Mentioned in Despatches (MID) is a
militaryA military is an organization authorized by its nation to use force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. As an adjective the term "military" is also used to refer to any property or aspect of a military...
award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service.
A
despatchDespatch is an alternative spelling of dispatch used in British English.It also can refer to any of the following:-Business:* Merchants Despatch, a refrigerated freight transporting company, which founded the village of Despatch, New York...
is an official report from a senior commander, usually of an
armyAn army An army An army (from Latin armata "armed (things)" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based Military of a nation. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
, to his superiors, detailing the conduct of military operations.
In the
British Armed ForcesThe armed forces of the United Kingdom, known as His/Her Majesty's Armed Forces or sometimes the British Armed Forces, and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, encompasses a navy, an army, and an air force...
, this report is published in the
London GazetteThe London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the UK, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
. If a subordinate officer or soldier
performs a noteworthy action included in the report, he/she is said to have been "mentioned in despatches".
In the nations of the
British CommonwealthThe Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the Commonwealth and previously as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-three independent member states. Most of them were formerly part of the British Empire. They co-operate within a framework of common values...
, soldiers who are mentioned in despatches, whilst not awarded a medal, receive a certificate and are entitled to wear a silver or bronze (depending upon date)
oak leafAn oak leaf cluster or oakleaves is a common device which is placed on U.S. military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration...
on the ribbon of the
campaign medalBritish campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and Civilians participating in specified military campaigns...
issued to soldiers who served in a campaign or conflict.
Mentioned in Despatches (MID) is a
militaryA military is an organization authorized by its nation to use force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. As an adjective the term "military" is also used to refer to any property or aspect of a military...
award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service.
A
despatchDespatch is an alternative spelling of dispatch used in British English.It also can refer to any of the following:-Business:* Merchants Despatch, a refrigerated freight transporting company, which founded the village of Despatch, New York...
is an official report from a senior commander, usually of an
armyAn army An army An army (from Latin armata "armed (things)" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based Military of a nation. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
, to his superiors, detailing the conduct of military operations.
United Kingdom and Commonwealth
In the
British Armed ForcesThe armed forces of the United Kingdom, known as His/Her Majesty's Armed Forces or sometimes the British Armed Forces, and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, encompasses a navy, an army, and an air force...
, this report is published in the
London GazetteThe London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the UK, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
. If a subordinate officer or soldier
performs a noteworthy action included in the report, he/she is said to have been "mentioned in despatches".
In the nations of the
British CommonwealthThe Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the Commonwealth and previously as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-three independent member states. Most of them were formerly part of the British Empire. They co-operate within a framework of common values...
, soldiers who are mentioned in despatches, whilst not awarded a medal, receive a certificate and are entitled to wear a silver or bronze (depending upon date)
oak leafAn oak leaf cluster or oakleaves is a common device which is placed on U.S. military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration...
on the ribbon of the
campaign medalBritish campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and Civilians participating in specified military campaigns...
issued to soldiers who served in a campaign or conflict. From 1920 to 1994, the oak leaf was bronze, and in the
Canadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
it still is. If no
campaign medalA campaign medal is a military decoration which is awarded to a member of the military who serves in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theater...
is awarded, the oak leaf is worn on the left breast of dress uniform. The oak leaves were first issued after the end of
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
.
Prior to 1979 a Mention in Despatches was one of the few awards that could be made
posthumousA posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has died, usually in honor of an action associated with his or her death....
ly, the others being the
Victoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration which is, or has been, awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals...
and
George CrossThe George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
.
Soldiers can be mentioned multiple times. The British World War I Victoria Cross recipient
John VerekerField Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort VC, GCB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MVO, MC was a British and Anglo-Irish soldier who served in both World War I and II, rising to the rank of field marshal and receiving the Victoria Cross, the highest Commonwealth award for...
, later Field Marshal Viscount Gort, was mentioned in despatches nine times, as was the Canadian general
Sir Arthur CurrieSir Arthur William Currie GCMG, KCB , was a Canadian general during World War I. He had the unique distinction of starting his military career on the very bottom rung as a pre-war militia gunner before rising through the ranks to become the first Canadian commander of the four divisions of the...
. The
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n general H.G. Bennett was mentioned in despatches a total of eight times during the First World War, as was
John DillField Marshal Sir John Greer Dill, GCB, CMG, DSO was a British commander in World War I and World War II...
.
Australia
Australian service personnel are no longer eligible to be Mentioned in Despatches. Since 15 January 1991, when the
Australian Honours SystemThe Commonwealth of Australia until 1975 used the Imperial or British honours system. Only a handful of peerages were created for Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Australia. Some hereditary peers and baronets whose titles derive from Britain rather...
was established, the MID was replaced by two Australian decorations—the
Commendation for GallantryThe Commendation for Gallantry is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force it recognises acts of gallantry in action considered worthy of recognition. The Commendation for Gallantry was introduced on 15 January 1991, replacing the Imperial equivalent of the Mention...
, a fourth level gallantry decoration, and the
Commendation for Distinguished ServiceThe Commendation for Distinguished Service is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for the distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations. The Commendation for Distinguished Service was introduced in 1991 and replaced the Imperial...
, a third level distinguished service decoration.
