The awards below are listed in the official order of precedence. The letters in brackets are put after a person’s surname to show their award. Individuals who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited a second award would be issued with a bar to wear on the ribbon (e.g. MC and bar).
Gallantry medals
First-level awards
Reserved for the most extraordinary feats of bravery, these medals are awarded regardless of rank.
Victoria Cross (VC): the highest and most prestigious award given 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’. Only 1,358 have been awarded to date.
George Cross (GC): the highest award for gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. Just 416 have been awarded.
Second-level awards
Recognising exceptional acts of bravery during active operations.
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) : the second-highest award for conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy. It was created in 1993 to remove distinctions of rank in the awarding of gallantry decorations. It replaced the DCM and the CGM as second level awards to other ranks and ratings and the DSO in its role as a gallantry award for officers.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO): originally awarded to officers for a high degree of gallantry while under enemy fire. In 1993 it was opened to all ranks and redefined as ‘highly successful command and leadership during active operations’. Around 15,000 have been awarded to date.
Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM): second-highest award for gallantry for other ranks of the army. In 1943 it became open to any branch for distinguished action on land. Replaced by the CGC in 1993. Around 30,200 were awarded.
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM): second-highest award for gallantry for other ranks and ratings of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. In 1943 it became open to any branch for distinguished action at sea. At the same time a RAF version was created for conspicuous gallantry in the air. Only 369 were awarded until replaced by the CGC.
George Medal (GM): the second highest decoration for civilians for conspicuous gallantry, or for military personnel for acts not in the presence of the enemy. Over 2,200 have been awarded.
Third-level awards
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Military Cross (MC) and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC): recognise acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea, on land and in the air respectively. Awarded to officers only prior to 1993. Over 80,000 have been awarded.
Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), Military Medal (MM), Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM): equivalent of the DSC, MC, and DFC for personnel below commissioned officer rank. Discontinued in 1993 when the other awards became available to all. Over 140,000 were awarded.
Air Force Cross (AFC): given in recognition of exemplary gallantry while flying not in the presence of the enemy.
King’s Gallantry Medal (KGM): given to civilians for acts of exemplary bravery at a level below that of the George Medal. Also awarded to military personnel for acts not in the presence of the enemy.
Fourth-level awards
Mentioned in Dispatches: the oldest form of recognition of gallantry, a Mention in Despatches involves not a medal but a citation in the London Gazette.
Service medals
Colonial wars
South Africa Medal (1854): awarded to officers and men of the Royal Navy and British Army who served in the Cape of Good Hope in any one of the three Kaffir Wars between 1834 and 1853.
South Africa Medal (1880): awarded to members of the British Army, Royal Naval Brigade and Colonial Volunteers who fought in a series of South African tribal wars between 1877 and 1879, most notably for the Anglo-Zulu War. Approximately 36,600 medals were awarded.
Queen’s Sudan Medal: awarded to British and Egyptian forces who took part in the Sudan campaign between June 1896 and September 1898.
Queen’s South Africa Medal: awarded to British and Colonial military personnel, and to civilians employed in an official capacity, who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa from 11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902. 26 clasps were awarded to indicate participation in particular actions and campaigns. Approximately 178,000 medals were awarded.
King’s South Africa Medal: awarded to all British and Colonial military personnel who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa after 1 January 1902 and who had completed 18 months service in the conflict prior to 1 June 1902. It recognised service in the difficult latter phases of the war and rewarded those who, by their long service in the field, had brought the campaign to a successful conclusion. The medal was never awarded singly but was always paired with the Queen’s South Africa Medal.
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First World War
British War Medal: awarded to anyone who either entered a theatre of war (an area of active fighting) or served overseas (perhaps as a garrison soldier) between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was later extended until 1920 to cover mine-clearing services and operations in the Russian Civil War. Approximately 6.4 million were issued.
