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The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was (until 1993) the second level military decoration
Military decoration

A military decoration is a state decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform....
 awarded other ranks
Other Ranks

Other Ranks in the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are those personnel who are not commissioned officers. In the Royal Navy, these personnel are called Naval ratings....
 of the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 countries.

The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean War
Crimean War

The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Oriental War was fought between the Russian Empire on one side and an alliance of France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire on the other....
, to recognise gallantry within the other ranks. The medal was the other ranks' equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order

The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth of Nations countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat....
 when awarded for bravery to commissioned officers, although it ranked well below that order in precedence.

Although considered to be the army's second ranking gallantry award, the DCM was almost always seen as a "near miss for the VC". From 1942, members of the Navy and Air Force were entitled to the award.

In the aftermath of the 1993 review of the honours system, as part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the DCM was discontinued (along with the award of the DSO for gallantry and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal

for Conspicuous Gallantry Medal of SingaporeThe Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was, until 1993, a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Armed Forces and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth of Nations countries, below commissioned officer rank, for conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy at sea or...
).






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The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was (until 1993) the second level military decoration
Military decoration

A military decoration is a state decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform....
 awarded other ranks
Other Ranks

Other Ranks in the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are those personnel who are not commissioned officers. In the Royal Navy, these personnel are called Naval ratings....
 of the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 countries.

The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean War
Crimean War

The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Oriental War was fought between the Russian Empire on one side and an alliance of France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire on the other....
, to recognise gallantry within the other ranks. The medal was the other ranks' equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order

The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth of Nations countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat....
 when awarded for bravery to commissioned officers, although it ranked well below that order in precedence.

Although considered to be the army's second ranking gallantry award, the DCM was almost always seen as a "near miss for the VC". From 1942, members of the Navy and Air Force were entitled to the award.

In the aftermath of the 1993 review of the honours system, as part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the DCM was discontinued (along with the award of the DSO for gallantry and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal

for Conspicuous Gallantry Medal of SingaporeThe Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was, until 1993, a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Armed Forces and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth of Nations countries, below commissioned officer rank, for conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy at sea or...
). These three decorations were replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is a second level military decoration of the United Kingdom British armed forces.The CGC was instituted in the aftermath of the 1993 review of the honours system....
, which now serves as the second level award for gallantry for all ranks across the whole armed forces.

Bars
Medal bar

A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the Military campaign or Military operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the recipient has met the...
 were awarded to the DCM in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials or post-nominal titles, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour....
 DCM.

Description

  • A silver medal 36mm in diameter. The original obverse of this medal depicted a trophy of arms as seen on early Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. However in 1902 this was replaced by the effigy of the reigning monarch.
  • The reverse on all issues bears the inscription 'FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD'.
  • The suspender is of an ornate scroll type.
  • The ribbon is 32mm wide, with three equal parts crimson, dark blue, and crimson.
  • Bars were authorised for subsequent awards originally bearing the date of the subsequent awards but changing to laurel
    Bay Laurel

    The Bay Laurel , also known as True Laurel, Sweet Bay, Grecian Laurel, Laurel, or Bay Tree, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub reaching 10?18 m tall, native to the Mediterranean region....
     wreaths in 1916.


Bibliography

  • Mackay, J and Mussel, J (eds) - Medals Yearbook - 2005, (2004), Token Publishing.


See also

  • Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal
    • British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
    • Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal 1914-1920 by Robert Walker ISBN (090745500X).


    External links