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The 'George Medal' ('GM') is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.^[1]
The GM was instituted on 24 September1940 by King George VI.^[2] At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage. The existing awards open to civilians were not judged suitable to meet the new situation, therefore it was decided that the George Cross and the George Medal would be instituted to recognise both civilian gallantry in the face of enemy action and brave deeds more generally.
Announcing the new award, the King said: ''"In order that they should be worthily and promptly recognised, I have decided to create, at once, a new mark of honour for men and women in all walks of civilian life. I propose to give my name to this new distinction, which will consist of the George Cross, which will rank next to the Victoria Cross, and the George Medal for wider distribution."''
The Warrant for the GM (along with that of the GC), dated 24 January1941, was published in the London Gazette on 31 January1941.
The medal is granted in recognition of "''acts of great bravery''."^[3] The GM was originally not issued posthumously, however the warrant was amended in 1977 to for such awards, several of which have been subsequently made.^[4]
The medal is primarily a civilian award; however the George Medal may be awarded to military personnel for gallant conduct which is not in the face of the enemy.^[5] As the Warrant states:
:''The Medal is intended primarily for civilians and award in Our military services is to be confined to actions for which purely military Honours are not normally granted.''^[6]
Bars are awarded to the GM in recognition of the performance of further acts of bravery meriting the award. In undress uniform or on occasions when the medal ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette is worn on the ribbon to indicate each bar.^[7] Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters GM.^[8]
The details of all awards to British and Commonwealth recipients are published in the London Gazette.

Contents

Description

Notable Recipients

Notes

Bibliography

See also

External links

Description

★ The George Medal is a circular silver medal. The obverse depicts the crowned effigy of the reigning monarch and a legend.

★ The reverse show St. George on horseback slaying the dragon on the coast of England, with the legend THE GEORGE MEDAL around the top edge of the medal

★ The ribbon is red with five equally spaced thin blue stripes. The blue colour is taken from the George Cross ribbon.

Notable Recipients

★ John Bridge (GM and Bar)

★ Arthur Cobby

★ John Edward Dillon (GM) [1]

★ Leon Goldsworthy

★ Mike Hailwood

★ Bernard Peter de Neumann

★ Tenzing Norgay

★ Nathaniel Meyer Victor Lord Rothschild

★ Lisa Potts

★ David Purley

★ Hugh Randall Syme (GM and Bar)

★ Nancy Wake

★ Maurice Griffiths

Notes

1. Although certain Commonwealth Realms have now instituted their own indigenous honours systems, replacing the GM and other Commonwealth awards so far as their citizens are concerned.
2. British Gallantry Medals, p138
3. London Gazette, 31 January1941 - Warrant, Fifth clause
4. Warrant of 30 November1977, published in London Gazette on 5 December1977
5. Which could not therefore be recognised by a military decoration, given that they typically require gallantry in the face of the enemy.
6. London Gazette, 31 January1941 - Warrant, Second clause
7. London Gazette, 31 January1941 - Warrant, Seventh clause
8. London Gazette, 31 January1941 - Warrant, Ninth clause

Bibliography

★ Abbott, PE and Tamplin, JMA - ''British Gallantry Awards'', (1981), Nimrod Dix and Co.

★ Duckers, P - ''British Gallantry Awards 1855-2000'', (2001), Shire Publications

★ Mackay, J and Mussell, J (eds) - ''Medal Yearbook - 2005'', (2004), Token Publishing.

See also

★ British and Commonwealth orders and decorations

External links

★ New Zealand Defence Force - Medal information page

★ Stephen Stratford medal page