Victory Medal: similar to the British War Medal, but only for those who entered a theatre of war (an area of active fighting). Approximately 5.7 million issued. All recipients also received the British War Medal.
1914 Star: also known as the Mons Star, it was issued to anyone who had served in France or Belgium from 5 August 1914 (the declaration of war) to 22 November 1914 (the end of the First Battle of Ypres). These were predominately the professional pre-war soldiers. Approximately 378,000 issued. All recipients also received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
1914-1915 Star: awarded to anyone who had served in any theatre of war outside the UK between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915, except those eligible for the 1914 Star. An estimated 2.4 million were issued. All recipients also received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Mercantile Marine War Medal: awarded to merchant seaman who made one or more voyages through a danger zone or served for not less than six months at sea, between 4 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. There was no minimum qualifying period for those killed or wounded by enemy action or taken prisoner. 133,135 awarded. All recipients also received the British War Medal.
Territorial War Medal: awarded to members of the British Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service serving with the Force on 4 August 1914 (or had completed four years’ service with the Force before 4 August 1914 and had re-joined on or before 30 September 1914) and who served overseas. Only 33,944 were awarded.
Second World War
Nine stars were issued to British and Commonwealth forces for the campaigns of the Second World War. Bizarrely, no more than six stars could be awarded to any one person. Those who qualified for more were given a clasp with the title of one of the stars to which they qualify, which was then attached to the ribbon of another star. All recipients also received the War Medal. There was no minimum qualifying period for those killed or wounded by enemy action, or those who received a gallantry medal or Mention in Dispatches.
1939–1945 Star: awarded for operational service between 3 September 1939 and either 8 May 1945 in Europe or 2 September 1945 in the Far East theatre. The broad criteria were 180 days of service within this period, plus other specific criteria depending on service arm. For example, naval personnel needed 180 days at sea while RAF air crew qualified after 60 days of service in an operational unit and at least one operational sortie. Air crew of fighter aircraft engaged in the Battle of Britain were also awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp, while air crew of Bomber Command who participated in at least one operational sortie were awarded the Bomber Command Clasp.
Atlantic Star: to honour those who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and intended primarily for those who served in shipping convoys and their escorts and anti-submarine forces, as well as to those who served on fast merchant ships which sailed alone.
Arctic Star: to honour those who served on the Arctic Convoys.
Air Crew Europe Star: awarded to air crews who flew operational flights over Europe from bases in the United Kingdom between 3 September 1939 to 5 June 1944. It was not awarded to supporting ground personnel.
Africa Star: awarded to personnel who served in North Africa, Malta or Egypt between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel qualified through service in the Mediterranean. Three clasps were instituted: ‘North Africa 1942–43’, ‘8th Army’ and ‘1st Army’, of which only the first to be earned may be worn on the ribbon.
Pacific Star: awarded for operational service in Malaya, Singapore, China, Hong Kong or Sumatra between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. No recipient could receive both the Pacific Star and the Burma Star and instead wore a clasp for the subsequent medal on the ribbon of the first.
Burma Star: awarded for operational service in Burma between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.
Italy Star: awarded for operational service in Sicily or Italy from the capture of Pantelleria on 11 June 1943 to the end of active hostilities in Europe on 8 May 1945. Those who served in Yugoslavia, Greece, Corsica or Sardinia between certain other specified dates also qualified.
France and Germany Star: awarded for operational service on land or in the air in North West Europe from 6 June 1944 (D-Day) to the end of active hostilities in Europe on 8 May 1945 (VE Day), as well as for Naval and Merchant Navy service directly in support of these land operations.
The Defence Medal: awarded for non-operational service (such as working in headquarters, on training bases and airfields, and members of the Home Guard or civil defence) in the UK or overseas.
The War Medal: awarded to anyone who had served full-time in the Armed Forces or the Merchant Navy for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. The medal was granted in addition to campaign stars and the Defence Medal.
All ribbon images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.