Military Medal
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Military Medal | |
---|---|
Awarded by United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | |
Type | Military decoration. |
Eligibility | British and (formerly) Commonwealth forces |
Awarded for | acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire |
Status | Discontinued in 1993 |
Statistics | |
Established | March 25, 1916 (back dated to 1914) |
First awarded | 1914 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
Same | Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Flying Medal Air Force Medal |
Next (lower) | Mention in Despatches |
The Military Medal was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land.
The medal was established on March 25, 1916. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Military Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers (although WOs could also be awarded the MM), although it took precedence below that decoration as well as the Distinguished Conduct Medal, also awarded to non-commissioned members of the Army. Recipients of the Military Medal were entitled to use the post-nominal letters "MM". In 1993, the Military Medal was discontinued, and since then the Military Cross has been awarded to personnel of all ranks.
The ribbon was dark blue, with three white and two red stripes at the centre.
[edit] Recipients of the Military Medal
Among the recipients are:
- Thomas Axford, who also received the Victoria Cross
- Billy Bennett, English comedian
- Geoffrey Bingham, Australian theologian and author
- Sadie Bonnell, the first woman to win the MM
- Jack Cock, English footballer
- William Coltman, who also received the Victoria Cross and was the most highly decorated NCO of WWI
- Ernest Albert Corey, believed to be the only person to be awarded the MM four times
- Cyril Edward Gourley, who also received the Victoria Cross
- Fred 'Buck' Kite, the only person to be awarded the MM three times in the Second World War
- Albert Chowne, also received the Victoria Cross
- Andy McNab, SAS trooper
- Chris Ryan, SAS trooper
- Randall Swingler, English poet
- Jack Williams, who also received the Victoria Cross
- Raphael Louis Zengel, who also received the Victoria Cross
- Tommy Prince, Devil's Brigade, Canadian Aboriginal Veteran, Canada's most decorated aboriginal soldier of WW II, also received the American Silver Star presented by H.M. King George VI of the United Kingdom in 1944.
John Hayward Jones Royal Engineers presented by King George VI