Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

King's Commendation for Brave Conduct
(1939–52)
Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
(1952–94)

1943–45: Badge for civilian recipients
From 1946: civil and military ribbon devices
TypeCommendation
Awarded forGallantry entailing risk to life and meriting national recognition
DescriptionCertificate / Pin back badge / Ribbon device
Presented byUnited Kingdom and Commonwealth
EligibilityBoth service personnel and civilians
StatusDiscontinued 1994. Replaced by Queen's Commendation for Bravery
Established1939
Last awarded1994
Precedence
Next (higher)Queen's Gallantry Medal
EquivalentKing's/Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

The Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct, formerly the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct, acknowledged brave acts by both civilians and members of the armed services in both war and peace, for gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. Established by King George VI in 1939, the award was discontinued in 1994 on the institution of the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

It represented the lowest level of bravery award in the British honours system, alongside a mention in despatches. There is no entitlement to post-nominal letters.[1]

Institution

The Commendation for Brave Conduct was established in 1939 at the beginning of World War II. No Royal Warrant or other public statement was issued which specified the title, precedence and eligibility of the award, suggesting it was a prompt wartime solution to a gap in the awards available to reward gallantry by non-combatants, particularly those involved in Civil Defence and the Merchant Navy. Awards were published in the London Gazette,[1] with most entries referring to a 'Commendation for brave conduct', or simply 'Commendation'. This was not formally described as the 'King's Commendation for Brave Conduct' until September 1945.[2] Commendations could be made posthumously, enabling official recognition of bravery in all circumstances, since other gallantry awards, except for the Victoria Cross and the George Cross, could not be awarded posthumously.[1]

After 1945, the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct continued to be the lowest level of bravery award in the British honours system, alongside a mention in despatches, in rewarding bravery by civilians and members of the armed forces in non-frontline circumstances, where the action did not merit the award of another award for gallantry.[1]

Evolution

During World War I it was recognised that there was no suitable reward for acts of bravery by civilians, such as the seamen of the British Mercantile Marine (later known as the Merchant Navy), which did not merit a specific gallantry medal. That led to the formal introduction of 'Commendations', a system reintroduced in 1939 by King George VI, later officially titled the 'King's Commendation for Brave Conduct'. Renamed the 'Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct' in 1952, the award was discontinued in 1994, on the creation of the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

  • During World War I the 'Commendation' was uniquely awarded to the officers and men of the Mercantile Marine,[3] and was the primary reward for gallantry by merchant seamen. While recipients appeared in the London Gazette and received a certificate, no award accompanied the commendation.[4]
  • The first list of awards for merchant seamen 'commended for good service' was published in the London Gazette on 22 December 1916, the recipients having been in action with U-boats or mines.[5]
  • The first posthumous award appeared in a list of 'Commendations' announced in the London Gazette on 15 May 1917,[6] to Captain Peter MacLachlan of the steamship "Bellorado" who had been killed in a gun battle with U-boat UC-22 on 27–28 February 1917.[7]
  • The last Commendation awarded for service in World War I was announced in the London Gazette on 10 July 1919 to Able Seaman James Anderson of the steamship Petunia which had been torpedoed and sunk.[8]
  • Between the two World Wars the practice of awarding 'Commendations' fell into disuse.
  • With the outbreak of World War II, a system of commendations was again established. The first awards were announced in the London Gazette on 15 December 1939,[9] when names of officers and men of the Merchant Navy ships "Mopan", "Lochgoil" and "Goodwood" were published following 'an expression of commendation of their good services' in action with U-boats and mines.[1]
  • Multiple civilian awards appeared in the London Gazette on 30 September 1940 alongside awards of the recently instituted George Medal, the majority being firefighters.[10] Many more followed in the lists of 'Commendations' on 4 October 1940 where the first awards to female recipients appeared, to Miss Elizabeth Connie Lyle an Air Raid Warden of Newhaven Edinburgh and Miss Violet Morgan a Nurse from Weymouth.[11]
  • The first posthumous awards appeared in the London Gazette on 8 October 1940, when three British Merchant Navy seamen were killed when the ocean liner Lancastria was bombed during the Dunkirk evacuation operations in June 1940, to Richard Garonwy Roberts, John Hill and James Duncan.[12]
  • The last awards of King's Commendations for Brave Conduct appeared in the London Gazette on 12 February 1952,[13] six days after King George VI had died.
  • The first award of the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct was announced in the London Gazette, on 14 March 1952.[14]
  • The award was effectively replaced by the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in August 1994.[15]

