
                   ***********************************
                          PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE 
                   RECORDS INFORMATION Leaflet No: 108
                   ***********************************

  [Note: this and all other PRO Records Information leaflets are (c)
  Crown Copyright, but may be freely reproduced except for sale or
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------------------------------ start of text ------------------------------

                             RECORDS OF MEDALS

This leaflet deals with three types of medals - those awarded for gallantry
and meritorious service; those awarded for war service (known as Campaign
or War Medals); and commemorative medals. It is best to consider each type
separately.


[[CAMPAIGN/WAR MEDALS]]

These were awarded for taking part in a campaign or for service in time of
war. Medals/Stars were awarded for a campaign/war (eg. Crimea); Clasps were
often additionally awarded for particular engagements within that
campaign/war (eg. Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, Sebastopol).


[[Army]]

The medal rolls (except those for the First World War) are in WO 100 (on
microfilm). Included, among others, are the Military General Service
(1793), Waterloo (1815), Crimea (1854), India General Service (1854),
Indian Mutiny (1857), Egyptian (1882), Khedive's Sudan (1896), Queen's
South Africa (1899), King's South Africa (1901), and Africa General Service
(1902) medals.

The medal rolls for the First World War are in WO 329. Included are the
British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal, Territorial Force War Medal,
Silver War Badge, 1914 Star and 1914-15 Star (See Information Leaflet 101).

Only a few later rolls are available. These are in the class WO 100.


[[Royal Navy (and Royal Marines)]]

The medal rolls are in ADM 171 (mostly on microfilm) . Included, among
others, are the Naval General Service (1793), China (1840, 1857, 1900),
Crimea (1854), Indian Mutiny (1857), Ashanti (1873), Queen's South Africa
(1899), King's South Africa (1901) and Africa General Service (1902)
medals. Also included are the Sea Transport (for the Merchant Navy), Polar
and Arctic medals.

In addition, the medal rolls for the First World War, showing recipients
of the British War Medal 1914-20, the Victory Medal and the Stars, are in
ADM 171/89-134.  The Public Record Office does not hold the rolls of the
Mercantile Marine War Medal.

No later rolls are available.


[[RAF]]

Medals awarded to personnel of the twin predecessors of the RAF - namely,
the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service - for service in the
First World War, are recorded on rolls in WO 329 and ADM 171 respectively.

No later rolls are available.


It should be emphasised that, first, medal rolls do not give detailed
information about individuals, merely the recipients' regimental/service
no. and a note of the clasps to which he was entitled.

Second, they are (prior to 1914) usually arranged by regiment/battalion
(army) or by ship (R.N.), then by rank, then name, and there are no indexes
of names available.


[[The replacement of Campaign/War Medals]]

Ministry of Defence policy is that replacement medals are issued on
prepayment to the recipient or, if he is deceased, to the next of kin down
to the first generation only and only if the original medal is known to
have been irrevocably lost in circumstances beyond the owner's control. A
copy of the medal roll entry is needed as proof of entitlement .
See page 4 for addresses.


[[GALLANTRY AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDALS]]

<<SEE APPENDICES>>

These were awarded for a particular gallant act (such as trying to save
another's life) or for long and meritorious service. Bars denote the
further award of a gallantry medal already held.


[[Army]]

The first army gallantry awards were instituted during the Crimean War.
Others were added later, especially during the First World War. A few
surviving recommendations are in WO 32, code 50.  Those for the Boer War
are in WO 108.  For awards to personnel of the King's African Rifles and
the Royal West African Frontier Force, see CO 534 and CO 445 respectively.
Regulations governing the award of medals are in Army Orders (WO 123/WO
293).

There are indexes available which give the dates of entries in the London
Gazette for awards of the DCM, MM and MSM during the First World War. (See
Information Leaflet 105).

If you know the precise date of the action for which a medal was awarded
during either of the World Wars, you can consult the unit war diary to see
if it gives an account of that action. It should be emphasised, however,
that in these records individuals were rarely mentioned by name. Certain
army awards were extended during the Second World War to cover the RAF, the
Royal Marines and the Home Guard.


[[Royal Navy (and Royal Marines)]]

The first naval gallantry awards were instituted during the Crimean War.
Others were added later, especially during the First World War.  Some
surviving recommendations are in ADM 1, code 85 and ADM 116, code 85. 
Regulations governing the award of medals are in Fleet Orders (ADM 182).
Registers of awards to naval officers during the First World War are in ADM
171/78-88 (there is an index available which gives the dates of entries in
the London Gazette). During the First World War, many Royal Marines and
many of those in the Royal Naval Division were given army gallantry medals.

