NEW MEDALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 227, 24 September 1940, Page 5

NEW MEDALS.

CIVILIAN BRAVERY. MANY BRITISH HONOURS. In this age of aerial warfare and the bombing of open towns civilians are called upon to perform acts of bravery that would, if they were members of the armed forces, entitle them to coveted decorations. It ie interesting to note that this has been realised and that Hie Majesty the King has announced the striking of two medals—the George Cross and the George Medal. Thus the heroism of the ordinary man or woman in the street will not go unrecognised. As a matter of fact the earliest medal in existence etruck for an Englishman for -war service is that awarded to John Kendal in 1480. Kendal was prior of the English Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and in 1480 relieved Rhodes. His medal is now in the British Museum.

Among modern decorations the moet coveted one is the Victoria Crose, which ie awarded purely For Valour. It was instituted in 1856 and is conferred on members of the British naval and military services who have performed, in the presence of the enemy, some signal act of valour or devotion to their country. Non-military persons who have served ae volunteers against an enemy are also eligible. Carries Pension. The ribbon now ie claret for all recipients, but was previously blue for the Royal Navy. Recipients who are granted a second distinction are awarded a bar. The award carries a pension and takes precedence of all other ordere and medals. Writing in "The Aeroplane" an authority gays, "The next most coveted decoration ie the D.5.0., which indicates that the wearer is a member of the Distinguished Service Order. An officer cat be legitimately made a member of that Order for distinguished service of any

kind in connection with any war in] which he ie serving. Appointments to the Order are usually made for bravery, but an officer can also qualify by intelligent and. devoted service behind the firing line.

There, is also the Military Cross for officers, instituted in 1915, which ie quite often given for useful and intelligent work without any particular bravery. About the same time the Military Medal was invented for -other ranks. Other awards' are the Meritorious Service Medal, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and the Indian Distinguished Service Medal. uAilMIi Navy's D.S.C. • The writer in "The Aeroplane" says that the Xavy, •during the last war, invented the Distinguished Service Cross, the junior officers' D.-S.O. iv the Navy, ,and for the lifwer deck ratings the Distinguished Service Medal was introduced.

When the Royal Air Force came into being naturally it had to have some decorations of ite own. A great many officers who had served in the R.F.C. had already won the M.C. Others who had served in the R.N.A.S. had the D.S.C.

The Air Ministry invented I Je Distinguished Flying Cross, the D.F.C., to correspond with the M.C. and the D.S.C., and for other ranks below an officer there was the D.F.M. The Air Force Cross was also invented for those who incurred more than usual risk when flying in peacetime. Its companion is the A.F.M.

A question was recently asked in the House of Commons in England why N.C.O. pilots should not be awarded the Distinguished Flyinw Cross. The official reply was that the Distinguished Flying Medal had been created for other ranks, but the member wanted to know why those who took equal risks should not I have equal decorations. The reply wae that N.C.O. pilote had not the same responsibility as commissioned officers.

It is pointed out by the writer in "The Aeroplane" that a well-educated, intelligent young sergeant pilot who wins hie commission, as many of them do, -would be all the more confirmed in hfe rank, and all the more respected by the other ranks after his promotion, if he already carries a decoration which pute him on a level with those who have held commissions longer than he had.