Entitlement to British Gallantry Awards

In the early 1990's the British Government under Prime Minister John Major changed the British Honours System. These changes removed awards that were previously designated for other ranks only and both officers and other ranks became eligible for the same awards. This is similar to the Victoria Cross which had always been awarded to all ranks. By removing the distinction of rank, all ranks across all services had an identical structure of awards.

Therefore this page is split:

1) Gallantry Awards After 1995
a) The New Operational Gallantry Structure for All Services and All Ranks
b) The New Non-Operational Gallantry Structure for Civilians and All Ranks of the Services

2) Who was Eligible for Which Medals Before 1995

3) Alphabetical List of British Gallantry Medals


1) Gallantry Awards After 1995

The following seven gallantry medals were no longer awarded:

i) Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
ii) Distinguished Conduct Medal
iii) Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)
iv) Distinguished Service Medal
v) Military Medal
vi) Distinguished Flying Medal
vii) Air Force Medal

The Air Force Cross became a non-operational gallantry award and no longer awarded for meritorious service. For meritorious service the OBE or MBE would be awarded.

Mentions in Despatches are now awarded only for gallantry in active operations against the enemy.

The Queen's Commendation for Bravery now replaces the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

The Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air replaces the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.

Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service is a new meritorious service award.

The Distinguished Service Order now has a new and important role. It is retained across all Services as an award for recognition of exceptional service in positions of substantial responsibility for command and leadership during active operations.

There has also been some changes to the Meritorious Service Structure for Service and Civilians. These are not gallantry awards and the new system is not known. 

a) The New Operational Gallantry Structure for All Services and All Ranks

1st level Victoria Cross
2nd level Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
3rd level Distinguished Service Cross, Military Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross
4th level Mention in Despatches

b) The New Non-Operational Gallantry Structure for Civilians and All Ranks of the Services

1st level George Cross
2nd level George Medal
3rd level Queen's Gallantry Medal and Air Force Cross (not for civilians)
4th level Queen's Commendation for Bravery and Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air

2) Who was Eligible for Which Medals Before 1995

The following table indicates which ranks and services are eligible for the various gallantry awards before 1995.

Army, Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Marines (RM), and Royal Air Force (RAF)

All ranks
VC - (Army, RN & RM, RAF)

Officers
DSO (Army, RN & RM, RAF)

Junior Officers / Warrant Officers
MC (Army)
DSC (previously CSC) (RN & RM)
MC (for Ground Operations), DFC (for Flying on Operations) and AFC (for Non-Operational Flying) (RAF)

Warrant Officers, NCOs & Other Ranks
DCM, MM and MSM (Army)
DCM (for Ground Operations), CGM, DSM and MSM (RN & RM)
DCM (for Ground Operations), CGM (for Flying on Active Operations), MM (for Ground Operations), DFM (for Flying on Active Operations), AFM (for Non-Operational Flying) and MSM (RAF)


3) Alphabetical List of British Gallantry Medals

This table refers to awards and honours system before 1993.

i) Air Force Cross
ii) Air Force Medal
iii) British Empire Medal
iv) Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
v) Conspicuous Service Cross
vi) Distinguished Conduct Medal
vii) Distinguished Flying Cross
viii) Distinguished Flying Medal
ix) Distinguished Service Cross
x) Distinguished Service Medal
xi) Distinguished Service Order
xii) Empire Gallantry Medal
xiii) George Cross
xiv) George Medal
xv) Indian Distinguished Service Medal
xvi) Indian Order of Merit
xvii) King's African Rifles DCM
xviii) Mentions in Despatches
xix) Meritorious Service Medal
xx) Military Cross
xxi) Military Medal
xxii) New Zealand Cross
xxiii) Order of the Bath, Military Division
xxiv) Order of the British Empire
xxv) Queen's Gallantry Medal
xxvi) Royal Red Cross Medal
xxvii) Sea Gallantry Medal
xxviii) Victoria Cross
xxix) West African Frontier Force DCM