The rolls of recipients of the CGM and DSM (as well as of naval recipients
o the DCM and MM) during the First World War are to be found in ADM
171/61. With these rolls it is useful, and sometimes necessary, to know the
medal number; there is a nominal index for recipients of the DSM and CGM
which gives this. There is also an index giving the dates of entries in the
London Gazette for most awards to naval personnel from 1942 onwards.

Certain naval awards were extended during the Second World War to cover the
Merchant Navy and the RAF.


[[RAF]]

With the creation of the RAF in 1918, four gallantry awards were instituted
especially for the new service (two for gallantry whilst flying on active
operations and two for gallantry whilst engaged in non-operational flying).
Certain navy and army awards were later extended to the RAF (in certain
circumstances). Prior to the creation of the new service, the officers and
men of the RFC were eligible for army gallantry medals and the officers and
men of the RNAS were eligible for navy gallantry medals. Regulations
governing the award of medals in the RAF are in Air Ministry Orders
(AIR 72).

For the First World War, surviving recommendations; are in AIR 1,
particularly in papers relating to individual squadrons. From 1918
surviving recommendations are in AIR 2, code B, 30. Information can also
be obtained from the submission papers, which begin in 1918, but which
exclude the Second World War (AIR 30). It should be noted that, during the
Second World War, awards were of two types: immediate (for single acts of
bravery) and non-immediate (normally given at the conclusion of a tour of
duty of between 25 and 30 operations). RAF awards were extended during the
Second World War to cover the Fleet Air Arm.


[[Military Nurses]]

In 1883 the Royal Red Cross was instituted expressly for military nurses.
The MM and VC were extended to military nurses in 1916 and 1920
respectively.


[[Civilians]]

The main civilian gallantry awards in the nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries were: the Albert Medal (for merchant seamen, the Royal Navy and
later firemen, miners, railwaymen, the army, and others), the Edward Medal
(for miners, quarrymen and later dock workers, railwaymen, etc.) and the
Sea Gallantry Medal (for merchant seamen). In 1922 the Empire Gallantry
Medal and the British Empire Medal (for meritorious service) were
instituted, primarily for civilians but also for the military in certain
circumstances.

In 1940 the George Cross and the George Medal were instituted, again
primarily for civilians but also for the military in certain circumstances.
The GC thereupon replaced the EGM, and eventually came to replace the EM
and AM also. Finally, in 1974 the Queen's Gallantry Medal was instituted.
The main series of records dealing with civilian awards are HO 45, PREM 2
and (for the Merchant Navy) MT 9 code 6, BT 261. 4.IR 2, "B", code 30
contains the recommendations for all the military GCs, GMs and BEMs awarded
in the period 1941-6.   The class HO 250 contains the recommendations for
all gallantry awards to civilians (including firemen, policemen and air
raid precautions wardens) during the period 1940-1949.  The recommendations
are not indexed.


[[Police]]

Medals instituted expressly to acknowledge gallantry on behalf of the
police were: the African Police Medal (later the Colonial Police Medal);
the Constabulary Medal (Ireland); and the King's Police Medal (later the
King's Police and Fire Services Medal, and now the Queen's Police Medal).
See also the reference to the class HO 250 under 'Civilians' above.


[[British Awards to Foreign Nationals/Foreign Awards to British Nationals]]

Within the Foreign Office, such awards have been handled by the Treaty
Department. Before 1906, the Department's records are in the class FO 83;
thereafter they are in FO 372.  For the period from 1906 to 1951, readers
are advised to consult the detailed index to Foreign Office correspondence,
but they are warned that only a limited number of the Treaty Department's
files have been selected for permanent preservation.


[[The "Gazetting" of Gallantry/Meritorious Service Awards]]

Award notifications are, with a few exceptions, published ("gazetted") in
the London Gazette (ZJ 1) or, where appropriate, in its Colonial and
Dominion equivalents. Sometimes actual citations are published as well;
this is more common in the period up to and including the First World War.
There is always a delay, often a considerable one, between the award of a
medal and the publication of the fact. It is therefore advisable to consult
the indexes, which are published periodically.


[[COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS]]

The rolls of recipients of the Royal Victorian Medal (awarded for
participation in the Sovereign's funeral procession), and of Jubilee,
Coronation and Delhi Durbar Medals, are to be found in WO 100/WO 330 (for
the army) and ADM 171 (for the Royal Navy).


