Queen's Gallantry Medal

Queen's Gallantry Medal
Reverse of medal and ribbon
Awarded by UK and Commonwealth
Type	Civil decoration.
Eligibility	British and Commonwealth subjects.
Awarded for	"... exemplary acts of bravery."
Status	Currently awarded.
Description	Silver disk, 36mm diameter.
Post-nominals	QGM
Statistics
Established	20 June 1974
Total awarded	Fewer than 600
Precedence
Next (higher)	George Medal
Equivalent	Sea Gallantry Medal; this is disputable
Next (lower)	Queen's Commendation for Bravery, Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

The Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM) is the third level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.

It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry. It therefore ended the rather strange situation whereby the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry was awarded for lesser acts of bravery than the George Medal, but took precedence over it in order of wear and postnominal letters. From 30 November 1977, it has also been awarded posthumously, and thus from that date it also replaced the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry.

The medal is awarded for "exemplary acts of bravery", and is primarily a civilian medal, although military personnel can receive it too. Recipients may use the post nominal letters "QGM". Fewer than 600 have been awarded.

Description

• The QGM is silver and circular in shape, 36 mm in diameter. The obverse of the medal shows the crowned effigy of the monarch.
• The reverse bears the image of a St. Edward's Crown above the words 'The Queen's Gallantry Medal' in four lines, flanked by laurel sprigs.
• The ribbon is of three equal stripes of dark blue, pearl grey and dark blue with a narrow rose pink stripe in the centre.
• Further awards of the QGM are indicated by a silver bar ornated with laurel leaves. When the ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette denotes award of the Clasp.

See also

• British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
• Royal Logistic Corps#Operational honours Royal Logistic Corps Operational Honours

References

• Abbott, PE and Tamplin, JMA - British Gallantry Awards, (1981), Nimrod Dix and Co.
• Duckers, P - British Gallantry Awards 1855-2000, (2001), Shire Publications
• Mackay, J and Mussell, J (eds) - Medal Yearbook - 2005, (2004), Token Publishing.