Description

Certificate of a King's Commendation awarded posthumously to a merchant seaman in 1942
Laurel leaf on ribbon of Defence Medal
Oakleaf on ribbon of War Medal 1939–1945
  • Before 1943 there was no physical award other than a card certificate presented to the recipient.[16] An example of a World War II 'Commended for Brave Conduct' certificate (left) gives the details of the recipient and the date of the London Gazette announcement.[1]
  • From 1943 a gold and red coloured plastic pin-backed badge was issued to civilian recipients, bearing the design of an upright sword in a wreath, surmounted by a crown. The badge, intended for everyday wear in civilian dress, was 38 millimetres (1.5 in) long by 20 millimetres (0.79 in) wide and was designed by George Kruger Gray, CBE. Normally each recipient received two badges in a small red cardboard box.[17]
  • From 1946[18] the plastic badge was replaced by a silver metal laurel leaf for civilians,[19] with a bronze oak leaf issued to armed forces personnel (including merchant seamen commended in time of war).[20] The bronze oak leaf insignia was identical to that awarded to signify a Mention in Despatches.[17] The devices were worn on the ribbon of the appropriate campaign medal, usually the Defence Medal for civilians and War Medal for servicemen, or directly to tunic or jacket if no medal had been awarded. Devices for commendations for post 1945 campaigns could be worn with the appropriate campaign medal if received.[21]

Awards

See also: Category:Recipients of the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct and Category:Recipients of the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
  • In World War I about 420 'Commendations' were awarded, some posthumously, to men of the British Mercantile Marine.[22]
  • In World War II approximately 5,000 'Commendations' were made, including 2,568 to men of the British Merchant Navy,[23] and almost 2,000[22] to civilians, mostly involved in Civil Defence, such as policemen and firefighters. Awards were also made to service personnel for brave acts where a mention in despatches would not normally be granted.[1] Many awards were made posthumously.
  • Some recipients received multiple 'King's Commendations', for example Captain E.G.B. Martin, O.B.E.[24] of the Merchant Navy who received the award three times, on 23 October 1942,[25] 27 August 1943,[26] and finally posthumously on 22 June 1945,[27] in addition to an Order of the British Empire (Officer) Civil Division on 2 June 1944.[28]
  • The King's Commendation for Brave Conduct and the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct were awarded to 405 Australians. In 1992, Australia ceased recommendations for British awards. In 1975, the Australian Honours System was unilaterally inaugurated and the Australian Bravery Awards were instituted with three medals and a commendation named the Commendation for Brave Conduct.[16]

Example awards

A firefighters 1941 certificate and Defence Medal with Laurel leaf

Examples of awards were those to:

  • Engineer Commander Robert John Anderson, Royal Navy, awarded a 'Commendation' for his bravery during the Blitz on Coventry in April 1941.[29]
  • John Jarvis, Deputy Depot Ambulance Officer, ARP Casualty Service, Norfolk, awarded a 'Commendation' in July 1941 for his bravery in rescue operations after an aircraft crashed and caught fire.[30]
  • Cadet Ernest William Meaby, Air Training Corps, a schoolboy awarded a 'Commendation' in February 1943 for risking his life to rescue the occupants of a crashed aircraft.[31]
  • John William Fegan, Mining Surveyor, Adowsena Gold Mine, Gold Coast, Africa, awarded a 'Commendation' in March 1943 for his bravery when an accident occurred in the mine.[32]
  • Warden Edwin Ernest Wing, Lincoln Civil Defence, received a 'Commendation' in January 1944 for rescuing children from a burning house.[33]
  • John Morrison Ruthven, Chief Refrigeration Engineer, S.S. "Clan Macarthur", Merchant Navy awarded a 'Commendation' in February 1944 for remaining aboard his sinking ship trying to rescue trapped seamen.[34][35]
  • William Henry Shingleton, Leading Compressor Driver, Dover Harbour Board, awarded a 'Commendation' in June 1944 for rescuing men who had strayed into a minefield.[36]
  • Policewoman Mabel Ashley, Borough of Tynemouth Police, was awarded a King's Commendation for Brave Conduct in October 1948 for her services when effecting the arrest of a dangerous criminal.[37]
  • Donald Campbell, who broke eight world water and land speed records, was posthumously awarded a Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct on 28 January 1967 'for courage and determination in attacking the world water speed record.'[38]
  • TN (Lieutenant) Roberto Seisdedos Naval Aviator of Argentina. for his courageous and risky rescue in Antarctica in FOSSIL BLUFF in 1971 allowing the rescue of two BAS scientists. The decoration was presented by the Admiral of the Fleet Sir Peter Hill Norton

King's and Queen's Commendations

This table summarises the various King's and Queen's Commendations awarded by the United Kingdom:

Period For Bravery For Bravery (Air) For valuable service For valuable service (Air)
1939 - 1952[20] King's Commendation for
Brave Conduct		 – – King’s Commendation for
Valuable Service in the Air
1952 - 1994[39] Queen's Commendation for
Brave Conduct		 – – Queen’s Commendation for
Valuable Service in the Air
From 1994[40] Queen's Commendation for
Bravery		 Queen's Commendation for
Bravery in the Air		 Queen's Commendation for
Valuable Service		 –

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Abbott (1981), p.301-302
  2. ^ "No. 37270". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 September 1945. p. 4635.
  3. ^ Confirmed by London Gazette entries 1916 to 1919, only Merchant seamen receiving 'Commendations'.
  4. ^ Duckers (2001), p.56
  5. ^ "No. 29877". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 December 1916. p. 12559.
  6. ^ "No. 13091". The Edinburgh Gazette. 15 May 1917. p. 937.
  7. ^ CWGC details – Peter MacLachlan
  8. ^ "No. 31445". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 July 1919. p. 8738.
  9. ^ "No. 34754". The London Gazette. 15 December 1939. p. 8327.
  10. ^ "No. 34956". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 September 1940. p. 5768.
  11. ^ "No. 34960". The London Gazette. 4 October 1940. p. 5828.
  12. ^ "No. 34963". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 October 1940. p. 5890.
  13. ^ "No. 39465". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 February 1952. p. 851.
  14. ^ "No. 39491". The London Gazette. 14 March 1952. p. 1467.
  15. ^ "No. 53760". The London Gazette. 12 August 1994. p. 11527.
  16. ^ a b Australia: It's an honour: Imperial Awards
  17. ^ a b Imperial War Museum – Kings Commendation
  18. ^ Hansard 6 June 1946
  19. ^ Mussell (2015), p.108
  20. ^ a b "No. 39294". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1951. p. 4035.
  21. ^ Dorling (1956), p.98
  22. ^ a b Based on recipients listed in London Gazette
  23. ^ Slader (1988), p.305
  24. ^ CWGC details – EGB Martin
  25. ^ "No. 35760". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 1942. p. 4652.
  26. ^ "No. 36151". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 August 1943. p. 3867.
  27. ^ "No. 37149". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 June 1945. p. 3333.
  28. ^ "No. 36547". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1944. p. 2669.
  29. ^ "No. 35181". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1941. p. 3205.
  30. ^ "No. 35233". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 July 1941. p. 4424.
  31. ^ "No. 35901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 February 1943. p. 761.
  32. ^ "No. 35955". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 1943. p. 1421.
  33. ^ "No. 36338". The London Gazette. 18 January 1944. p. 395.
  34. ^ Scarlett (1992), p.33
  35. ^ "No. 36391". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 February 1944. p. 905.
  36. ^ "No. 36582". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 June 1944. p. 3038.
  37. ^ "No. 38429". The London Gazette. 12 October 1948. p. 5402.
  38. ^ "No. 44241". The London Gazette. 3 February 1967. p. 1299.
  39. ^ "No. 41285". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 January 1958. p. 365.
  40. ^ "Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility". Ministry of Defence Medal Office. Retrieved 11 June 2018.

Bibliography

Read other articles:

Ibbit-Lim

Ibbit-LimFragmen torso Ibbit-LimRaja EblaBerkuasaskt. 1950 SMInformasi pribadiAyahIgrish-Kheb Ibbit-Lim merupakan penguasa paling awal dari Kerajaan Ketiga Ebla, di Suriah modern, yang memerintah paling mungkin sesaat sebelum 1950 SM.[1] Pemerintahan Ibbit-Lim hanya diketahui oleh fragmen Basal torso yang ditemukan pada tahun 1968 di Tell Mardik dan sekarang di Aleppo, yang merupakan bagian dari patung nazar untuk Inanna, pernah ditempatkan di kuil dewi ini di Akropolis, Ebla.[2&#...

 

 

Ivan Shamarin

Artikel ini sebatang kara, artinya tidak ada artikel lain yang memiliki pranala balik ke halaman ini.Bantulah menambah pranala ke artikel ini dari artikel yang berhubungan atau coba peralatan pencari pranala.Tag ini diberikan pada November 2022. Ivan ShamarinInformasi pribadiNama lengkap Ivan Sergeyevich ShamarinTanggal lahir 7 Maret 1992 (umur 32)Tinggi 1,74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)Posisi bermain GelandangInformasi klubKlub saat ini Tidak terikatKarier senior*Tahun Tim Tam...