[[THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF MEDALS]]

This has normally been undertaken by the Royal Mint- Orders for gallantry
medals (especially in the nineteenth century) were sometimes accompanied
by details of recipients and of the action that led to the award- The
relevant series of records are: MINT 16 (medals), MINT 20 (registered
files), MINT 24 (medal designs) and MINT 25 (medals committee).


[[Further reading]]

PE Abbott and JMA Tamplin, British Gallantry Awards (1981)
LL Gordon, British Battles and Medals (1962)
A Farrington, Guide to Medal Rolls (India Office Library, 1980)


[[Useful addresses]]

Ministry of Defence                        Ministry of Defence
Army Medal Office                          NPP Acs 3 (b) 4
Government Buildings                       HMS Centurion
Worcester Road                             Grange Road
Droitwich                                  Gosport
Worcestershire WR9 8AU                     Hampshire

Ministry of Defence                        Ministry of Defence
RAF Personnel Management Centre            Drafting and Record Office
P Man. 3 (d) (4)                           Royal Marines
RAF Innsworth                              HMS Centurion
Gloucestershire GL3 1E2                    Grange Road
                                           Gosport
(For Merchant Navy)                        Hampshire PO13 9XA
Department of Transport
Marine Division
Room 1/6
Sunley House
90 High Holborn
London WC 1V 6LP



Records of medals awarded to British subjects for gallantry and meritorious
service (arranged alphabetically). All the following series of records
contain some information on individuals; information as to policy will be
found primarily in AIR 1, HO 45, AIR 2 code 30, WO 32 code 50, ADM 1 code
85, MT 9 code 6 and ADM 116 code 85.

[[African Police Medal]]  Chief Clerk's correspondence CO 523; Colonial
Gazettes.

[[Air Force Cross]]  Air Historical Branch AIR l; Air Ministry
correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Submissions to the Sovereign AIR 30; London
Gazette ZJ 1.

[[Air Force Medal]]  Air Historical Branch AIR l; Air Ministry
correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Submissions to the Sovereign AIR 30; London
Gazette ZJ 1; Home Office, supplementary registered papers, HO 144.

[[Albert Medal]]  Board of Trade registers BT 97; Marine Department MT 9
code 6; Admiralty registers ADM 171; Home Office registered papers HO 45;
London Gazette ZJ 1; War Office registers WO 327; Board of Trade registers
BT 261; Home Office, supplementary registered papers, HO 144.

[[Colonial Police Medal]]  London Gazette ZJ 1; Colonial Gazettes.

[[Conspicuous Gallantry Medal]]  London Gazette ZJ 1; Air Ministry
correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Submissions to the Sovereign AIR 30;
Admiralty and Secretariat ADM 1 and ADM 116 code 85; Admiralty registers
ADM 171.

[[Constabulary Medal (Ireland)]]  Royal Irish Constabulary circulars HO
184; Home Office registered papers HO 45.

[[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]  Submissions to the Sovereign WO 146;
Admiralty registers ADM 171; Registered papers WO 32 code 50S; Air
Historical Branch AIR 1; London Gazette ZJ 1 (for Dominion and Colonial
awards see local Gazettes e.g. Nyasaland CO 541; Nigeria CO 658 etc);
Commander-in-Chief's correspondence WO 3; Paymaster General PMG 34 and PMG
36.

[[Distinguished Flying Cross]]  Air Historical Branch AIR 1; Air Ministry
correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Submissions to the Sovereign AIR 30; London
Gazette ZJ 1.

[[Distinguished Flying Medal]]  Air Historical Branch AIR l; Air Ministry
correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Submissions to the Sovereign AIR 30; London
Gazette ZJ 1.

[[Conspicuous/Distinguished Service Cross]]  Admiralty & Secretariat ADM
1 code 85 and ADM 116 code 85; Air Historical Branch AIR l; London Gazette
ZJ 1; Admiralty registers ADM 171.

[[Distinguished Service Medal]]  Admiralty & Secretariat ADM 1 code 85 and
ADM 116 code 85; Air Historical Branch AIR 1; London Gazette ZJ 1;
Admiralty registers ADM 171.

[[Distinguished Service Order]]  London Gazette ZJ 1; Air Ministry
correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Submissions to the Sovereign AIR 30;
Admiralty & Secretariat ADM 1 code 85 and ADM  116 code 85; Air Historical
Branch AIR 1; War Office correspondence WO 32 code 52; Admiralty registers
ADM 171.

[[Edward Medal]]  Home Office registered papers HO 45; Chief Clerk's
correspondence CO 523; London Gazette ZJ 1; Home Office HO 178.

[[George Cross]]  Air Ministry correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Prime
Minister's Office PREM 2; Board of Trade Marine Dept MT 9 code 6; War
Office registered papers WO 32 code 50AP; London Gazette ZJ 1; War Office
registers WO 330; Home Office, Interdepartmental Committee on Civil Defence
Gallantry Awards, HO 250.

[[George Medal]]  Air Ministry correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Prime
Minister's Office PREM 2; Board of Trade Marine Dept MT 9 code 6; London
Gazette ZJ 1; Admiralty ADM 1 code 85; War Office registers WO 330; Home
Office, Interdepartmental Committee on Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, HO
250.

[[King's Police and Fire Services Medal, King's and Queen's Police Medal]]
Office of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police MEPO 2; Police Orders
MEPO 7; Chief Clerk's correspondence CO 523; London Gazette ZJ 1; Home
Office correspondence HO 45; Colonial & Dominion Gazettes; Home Office HO
178.

[[Long Service and Good Conduct Medal]]  War Office registers WO 102;
Admiralty registers ADM 171; Royal Marines correspondence ADM 201; Colonial
& Dominion Gazettes; War Office correspondence WO 32 code 50; Admiralty ADM
1.

[[Meritorious Service Medal]]  War Office registers WO 101; Registered
papers WO 32 code 50J; Air Historical Branch AIR 1; Submissions to the
Sovereign AIR 30; London Gazette ZJ 1; Colonial & Dominion Gazettes;
Paymaster General PMG 34 and PMG 36; Royal Hospital Chelsea, Chelsea
Registers, etc., WO 23.

[[Military Cross]]  London Gazette ZJ 1; War Office registered papers WO
32 code 50G; Air Historical Branch AIR 1.

[[Military Medal]]  London Gazette ZJ 1; Air Historical Branch AIR 1; War
Office registers WO 326; Admiralty registers ADM 171.

[[New Zealand Cross]] New Zealand Gazette CO 212.

[[Badge (medal) of the most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military
Division)]]  Registers WO 104; London Gazette ZJ 1; Air Ministry
correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Admiralty registers ADM 171; War Office
Registered Files, code 52.

[[Medal of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire]], the [[Medal
of the Order for Gallantry (Empire Gallantry Medal)]]  and the [[Medal of
the Order for Meritorious Service (British Empire Medal)]]  London Gazette
ZJ 1; Admiralty & Secretariat ADM 1 code 85 and ADM 116 code 85; Air
Ministry correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Board of Trade Marine Dept MT 9 code
6; Admiralty registers ADM 171; Home Office Interdepartmental Committee on
Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, HO 250.

[[Queen's Fire Service Medal]]  London Gazette ZJ 1.

[[Queen's Gallantry Medal]]  London Gazette ZJ 1.

[[Royal Red Cross]]  Registers WO 145; Submissions to the Sovereign AIR 30;
London Gazette ZJ 1; War Office correspondence WO 32 code 50; Air Ministry
correspondence AIR 2 code 30.

[[Sea Gallantry Medal]]  Board of Trade Marine Department MT 9 code 6;
London Gazette ZJ 1; Parliamentary papers 2HC 1; Board of Trade registers
BT 261.

[[Victoria Cross]]  Registers WO 98; Registered papers WO 32 code 50M; Air
Historical Branch AIR 1; Air Ministry correspondence AIR 2 code 30;
Submissions to the Sovereign AIR 30; London Gazette ZJ 1; Cabinet Office
CAB 106; Admiralty ADM 116 code 85; Paymaster General PMG 35; Admiralty
registers ADM 171.

===========================================================================                              APPENDIX TWO

British Military Gallantry and Meritorious Service Awards (arranged by Rank
and by Service).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                '   ARMY    '             R.N.      '      R.A.F.
                                 (incl.Royal Marines)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL RANKS           V.C.                  V.C.               V.C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICERS            D.S.O.                D.S.O              D.S.O.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUNIOR/WARRANT      M.C.                 D.S.C.            M.C.*  D.F.C.+
OFFICERS                             (prev. C.S.C.)          A.F.C. #
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WARRANT             D.C.M.               D.C.M.*             D.C.M.*
OFFICERS, NCOs,                          C.G.M               C.G.M.+
OTHER RANKS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    M.M.                 D.S.M.            M.M.*  D.F.M.+
                                                             A.F.M #
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    M.S.M.               M.S.M.              M.S.M.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    L.S. &               L.S. &              L.S. &
                '   G.C.    '            G.C.       '        G.C.
                    Medal                Medal               Medal
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

* For Ground Operations
+ For Flying on Active Operations
# For Non-Operational Flying

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