Empire Gallantry Medal

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Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, known as the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM), was a British medal awarded for acts of gallantry. Unlike the then existing Sea Gallantry Medal (SGM) (1854), the Albert Medal (AM) (1866) and the Edward Medal (EM) (1907) which each had two classes with restricted eligibility criteria, the EGM was a single class award with wide eligibility. It was instituted by King George V on 29 December 1922. In July 1937, recipients were granted the right to use the post-nominal letters "EGM". The EGM was superseded in 1940 by the George Cross which was also a single class award with wide eligibility but unlike the low placed EGM on the Order of Wear, the George Cross was listed immediately after the Victoria Cross.[1]

The EGM was a medal of the Order of the British Empire and like the Order itself, was divided into civil and military divisions,[2] but unlike the British Empire Medal (BEM), officers were eligible for the medal.[3]

History

In 1922, the original Medal of the Order of the British Empire was discontinued and replaced by two separate awards, the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (EGM), and the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, known as the British Empire Medal. The EGM had been ranked after the SGM, AM and EM on the Order of Wear but was superseded by the George Cross in 1940.[2]

On 24 September 1940 King George VI created the George Cross, to rank immediately after the Victoria Cross, to recognize gallantry not in the presence of the enemy. The EGM ceased the same day. In April 1941, it was announced that, except for honorary recipients, all living recipients and the next-of-kin of those posthumously awarded the EGM after 3 September 1939, were to exchange their insignia for the George Cross. In 1971, all living recipients of the Albert Medal and Edward Medal were deemed George Cross holders but unlike EGM recipients the exchange of their original insignia for the George Cross was optional.[1]

Appearance

It is a circular silver medal, Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter, with a straight suspender augmented with laurel leaves. The recipient's name was impressed on the rim. Except for the ribbon, the design of the civil and military divisions was the same.[4]

The obverse showed Britannia facing right, her left and resting on a shield and right hand holding a trident, with a sun in the upper right corner. The wording "For God and the Empire" was inscribed round the upper side, and "For Gallantry" in the exergue.[4]

The first reverse had the Royal Cypher surrounded by six lions.[5] The 2nd type, adopted after the accession of George VI in 1937, had the Royal Cypher with four lions, two on either side with, below, the wording "Instituted by George V".[4]

The original ribbon was plain purple, with the addition of a thin vertical red stripe for military awards. A silver laurel branch was added diagonally to the ribbon for both types of the award in 1933, and was worn on the ribbon bar when ribbons alone were worn. The ribbon changed to rose pink with pearl grey edges in July 1937, with an addition pearl grey vertical stripe for military awards, and stayed in this version until the medal's revocation.[4]

Statistics

There were a total of 130 awards, including eight made posthumously:

  • Civil Division 64 (3 posthumous)
  • Military Division 62 (5 posthumous)
  • Honorary awards 4 (non-British citizens, 3 French and 1 Belgian)[1]

The four honorary awards were not able to be exchanged for the George Cross. On 24 September 1940, 107 of the other 126 recipients were living and all exchanged awards. The next of kin of five deceased recipients, Herbert John (Bertie) Mahoney whose EGM award was gazetted on 23 December 1927 and the four Military Division posthumous awards gazetted after the start of World War II also exchanged awards.[1][6]

Selected recipients

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Awards of the EGM that were not exchanged for the George Cross are marked below with (*).

Empire Gallantry Medal recipients
Name Rank (or Role) Organisation Date gazetted Image
Script error: No such module "Sort". Flying Officer Royal Air Force 12 April 1929[7]
—
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Script error: No such module "Sort". Leading Aircraftman Royal Air Force 9 November 1928[8]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Sort". Coxswain Cromer Lifeboat 30 June 1924[9] File:Henry Blogg 1 Feb 2008 (1).JPG
Script error: No such module "Sort". Mulazim (Lieutenant) Trans-Jordan Frontier Force 30 June 1939[10]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Sort". (*) Pilot Officer Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force) 30 June 1939[11]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Sort". Coxswain Gorleston Lifeboat 30 June 1924[9] File:William Flemming.jpg
Script error: No such module "Sort". Landlord, Property Owner and Sand Contractor
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 4 June 1934[12] File:Abdul Samad Golandaz, detail.jpg
Script error: No such module "Sort". Sub Lieutenant Royal Navy 14 March 1940[13]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Sort". Commander Royal Navy 23 December 1939[14]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Sort". Barge pilot
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 5 February 1937[15]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Sort". Lance Sergeant British Army 19 November 1935[16]
—
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Script error: No such module "Sort". Chauffeur
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 5 December 1924[17] File:Frederick Hamilton March AWM P03444.001.jpg
Script error: No such module "Sort". Flight Cadet Royal Air Force 18 October 1929[18]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Sort". Corporal Royal Air Force 12 April 1929[7]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Sort". Corporal Women's Auxiliary Air Force 19 July 1940[19] File:Daphne Pearson GC.jpg
Script error: No such module "Sort". Captain Aus-NZ Airmail Flight 9 July 1937[20] File:Patrick Taylor.jpg
Script error: No such module "Sort". Nurse Middlesex Hospital 2 March 1934[21]
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Sort". Radio Officer Merchant Navy 13 October 1939[22]
—
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References

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  1. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ The 1922 Royal Warrant, section 38 excludes those eligible for the order itself from the medal for meritorious service, but not from the medal for gallantry. See: Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  4. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".

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External links

Template:George Cross Template:Decorations of the United Kingdom

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