 

 

Capital One

Bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia Capital One Financial CorporationCapital One Tower, the company's headquarters in Tysons, VirginiaCompany typePublicTraded asNYSE: COFS&P 100 componentS&P 500 componentIndustryFinancial servicesFoundedJuly 21, 1994; 29 years ago (July 21, 1994) in Richmond, VirginiaFoundersRichard FairbankNigel MorrisHeadquartersCapital One Tower, McLean, Virginia, United StatesAreas servedUnited States, Canada, United KingdomKey...

Интегральная схема

Запрос «Микрочип» перенаправляется сюда; о персонаже Marvel Comics см. Микрочип (Marvel Comics). См. также: VLSI Technology Интегральная схема Сделано из кремний, арсенид галлия, Допант, алюминий и медь Дата открытия (изобретения) 1958  Медиафайлы на Викискладе Увеличенное изобр...

 

 

Daftar Wakil Wali Kota Tarakan

Wakil Wali Kota TarakanLambang Kota TarakanPetahanaEffendhi Djuprianto, S.H.sejak 1 Maret 2019Masa jabatan5 tahunDibentuk1999Pejabat pertamaJoesoef AbdullahSitus webwww.tarakankota.go.id Wakil Wali Kota Tarakan adalah posisi kedua yang memerintah Kota Tarakan di bawah Wali Kota Tarakan. Posisi ini pertama kali dibentuk pada tahun 1999. Daftar No Wakil Wali Kota Mulai Jabatan Akhir Jabatan Prd. Ket. Wali Kota 1 Joesoef Abdullah 1999 2004 1   dr. H.Jusuf Serang Kasim 2 Thamrin A.D. 20...

 

 

Scarabaeidae

Scarabaeidae Kumbang scarab Eropa Tengah Klasifikasi ilmiah Kerajaan: Animalia Filum: Arthropoda Kelas: Insecta Ordo: Coleoptera Superfamili: Scarabaeoidea Famili: ScarabaeidaeLatreille, 1802 Subfamili Aegialiinae Allidiostomatinae Aphodiinae Cetoniinae Dynastinae Dynamopodinae Euchirinae Melolonthinae Orphninae Pachypodinae Phaenomeridinae Phileurinae Rutelinae Scarabaeinae Trichiinae Valginae Scarabaeidae adalah famili kumbang yang terdiri dari 30.000 spesies di berbagai belahan dunia.Dan ...

Governo Depretis VIII

Governo Depretis VIII Stato Italia Presidente del ConsiglioAgostino Depretis(Sinistra storica) CoalizioneSinistra storica LegislaturaXVI Giuramento4 aprile 1887 Dimissioni29 luglio 1887 Governo successivoCrispi I29 luglio 1887 Depretis VII Crispi I Il Governo Depretis VIII è stato in carica dal 4 aprile al 29 luglio 1887 (data della morte di Depretis) per un totale di 116 giorni, ovvero 3 mesi e 25 giorni. Durante questo governo, furono istituite tramite Regio decreto (poiché la legge ...

 

 

Naskah Proklamasi

Halaman ini berisi artikel tentang konsep naskah Proklamasi Kemerdekaan Indonesia. Untuk teks yang telah diketik, lihat Teks Proklamasi. Naskah Proklamasi Kemerdekaan Bangsa Indonesia Tulisan Tangan SoekarnoNama sebagaimana tercantum dalamSistem Registrasi Nasional Cagar BudayaNaskah proklamasi asli tulisan tangan Soekarno yang disimpan di gedung Arsip Nasional Republik Indonesia. Cagar budaya IndonesiaPeringkatNasionalKategoriBendaNo. RegnasCB.10LokasikeberadaanJakarta Selatan, DKI JakartaNo...

 

 

Seed dispersal

Movement or transport of seeds away from the parent plant In spermatophyte plants, seed dispersal is the movement, spread or transport of seeds away from the parent plant.[1] Plants have limited mobility and rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their seeds, including both abiotic vectors, such as the wind, and living (biotic) vectors such as birds. Seeds can be dispersed away from the parent plant individually or collectively, as well as dispersed in both space and ti...

1990 Coppa Italia final

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: 1990 Coppa Italia final – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Football match1990 Coppa Italia FinalEvent1989–90 Coppa Italia Juventus Milan 1 0 First leg Juventus Milan 0 0 Date28 February 1990...

 

 

Monokrom

Foto monokrom Monokrom atau ekawarna[1] (bahasa Yunani Kuno: μονόχρωμος monochromos 'hanya satu warna') merupakan istilah yang secara umum diartikan sebagai lukisan, rekaman, atau foto yang hanya terdapat satu warna saja atau berbagai cahaya dalam satu warna.[2] Cahaya monokrom merupakan cahaya gelombang satu arah, walaupun banyak yang menganggapnya sebagai cahaya yang ada rentang jarak gelombang yang sempit. Objek atau gambar yang monokrom atau satu warna diwarn...

