Queen's Gallantry Medal
Encyclopedia
The Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM) is the third level civil decoration
of the United Kingdom
and Commonwealth
.
It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire
for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal
for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal
for Gallantry. It therefore ended the rather strange situation whereby the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry was awarded for lesser acts of bravery than the George Medal
, but took precedence over it in order of wear and postnominal letters. From 30 November 1977, it has also been awarded posthumously, and thus from that date it also replaced the Queen's Police Medal
for Gallantry.
The medal is awarded for "exemplary acts of bravery", and is primarily a civilian medal, although military personnel can receive it too. Recipients may use the post nominal letters "QGM". Fewer than 600 have been awarded.
Civil decoration
A civil decoration is a decoration awarded to civilians for distinguished service. Military personnel might also be eligible for services of a non-military nature...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
.
It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal
British Empire Medal
The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal
Colonial Police Medal
The Colonial Police Medal is a medal awarded for gallantry or distinguished service to police officers in British Overseas Territories and formerly in Crown Colonies and British Dependent Territories. Officers from these areas can also be awarded the Queen's Police Medal, which is considered to be...
for Gallantry. It therefore ended the rather strange situation whereby the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry was awarded for lesser acts of bravery than the George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
, but took precedence over it in order of wear and postnominal letters. From 30 November 1977, it has also been awarded posthumously, and thus from that date it also replaced the Queen's Police Medal
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
for Gallantry.
The medal is awarded for "exemplary acts of bravery", and is primarily a civilian medal, although military personnel can receive it too. Recipients may use the post nominal letters "QGM". Fewer than 600 have been awarded.
Description
- The QGM is silver and circular in shape, 36 mm in diameter. The obverse of the medal shows the crowned effigy of the monarch.
- The reverse bears the image of a St. Edward's CrownSt. Edward's CrownSt Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels, being the official coronation crown used in the coronation of first English, then British, and finally Commonwealth realms monarchs...
above the words 'The Queen's Gallantry Medal' in four lines, flanked by laurelBay LaurelThe bay laurel , also known as sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree, or simply laurel, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glossy leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking...
sprigs. - The ribbon is of three equal stripes of dark blue, pearl grey and dark blue with a narrow rose pink stripe in the centre.
- Further awards of the QGM are indicated by a silver bar ornated with laurel leaves. When the ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette denotes award of the Clasp.
See also
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
- Royal Logistic Corps#Operational honours Royal Logistic Corps Operational Honours