| Military Medal | |
|---|---|
  Obverse of medal and ribbon |
|
| Awarded by UK and Commonwealth | |
| Type | Military decoration. |
| Eligibility | British and (formerly) Commonwealth forces |
| Awarded for | acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire |
| Status | Discontinued in 1993 |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 25 March1916 (back dated to 1914) |
| First awarded | 1914 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
| Same | Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Flying Medal Air Force Medal |
| Next (lower) | Mention in Despatches |
The Military Medal was (until 1993) 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. The medal was established on 25 March1916. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Military Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers (although WOs could also be awarded the MM), although it took precedence below that decoration as well as the Distinguished Conduct Medal, also awarded to non-commissioned members of the Army. Recipients of the Military Medal were entitled to use the post-nominal letters "MM". In 1993, the Military Medal was discontinued, and since then the Military Cross has been awarded to personnel of all ranks.
Contents |
Description
- A circular silver medal of 36 mm diameter. The obverse bears the crowned effigy of the reigning monarch.
- The reverse has the inscription 'FOR BRAVERY IN THE FIELD' in four lines, surrounded by a laurel wreath, surmounted by the Royal Cypher and Imperial Crown
- The suspender is of an ornate scroll type.
- The ribbon is dark blue, 1.25 inches wide, with five equal centre stripes of white, red, white, red, and white (0.125 inches each).
- Silver, laurelled bars are authorised for subsequent awards.
Recipients of the Military Medal
Among the recipients are:
- Robert Charles Henry Kirkwood, 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force, Staff Sgt attached to Maori Batallion
- Thomas Axford, who also received the Victoria Cross
- Billy Bennett, English comedian
- Geoffrey Bingham, Australian theologian and author
- Sadie Bonnell, the first woman to win the MM
- Laurence Calvert, also received the Victoria Cross
- John James Chandler, also received the Distinguished Conduct Medal
- Albert Chowne, also received the Victoria Cross
- Jack Cock, English footballer
- William Coltman, who also received the Victoria Cross and was the most highly decorated NCO of WWI
- Ernest Albert Corey, believed to be the only person to be awarded the MM four times
- George Rex Gallagher, Canadian pharmacist, served as a medic in Sicily
- Cyril Edward Gourley, who also received the Victoria Cross
- William Hutt, Canadian actor
- Fred 'Buck' Kite, the only person to be awarded the MM and two Bars
- Robert Thomas Jackson, a member of the "Old Contemptables", who was also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason
- Andy McNab, SAS Sergeant and writer
- Tommy Prince, Devil's Brigade, Canadian Aboriginal Veteran, Canada's most decorated aboriginal soldier of WW II, also received the American Silver Star
- Chris Ryan, SAS Corporal and writer
- Roy Montgomery Robertson, Farmer from Bena, Gipsland, Victoria Australia. KIA 3.4.1918.
- Ralph Alfred Erskine Somerville, awarded MM as an enlisted soldier in WW1, was commissioned in the field and also received the Military Cross and bar.
- Randall Swingler, English poet
- Arthur Wesley Wheen, translator of All Quiet on the Western Front (MM and two bars)
- Jack Williams, who also received the Victoria Cross
- Raphael Louis Zengel, who also received the Victoria Cross
- Benjamin Wainman
- Henry Spiker, Acting Corporal in the Australian army.
- John Cramer MM Lance Corporal No2 Commando/RAMC Awarded MM during operation "Impact Royal" in Italy 1945.
- James Parker MM, No2 Commando/11 SAS Member of X Troop First British Paratrooper Raid WWII.
- Ernest Albert Corey, only recipient of the MM with 3 Bars.
- John Franklin Harrison,Sergeant, Australian 5th Division,Post Master St Kilda,Melbourne.
- M Tickner MM, Serjeant, 1st Bn.Coldstream Guards 15/09/1916
- Michael John O'Sullivan, Corporal, Vietnam, Now Coordinates Australian Army Cadets at Christ Church Grammar School
- Charles Pendleton Cartwright, 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment 1939-1945
- Kenneth Hone, Lance Bombardier in the Royal Artillery 1939-1945, awarded MM for rescuing his Major and other fellow soldiers amidst heavy shelling in the Gabes Gap, northern Tunisia during Operation Pugilist.
- Charles R Field of the Essex Regiment, Lance Corporal, then Sergeant, was a stretcher bearer in World War I and was awarded the MM with 1 bar.
- John D Devine, Sergeant, who served in the infantry during WW1 and was awarded the Military medal
- Charles William Mills, Private in the Sussex Yeomanry. Awarded the MM for capturing two machine guns at St. Eloi, France in 1917
See also
External links
- The King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, (Lancaster), Military Medal. www.kingsownmuseum.plus.com.