 

 

Tote board

Large numeric or alphanumeric display used to convey information Tote Board at Hollywood Park, California A tote board (or totalisator/totalizator) is a numeric or alphanumeric display used to convey information, typically at a race track (to display the odds or payoffs for each horse) or at a telethon (to display the total amount donated to the charitable organization sponsoring the event). The term tote board comes from the colloquialism for totalizator (or totalisator), the name for the au...

Gibbs and Canning

English manufacturer of Terracotta founded in 1847 Main porch of the Natural History Museum, 1881, designed by Alfred Waterhouse Events in the Life of John Wesley, porch of the Methodist Central Hall, Birmingham, c. 1900-1903 Gibbs and Canning Limited was an English manufacturer of terracotta and, in particular, architectural terracotta, located in Glascote, Tamworth, and founded in 1847. The company manufactured a wide range of terracotta and faience: statues of lions and pelicans to adorn t...

 

 

Józef Zaremba

Polish general and noble Portrait of Jozef Zaremba Józef Zaremba (c.1731 - 1774) was a Polish noble (of the Zaremba coat of arms) and general. He fought on the side of the Bar Confederation. he took part in the siege of Częstochowa, battle of Kościan and the battle of Widawa. Defeated in 1772 at the battle of Piotrków he surrendered to the king. He received the rank of the general afterwards, but did not see any action before his death. He died as a result of burns he sustained in a new, ...

 

 

Politik Beijing

Politik Beijing terstruktur dalam sistem pemerintahan partai-ganda seperti semua lembaga pemerintahan lainnya di daratan Republik Rakyat Tiongkok. Wali kota Beijing adalah pejabat peringkat tertinggi dalam Pemerintahan Rakyat Beijing. Beijing merupakan munisipalitas yang dikelola secara terpusat sehingga wali kota Beijing setara dengan gubernur provinsi. Namun, dalam sistem pemerintahan partai-ganda, wali kota berada di bawah Sekretaris Komite Kota Beijing Partai Komunis Tiongkok. Jabatan Sek...

Church of St Vincent, Newnham

Church in Hertfordshire, England Church of St Vincent in Newnham The Church of St Vincent in Newnham in Hertfordshire is a 12th-century Anglican parish church and a Grade II* listed building, having gained that status in 1968.[1] The church is named for Saint Vincent and is under the Diocese of St Albans; it is noted for the Newnham Murals which were uncovered in 1963.[2] History and design Looking East towards the chancel The 15th-century baptismal font Votive crosses carved ...

 

 

KMEX-DT

Univision TV station in Los Angeles KMEX-DTLos Angeles, CaliforniaUnited StatesChannelsDigital: 34 (UHF)Virtual: 34BrandingUnivision 34ProgrammingAffiliations34.1: Univision34.2: UniMásfor others, see § SubchannelsOwnershipOwnerTelevisaUnivision(KMEX License Partnership, G.P.)Sister stationsKFTR-DTKLVEKRCDKSCAHistoryFirst air dateSeptember 29, 1962(61 years ago) (1962-09-29)Former call signsKMEX-TV (1962–2009)Former channel number(s)Analog: 34 (UHF, 1962–2009)Digital: 35 ...

 

 

Anaheim University

University in California, United States Anaheim UniversityMottoUnitas in VarietateMotto in EnglishUnity through DiversityTypePrivate for-profit universityEstablished1996PresidentAndrew HoneycuttLocationAnaheim, California, U.S.Colors   Red and whiteMascotAmbassadorWebsitewww.anaheim.edu Anaheim University is a private for-profit university based in Anaheim, California. It was founded in 1996 as the Newport Asia Pacific University.[1] The university is accredited by the ...

Animal training

Teaching animals specific responses to specific conditions or stimuli This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Animal training – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Animal trainerEarly 20th century animal trainer Dolores Vallecita with ...

 

 

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737, lik det förolyckade flygplanet.OlyckssammanfattningDatum25 januari 2010TypPilotmisstagPlatsMedelhavet, utanför Libanons kustPassagerare82Besättning8Omkomna90Överlevande0FlygplanstypBoeing 737-8ASFlygbolagEthiopian AirlinesRegistreringET-ANBStartBeirut-Rafic Hariris internationella flygplats, LibanonDestinationAddis Abeba Bole International Airport, Addis Abeba, Etiopien Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 var en reguljär flygning fr�...