700

by: David

Description: Companion of the Order of the Bath

Commander of the Order of

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:25:28 -0700

by: David

Description: Commander of the Order of the Bath

Grand Cross of the Order

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:24:54 -0700

by: David

Description: Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Order of the Thistle

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:23:43 -0700

by: David

Description: Order of the Thistle

Order of the Garter

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:22:59 -0700

by: David

Description: Order of the Garter

George Medal

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:21:13 -0700

by: David

Description: George Medal The George Medal was established on 24 September 1940 and is awarded only for acts of great bravery and was intended primarily for civilians. Awards to the military were confined to actions for which purely military honours were not normally granted. The George Medal is named after King George VI who recognized that there was a need to reward acts of bravery in the absence of the enemy. The Royal Warrant authorising the award of the George Medal was published in January 1941, and it is ordained that the award shall be worn by recipients on the left breast, immediately after the King?s Police Medal and Fire Service Medal. By His Majesty?s Command : Winston Churchill. The George Medal is a circular silver medal (1.42 inches in diameter), and the obverse shows a crowned effigy of the reigning monarch and an legend : King George VI (facing left) a. GEORGEIVS VID: G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP: (1940-1949) b. GEORGIVS VI DEI GRA BRITT: OMN REX FID: + (1949-1952) Queen Elizabeth II (facing right) a. ELIZABETH II D: G: BR: OMN: REGINA F: D: (1952-1959) b. ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F: D: (1959-1964) The reverse of the award shows St.George on horseback slaying the Dragon with the legend THE GEORGE MEDAL around the top edge of the medal (modelled by George Kruger Gray). The crimson ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, with five equally spaced thin blue stripes, ?borrowed? from the George Cross ribbon. Names are engraved in Roman capital letters. Service personnel normally have their first name, surname, rank and regiment or corps, while civilians have only the surname and initials. A bar is awarded for a further act of bravery.

George Cross

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:20:20 -0700

by: David

Description: George Cross The George Cross is awarded for an act of the greatest heroism or the most conspiciuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger. It was intended primarily for civilians but later also in the for military service personnel for actions for which military honours were not granted and awarded for actions not in the face of the enemy. Recipients of the Empire Gallantry Medal and the next of kin of four recipients could exchange their award for the George Cross and in 1971 recipients of the Albert Medal could also exchange their award for the George Cross. A total of four women have been directly awarded the George Cross an by three of them it was made posthumously. Three women received their George Cross for service in the resistance SOE in enemy occupied territory during the Second World War. The George Cross was created on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. On 9 September 1940 London was bombed by the German Air Force whereby also Buckingham Palace was hit. This experience created a new emotional bond between the Monarch and the British people because the King could understand now what the British people were going through. The planning and the design for the George Cross and George Medal was therefore almost entirely his own work. The decoration concists of a plain silver cross and in the centre is a circular medallion showing St.George and the dragon and surrounded by the inscription ? For Gallantry ?. The reverse of the award is plain and bears the name of the recipient and the date of the award. The George Cross, which is worn before all other decorations except the Victoria Cross, is suspended from a dark blue ribbon, which is 1.5 inches wide, threaded through a bar adorned with laurel leaves. One of the four women who has been awarded with the George Cross was Noor Inayat Khan. This Russian woman was dropped above occupied France on 16 June 1943 to help the French resistance with their activities. After approximately three months she was betrayed and captured by the Gestapo. Through the many interrogations she refused to give them any information and was send to a prisonercamp into Germany. There also she refused to give any information and on 12 September 1944 she was send to Dachau concentration camp where she was shot on 13 September 1944.

Victoria Cross

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:19:11 -0700

by: David

Description: Victoria Cross On 29 January 1856 Queen Victoria of Great Britain signed a Royal Warrant, which instituted a new decoration for officers and men deserving some sort of recognition. On the Queens request the award was made retrospective to 1854. In this year Great Britain became involved in a war with Russia, this conflict would be known as the Crimean War. The Royal Warrant mentioned that the Victoria Cross could only be awarded to those officers and men who have served in the presence of the enemy, and shall have then performed some signal act of valour or devotion to their country. It is further mentioned that neither rank, nor long service, nor wounds, nor any other circumstance or condition whatsoever, save the merit of conspicuous bravery, shall be held to establish a sufficient claim to the honour. The Victoria Cross is highly valued in British military history and has developed into the highest decoration for gallantry that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces since 1854. The Victoria Cross is made from metal taken of Chinese cannons captured from the Russians during the Crimean War.The decoration is formed as a Maltese Cross ensigned with a lion upon the Royal Crest. On the obverse side of the decoration the text ?For Valour? is mentioned. On the reverse side of the decoration some details about the Victoria Cross recipient are mentioned. Common details are name, rank, unit and the date of the act of gallantry. Originally the ribbon was dark blue for the Royal Navy and crimson for the Army. A Royal Warrant dated 22 May 1920, signed by Winston Churchill, authorized that the Crimson ribbon should be adopted by all services of the English Forces. Some facts about the Victoria Cross: Ever since 1856 each Victoria Cross is handmade by Hancocks, a London Jewellers, and therefore every decoration is unique in its sort. The Victoria Cross was, and is only awarded by Royal assent and is usually presented by the monarch. The Victoria Cross has been presented 1354 times since its institution. The first presentation was to C.D. Lewis, for his heroic actions in the Baltic Sea on 21 June 1854. The last two decorations are presented to Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Jones and Sergeant Ian McKay, for their heroic actions during the Falklands War on 12 June 1982. The first presentation of the Victoria Cross was made in Hyde Park on 26 Jun 1857 where Queen Victoria decorated 62 officers and men for their heroic actions during the Crimean War. Only three men have received the Victoria Cross twice. These are Arthur Martin-Leake, Noel Chavasse and Charles Upham. There are three cases where both father and son have received the Victoria Cross. Only four times the Victoria Cross was presented to brothers. During the Second World War the Victoria Cross was presented 182 times, Charles Upham received the Victoria Cross twice during this campaign. For actions during the Normandy Landings of 6 June 1944 only one Victoria Cross was awarded, this went to Stanley Hollis, a member of the Green Howards. Since 1920 the Victoria Cross can be awarded posthumously, and until 1977 this was the only English decoration that could be awarded posthumously. The largest number of Victoria Crosses won in a single day was on 16 November 1856 during the Indian Mutiny. On this day 24 men were awarded this British decoration. The largest number of Victoria Crosses won in a single action was on 22 January 1879 at Rorke?s Drift during the Zulu War. In reference to this action 11 men were awarded this English decoration. Fourteen men not born British or Commonwealth citizens have received the Victoria Cross. These were five Americans, one Belgian, three Danes, two Germans, one Swede, a Swiss and a Ukrainian. The Royal Artillery is the corps that has won the highest number of Victoria Crosses since its institution. This unit has won the Victoria Cross 51 times, the Royal Engineers have won the Victoria Cross 41 times and the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Rifle Brigade have each won the Victoria Cross 27 times. Since 1945 the Victoria Cross has been awarded only 11 times, the last two during the Falklands War in 1982.