The Canadian Honours System. Christopher McCreery
The EGM could be awarded with a bar; none to Canadians.
Naming: Engraved capitals, full given name and surname.
Postnominals: EGM.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 1.
The Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal trophy arms obverse.
Origins: The Distinguished Conduct Medal was created during the Crimean War to recognize gallant acts rendered by soldiers and non-commissioned officers serving in the army. The DCM was created to meet the need to grant “an official gallantry medal.”[4] Queen Victoria established the DCM in 1854, and it endured a variety of changes over its nearly 150-year history. With the creation of the Victoria Cross in 1856, the DCM became the second-highest gallantry award open to those of warrant officer rank and below. A special dominion and colonial issue of the DCM was created in 1894; however, none were awarded under the regulations of the 1894 Royal Warrant, though a number of specimens are known to exist. The modern Canadian equivalent is the Star of Military Valour.
Criteria: Awarded to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men in recognition of distinguished conduct in the field.
Insignia: A circular silver medal 36 mm in diameter; there have been six obverse types awarded to Canadians:
• Edward VII type: Edward VII uncrowned in a field marshal’s uniform circumscribed by the legend EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR.
• George V 1st type: George V uncrowned in a field marshal’s uniform circumscribed by the legend GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND:IMP:.
• George V 2nd type: George V crowned in coronation robes circumscribed by the legend GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND:IMP:.
• George VI 1st type: George VI crowned circumscribed by the legend GEORGIVS VI D:G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP:.
• George VI 2nd type: George VI crowned circumscribed by the legend GEORGIVS VI DEI GRA: BRITT. OMN: REX FID: DEF+.
Distinguished Conduct Medal Edward VII obverse.
There were two reverse types of this medal awarded to Canadians:
• 1st type: plain with CANADA arched above the text FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD displayed on 4 lines with a decorative broken line at the base.
• 2nd type: plain with the text FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD displayed on 4 lines with a decorative broken line at the base.
Suspender: A swivelling claw-footed suspender with an ornate scroll bar.
Ribbon: A crimson ribbon 32 mm in width divided in the centre by a 10 mm stripe of dark blue.
Bars: A silver bar 33 mm wide with raised edge displaying laurel leaves in the centre slides on the ribbon.
Distinguished Conduct Medal George VI 1st type obverse.
Distinguished Conduct Medal reverse.
Naming: Impressed capitals, number, abbreviated rank, initials, surname, and unit.
Postnominals: DCM.
Other: One Canadian issue of the “trophy of arms” DCM is known to have sold at public auction; however, further details of this medal are not known. The CANADA reverse is only known to have been issued as specimens. The George V 2nd type was issued to a very small number of Canadians who earned the DCM during the First World War and had their medals replaced (due to loss or theft) during the 1930s. No Elizabeth II issues of this medal were awarded to Canadians. In 1993 the British replaced this decoration with the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 2,132, 38 1st bars and 1 2nd bar.
• South Africa: 16.
• First World War: 1,947 (36 1st bars; 1 2nd bar).
• Second World War: 162 (1 1st bar).
• Korean War: 7 (1 1st bar).
The Conspicuous Gallantry Medals
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal George V obverse.
Origins: The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was established by Queen Victoria initially in 1855 as a modified version of the Meritorious Service Medal with a special reverse displaying the text FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY. Initially, this medal was awarded only to ratings and petty officers of the Royal Navy and the equivalent ranks in the Royal Marines for conspicuous gallantry during the Crimean War but was discontinued after the establishment of the Victoria Cross in 1856. The decoration was revived in 1874 toward the end of the Ashanti War. Being one grade below the Victoria Cross, very few were awarded.
A Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Air) was established on January 15, 1943, to fill the gap of recognition that existed for non-commissioned officers and airmen between the Distinguished Flying Medal and the Victoria Cross. While the navy had the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Sea) and the army the Distinguished Conduct Medal, there was no 2nd-level gallantry award for those serving in the various Commonwealth air forces. It is no coincidence that this decoration was created during one of the most intense periods of air operations in the history of modern warfare. The Star of Military Valour has replaced the CGM (see chapter 18).
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for Air George VI obverse.
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal reverse.
Criteria: Dependent on branch of service. For the navy it was awarded to recognize seamen and non-commissioned officers who distinguished themselves by acts of conspicuous gallantry in action with the enemy. For the air force it was awarded to recognize airmen and non-commissioned officers who distinguished themselves by acts of conspicuous gallantry while flying in active operations against the enemy.
Insignia: A circular silver medal 36 mm in diameter, the obverse carrying a crowned effigy of King George VI circumscribed by the legend GEORGIVS VI D:G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP:. The reverse displays a Victorian-style Royal Crown at the top and the text FOR CONSPICUIOUS GALLANTRY on three lines with a small decorative broken line at the bottom, the entire text and crown encompassed between two branches of a laurel wreath.
Suspender: A swivelling claw-footed suspender with a straight bar.
Ribbon: Two separate ribbons were issued with this medal, the colour of ribbon being dependent on whether the medal was bestowed for action at sea or in the air.
• Sea: A white ribbon 32 mm wide edged with 3 mm of dark blue on each side.
• Air: A pale blue ribbon 32 mm wide edged with 3 mm of dark blue on each side.
Bars: None to Canadians.
Naming: Engraved or impressed capitals, number, abbreviated rank, initials, surname, and RCN or RCAF.
Postnominals: CGM.
Other: