|
The Distinguished Conduct Medal, post-nominal letters DCM, was established in 1854 by Queen Victoria as a decoration for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration until it was discontinued in 1993. The medal was also awarded to non-commissioned military personnel of other Commonwealth Dominions and Colonies.〔(Veterans Affairs Canada – Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) ) (Access date 19 May 2015)〕〔(New Zealand Defence Force – British Commonwealth Gallantry, Meritorious and Distinguished Service Awards – The Distinguished Conduct Medal ) (Access date 19 May 2015)〕 ==Institution== The Distinguished Conduct Medal was instituted by Royal Warrant on 4 December 1854 during the Crimean War, as an award to Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men for "distinguished, gallant and good conduct in the field". For all ranks below commissioned officers, it was the second highest award for gallantry in action after the Victoria Cross, and the other ranks' equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order, which was awarded to commissioned officers for bravery. Prior to the institution of this medal there had been no medal awarded by the British government in recognition of individual acts of gallantry in the Army.〔〔〔〔(ww2awards.com – Distinguished Conduct Medal ) (Access date 19 May 2015)〕〔(Australian Government – It's an Honour – Imperial Awards – Distinguished Conduct Medal ) (Access date 19 May 2015)〕 One known prior award for acts of gallantry by other ranks was the unofficial Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry, instituted by Major General Sir Henry George Wakelyn Smith in 1851. Although the British government initially disapproved of Sir Harry's institution of the medal, it subsequently paid for it and thereby gave it recognition, but not official status.〔(Online Medals – Medal Encyclopaedia – Sir Harry Smith’s Medal For Gallantry ) (Access date 27 April 2015)〕〔(National Army Museum – Sir Harry Smith Medal for Gallantry 1851, awarded to Paul Arendt ) (Access date 27 April 2015)〕〔(South African Medal Website – Unofficial Military Awards ) (Access date 27 April 2015)〕 Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal are entitled to the post-nominal letters DCM. A Bar to the medal, introduced in 1881, could be awarded in recognition of each subsequent act of distinguished conduct for which the medal would have been awarded.〔〔(firstworldwar.com Encyclopedia – Distinguished Conduct Medal ) (Access date 19 May 2015)〕〔(The Worcestershire Regiment – Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) ) (Access date 19 May 2015)〕 During the First World War the concern arose that the overwhelming number of medals that were being awarded would devalue the prestige of those already awarded. The Military Medal for bravery in battle on land was therefore instituted on 25 March 1916, as an alternative award to the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The lesser Military Medal was usually awarded for bravery from this date and the Distinguished Conduct Medal was reserved for exceptional acts of bravery.〔〔〔 Around 25,000 Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded during the First World War, while approximately 1,900 were awarded during the Second World War.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Distinguished Conduct Medal」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|