Topic: Medals
Eligible Ranks; Orders, Decorations, and Medals (1918)
Instructions Regarding Recommendations for Honours and Awards, Military Secretary's Branch, General Headquarters, 1918
Honour, Decoration, or Medal | Ranks Eligible | Qualifications or Remarks |
| K.C.B. | General Officers. | General Officers with distinguished records. (The nature of the appointment and services rendered must determine whether the K.C.B or K.C.M.G. is the more suitable Order.) |
| K.C.M.G. | General Officers. | General Officers as above, but in a lesser degree. (Or to reward distinguished services of General Officers already in possession of a K.C.B.) |
| C.B. | Major-Generals. Brig.-Generals. Senior Colonels. Lieut.-Colonels.* | * Recommendations may be made in special cases in favour of Lieutenant-Colonels who are already in possession of the C.M.G. |
| C.M.G. | Brig.-Generals. Colonels. Senior Lt.-Colonels. Majors.* | * Majors are eligible for this Order, but the award of the C.M.G. to a Major must necessarily be very exceptional. |
| D.S.O. | Usually reserved for Lieut.-Cols. and Majors. The statutes of the Distinguished Service Order impose no limitations as to the rank of Officers eligible. It is only awarded to those below the rank of Major for services of marked gallantry, which should be dealt with as an Immediate Award. | For "Services in Action," see para 16 (b). (see below) |
| The British Empire Order | All Officers (for grades see para 17.) personnel of the Nursing Services, Officials of the Q.M.A.A.C., Commandants of the Women's Legion. | Those who have rendered important services other than "in action." N.B.—A member of the Nursing Services should not be recommended if qualified for award of the R.R.C. (see below). |
| Military Cross | See Under "Military Cross" in para 27. (details as follows) (a) All officers up to an including the rank of Captain. (b) Officers holding temporary rank of Major whose substantive rank is not higher than that of Captain. (c) Acting or temporary Chaplains, 3rd Class, and Chaplains, 4th Class. (d) Warrant Officers (Classes 1 and 2) holding substantive or temporary, not acting, rank. | For "Services in Action," see para 16 (b). (see below) |
| D.C.M. | All below commissioned rank. Ladies Are not eligible. | For "Services in Action," see para 16 (b). (see below) |
| M.S.M. | All below commissioned rank. Ladies Are not eligible. | For devotion to duty in a theatre of war. When, however, the essence of the services rendered lies in gallantry shown in action, the services, if considered worthy, should be met by the immediate award of the Military Medal. In no case should a soldier be rewarded by the Meritorious Service Medal for services which qualify him for the Distinguished Conduct Medal or the Military Medal. |
| Medal of the British Empire Order | Subordinates of the Q.M.A.A.C. and members of the Women's Legion. Civilians (British). | For distinguished service in which elements of the nature of gallantry or self-sacrifice are present. |
| Royal Red Cross (1st Class) | A member of the Nursing Staff who is a fully trained Nurse. | For exceptional devotion and competency in the performance of actual military nursing duties, or for some very exceptional act of bravery or devotion at her post of duty. |
| Associate Royal Red Cross (A.R.R.C.) | A fully trained or an Assistant Nurse. Special Military Probationer, V.A.D. Nursing Member. | For special competancy in the performance of actual military nursing over a long period (a minimum of 8 year's service is recommended), or for some very exceptional act of bravery or devotion at her post of duty. |
"Services in Action"
16. (a) In future the Distinguished Service Order, the Military Cross and the Distinguished Conduct Medal will be awarded for "Services in Action" only,
(b) The definition of the term "Services in Action" shall be held to mean:—
(i.) Services under fire.
(ii.) Distinguished individual services in connection with air raids, bombardments, or other enemy action which at the time produces conditions equivalent to service in actual combat, and demands the same personal elements of command, initiative or control on the part of individuals and, in a lesser degree only possibly, entails the same risks.
Posted by regimentalrogue
at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 11 June 2017 10:50 PM EDT
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