MILITARY HONOURS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1779, 22 January 1918, Page 1

MILITARY HONOURS

DISTINCTIONS EXPLAINED.

RIBBONS AND THEIR MEANING,

Since the present war began it has been found necessary to increase the varieties of distinctions which the sailors and soldiers of the Empire may win. This is due primarily to the unprecedentedly large number of men who have seen active service of one kind or another. Had the number of distinctions not been increased, some of the older forms of honours would have run the risk of being cheapened in the estimation of the public, not because the' deeds done did not warrant the conferment of the long-es-tablished honours, but because so many of our fighting men performed these acts of gallantry and devotion that the large numbers in each class of the pre-war distinctions would have overloaded it. The new Brit - ish honours established since the beginning of the world war are as follows: — DOUBLE VICTORIA CROSS. An Army Order issued in August, 19K), announced that a V.C. who receives a bar to that decoration for a subsequent act of bravery will wear on the riband a miniature replica, of the cross in bronze. If he holds two bars, he will wear two miniature crosses, and so on. NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL. In 1915 the King sanctioned the establishment of a medal to be known as the Naval General Service Medal, to be awarded for service in minor naval warlike operations, whether in the nature of belligerency or police, which may be considered of sufficient importance to justify the award of a medal in cases where no other medal would be appropriate. The distinctive riband of this medal is white, with crimson borders and two crimson stripes. THE MILITARY CROSS. In January, 191.5, it was notified that the King had instituted “The Military Cross’ for conferment on captains, commissioned officers of a lower grade, warrant officers, and Indian and colonial military forces. The decoration consists of a cross of silver, having the Imperial Crown on each arm, and the letters “G.R.T.” in the centre. The Military Cross must be worn on the left breast before all decorations and medals, with the exception of the Victoria Cross, and after all Orders. It hangs from a white riband with a purple stripe. The new distinction confers no individual precedence. Foreign officers of: an equivalent rank to (hose mentioned are eligible for (he honorary award of the cross, ft was originally stipulated that the distinction was not to carry any addition at (eg the recipient’s name, but in 1910 it was ordained (hat each should he entitled to the letters M.C, after his name. Another altei’alion in the regulations governing the Military Cross, made at tho same time, enables the ladder of the cross to receive a har for every additional act of gallantry which would entitle the hero to the award of the Military Cross. The Military Cross may he conferred ltp°ff women who have shown bravery and devotion under fire. BAR TO D.S.O.

A Royal Warranl ordains that any holder of the D.S.O. {Distinguished Service Order) who subsequently performs an act oi gallantry which would have entitled him to the Order, shall he awarded a har, to he attached to the ribbon by which the Order is suspended. An additional har may he added lor every additional act which would entitle the officer (o the D.S.O. THE MILITA RY M EIIAR

A distinction which has been won by large numbers of Australian and New Zealand soldiers is the Military Medal, This is a new silver medal which the King instituted to signify appreciation for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty performed by non-commissioned officers and men of the army in the field. The medal bears on the obverse the Royal effigy, and on the reverse the words; “For bravery in the field.” It is to be worn immediately lief ore all war medals, suspended from 4 Hllb°?b iff colour dark blue, having in the centre three white and two crimson stripes alternating. Men who have been awarded the Military Medal, and are recommended for further acts of bravery, may have a bar added to the medal. The Military Medal may, in exceptional circumstances, be awarded to women, whether British or foreign subjects, who have shown bravery and devotion under fire.

BARS TO NAVAL DISTINCTIONS.

The King has approved of the award of a bar to an officer or man in the navy possessing the Distinguish-

od Service Cross, Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, or Distinguished Service Medal if he should again perform such service as would render him eligible for the award of the particular decoration or medal had he not already received it. DECORATION BADGES.

A small silver rose is the distinguishing badge in the cases of hold-

ers of the Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal —one rose .for each bar. IMPERIAL BADGE FOR DISCHARGED,

*A badge is issued to officers and men of (he British, Indian, and oversea forces who have served at Home or abroad since August 4th, 1914, and who, on account of age or physical infirmity arising from wounds or sickness caused by military service, have retired or been discharged from the army. The badge is in the form of a circle, and bears the words “For King and Empire: Services Rendered,” and circumscribes the Imperial cypher surmounted by a crown. It is worn in the right lapel of the coat in civilian clothes only. A similar badge is issued to discharged naval men, nurses in the army or navy, and civilian doctors who have occupied positions usually held by officers of the R.A.M.C.