MILITARY HONORS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1918, Page 6

MILITARY HONORS.

DISTINCTIONS EXPLAINED, KIBBONS AND THEIR MEANING. Sinec tlie present war began it lias 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 unprece(lentedly 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 honors 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-tablishd honors, 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 over-loaded it. The new British honors established since the beginning of the world war are a3 follows: DOUBLE VICTORIA CROSS. An Army Ordci issued in August, 1018, announced that a V.C. who receives p 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, lie will wear two miniature crosses, and so on. NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL. In 191"- the King sanctioned the establishment of a medal to be known as the Xaval General Service Medal, to be awarded for service in minor naval warlike operations, whether in the nature of belligerency or police, wliieh may be considered of sufficient importance to justify the award of a medal in case?, where no other medal would be appropriate. The distinctive riband of this medal is white, with crimson borders and two crimson stripes. THE MILITARY GROSS. In January, 1915, it was notified that the King had instituted "The Military Cross" for conferment on captains, commissioned officers, and Indian and colonial military forces. The decoration consist's of a cross of silver, having the Imperial Crown on each arm, and the letters "G.R.l.'' 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 c.f an equivalent rank to those mentioned are eligible for the honorary award of the Cross. It was originally stipulated that the distinction was not to carry any addition after the recipient's name, but in 1916 it was ordained that each should bo entitled to the letters M.C. after his w}rae. Another alteration in the regulation governing the Military Cross, Vnade at the same time, enables tlin holder of the Cross to receive a bar for every additin> al act of gallantry wiucii would entitle the hero to the award of the Military Cross. The Military Cross may be conferred upon women who have shown bravery a"-] devotion under fire. o BAK TO D.S.O. A Royal Warrant ordains that any holder of the D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order) who subsequently performs an act of gallantry which would have entitled him to the Order shall be awarded a bar. to be attached to the ribbon by which the Order is suspended. An additional bar may be added for every additional act which would entitle the officer to the D.S.O. THE MILITARY MEDAL. A distinction which has been won by large numbers of Australian and New Zealand soldiers is the Military MedaJ. 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 before all war medals, suspended from a ribbon, in color 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 Militarv Medal may, in exceptional circumstances be awarded to women, whether British or foreign subjects, who have shown bravery and devotion under Are. BARS TO NAVAL DISTINCTIONS. The King has approved of the award of a bar to an officer or man in the Navy possessing the Distinguished Service Oross, 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 holders 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 01 the British, Indian, and overseas forces vylio have served at Home or abroad since August 4, 1914, and who on account of age or physical infirmity arising from wounds or sickness caused by militarv service, have retired or been discharged from the Army. The badge is in the „° rm ° l a circle, and bears the words: " r 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.