Canada
Mention in Dispatches is an award to recognize a mention in dispatches from a senior commander for brave or meritorious service, normally in the field. Mentions in Dispatches are among the
list of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada.
Pakistan
Under the current Pakistani military honours system, the
Imtiazi SanadImtiazi Sanad is the fifth highest Pakistani military award for gallantry or distinguished service in combat. It can be conferred upon any member of the Pakistani armed forces or paramilitary forces who is mentioned in the dispatches of a senior commander for actions that do not warrant a gallantry...
is conferred upon any member of the
Pakistani armed forcesThe Pakistan Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of Pakistan. Pakistan Armed Forces ranked 6th in the world.The Pakistani military was first formed when the nation achieved independence from the British Empire during the Partition of British India in 1947.Its component branches...
who are mentioned in dispatches for an act of gallantry that does not qualify for a gallantry award.
United States of America
In the early U. S. Army no awards or medals were given with the exception of a
Purple heartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
then known as the Badge of Military Merit, though this award fell into disuse shortly after the Revolution. Being noted in dispatches or official reports was the common manner in which to recognize heroic action and gallantry of individuals and units.
During the
American Civil WarThe American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several other names, was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America...
, the Medal of Honor was created, thus instituting a system of awards in the American Military. In the years leading up to the First World War, Citations for bravery, very similar to the Commonwealth practice of Mentioned in Despatches, evolved into Citation Stars, and eventually the Bronze and Silver Star Medals.
France
In the French military, mentions in Despatches—or more precisely, mention in Orders (
citation dans les ordres)—are made by senior commanders, from the position of regimental commanding officer to General-in-Chief, in the Orders they give to their unit, recognizing the gallantry of an action performed some time before. The mentions are awarded for gallantry to any member of the French military or its allies and are, depending on the degree, roughly the equivalent for U.S.
Bronze StarThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. When awarded for bravery, it is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award in the order...
and
Silver StarThe Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is also the third highest award given for valor ....
or UK
Military CrossThe Military Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and
Military MedalThe Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
.
Mentions made during World War I,
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
or colonial conflicts were accompanied with awards of a
Croix de guerreThe croix de guerre is a military decoration of both France and Belgium, where it is also known as the Oorlogskruis . It was first created in 1915 in both countries and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins...
or a
Croix de la Valeur MilitaireThe Croix de la Valeur Militaire is a military decoration of France that recognizes individual holding a citation for arms earned in theaters of operations which are not subject to the award of the Croix de guerre.-Décoration:...
, with attachments on the ribbon depending on the mention's degree : the lowest degree is represented by a
bronze star while the highest degree is represented by a
bronze palm
- a bronze star for those who had been mentioned at the regiment
A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. A regiment can be broken into two distinct categories, one being an administrative unit which is responsible for non-operational management of battalions , while the other being a deployable combat...
or brigadeA brigade is a military unit that is typically composed of two to five regiments or battalions, depending on the era and nationality of a given army. Usually, a brigade is a sub-component of a division, a larger unit consisting of two or more brigades; however, some brigades are classified as a...
level.
- a silver star, for those who had been mentioned at the division
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between ten to thirty thousand soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions make up a corps...
level.
- a silver gilt star for those who had been mentioned at the corps level.
- a bronze palm for those who had been mentioned at the army
An army An army An army (from Latin armata "armed (things)" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based Military of a nation. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
level.
- a silver palm represents five bronze ones.
- a silver gilt palm for those who had been mentioned at the Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French fighters in World War II who decided to continue fighting against Axis forces after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation.-Definition:...
level (World War II only).
Nowadays, a mention with award of the Croix de la valeur militaire (the Croix de guerre is no longer awarded) is rare, and most mentions are awarded with a gold
Médaille de la Défense nationale and the same attachments as the Croix de guerre.
A unit can be mentioned in Despatches. Its flag is then decorated with the corresponding Croix. After two mentions, the men of the unit are entitled to wear a
fourragèreThe fourragère is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole. The award has been firstly adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.- History :...
.
Germany
During World War II, the
WehrmachtWehrmacht was the name of the unified armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe ....
sometimes mentioned individual soldiers in its daily radio report to the public. This was known as the
WehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report made by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts. The first report was made on 1 September 1939 and the last report was given on 9 May 1945....
and a mention in this report was held in high esteem by German soldiers. In mid 1941 mentions in Wehrmachtbericht were awarded by the soldier's name being included on the Honour Roll of the German Army. Later, after January 1944, inclusion on this list was also sometimes awarded with an honour clasp, known as the
Honour Roll Clasp of the ArmyThe Honour Roll Clasp of the Army or Ehrenblatt des Heeres was a Decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. The total number awarded was 4,556. -History:...
.
Confederate States
During the
American Civil WarThe American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several other names, was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America...
, the
Confederate ArmyThe Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America during its brief existence from 1861 to 1865. It was established in two phases with provisional and permanent organizations, which existed concurrently....
offered no awards or medals. However, Confederate commander
Robert E. LeeRobert Edward Lee was a career United States Army officer, an engineer, and among the most celebrated generals in American history. Lee was the son of Major General Henry Lee III "Light Horse Harry" , Governor of Virginia, and his second wife, Anne Hill Carter...
would sometimes mention individual soldiers and units in his dispatches, and this was considered to be the highest honor among Confederate soldiers.
External links