Military Medal

I notice this site does not refer to the fact that the Miltary Medal (in the criteria section) is for NCO's and other ranks only. I can only presume that a couple of recipients noted at this site as lieutenants must have been promoted afterwards as the criteria as I understand it is: -

"Instituted in March 1916 as an award for NCOs and men of the Army for acts of bravery and Later extended to women who showed bravery under fire. A bar is awarded for each further act of bravery. There are six obverse types: GVR, GVR crowned head, GVIR first and second types, and EIIR first and second types. In addition, there are four different reverses in that each monarch had the relevant cipher in the reverse field. All MMs issued to British personnel are named, usually in impressed capitals. All issued MMs have a notification in the London Gazette."

[Graeme]

The Military Medal was instituted by Royal Warrant on 25 March 1916, the Royal Warrant appearing in the London Gazette dated 5 April 1916:

GEORGE R.I.

GEORGE THE FIFTH, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India,

To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting :

WHEREAS We are desirous of signifying Our appreciation of acts of gallantry and devotion to duty performed by non-commissioned officers and men of Our Army in the Field We do by these Presents for Us Our heirs and successors institute and create a silver medal to be awarded to non-commissioned officers and men for individual or associated acts of bravery on the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the Field:

Firstly.—It is ordained that the medal shall be designated "The Military Medal."

Secondly.—It is ordained that the Military Medal shall bear on the obverse the Royal Effigy, and on the reverse the words "For bravery in the Field,“ encircled by a wreath surmounted by the Royal Cipher and a Crown.

Thirdly.—It is ordained that the names of those upon whom We may be pleased to confer the Military Medal shall be published in the London Gazette, and that a Register thereof shall be kept in the Office of Our Principal Secretary of State for War.

Fourthly.—It is ordained that the Military Medal shall be worn immediately before all war medals and shall be worn on the left breast pendent from a ribbon of one inch and one quarter in width, which shall be in colour dark blue having in the centre three white and two crimson stripes alternating.

Lastly.—It is ordained that in cases where non-commissioned officers and men who have been awarded the Military Medal shall be recommended by a Commander-in-Chief in the Field for further acts of bravery, a Bar may be added to the medal already conferred.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, this Twenty-fifth day of March, 1916, in the Sixth Year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty's Command,
KITCHENER.

Almost all medals were issued named in plain capital letters detailing the regimental or equivalent number, rank, initials, surname and unit of the recipient. On Great War medals the rank is normally separated from the first initial by a colon and the battalion etc number usually precedes the unit.

All awards appeared in the London Gazette except those made to foreign troops; starting in September 1917, the recipient's home town was added to the gazette details and towards the end of the war the theatre in which the medal was gained was sometimes added. Very few citations were gazetted, an isolated case being that of Private A T C Stagg.

Recipients of the MM who were subsequently commissioned retained authority to wear the appropriate ribbon and use the abbreviation MM.

Graeme

[Graeme]

A Royal Warrant of 21 June 1916 extended the award of the Military Medal to women for devotion to duty under fire. The Supplementary Warrant appeared in the London Gazette dated 27 June:

War Office,
24th June, 1916.

SUPPLEMENTARY WARRANT PROVIDING FOR THE AWARD OF "THE MILITARY MEDAL" TO WOMEN.

GEORGE R.I.

Whereas We did by Royal Warrant under Our Sign Manual, dated 25th March, 1916, institute and create a Silver medal, entitled "The Military Medal," to be awarded to noncommissioned officers and men for bravery in the Field;

And whereas We are desirous that, under special circumstances, women shall be eligible for the award of the said medal;

It is Our Will and Pleasure, and We do hereby Ordain that "The Military Medal" may, under exceptional circumstances, on the special recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the Field, be awarded to women, whether subjects or foreign persons, who have shown bravery and devotion under fire.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, this 21st day of June, 1916, in the Seventh Year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty's Command,
A. Bonar Law.

Graeme

Thanks Graeme.