Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1920

AUSTRALIAN MILITARY / GENERAL MILITARY World War I

 (Being a list arranged regimentally and alphabetically of all those awarded the D.C.M. between August 1914 and June 1920)

Australian lists: pp. 177 – 189 219 p. : ill., ports. ; 31 cm. #121223 First Edition. (Fine in dust jacket with shelf wear.)

The Distinguished Conduct Medal was a decoration established in 1854 by Queen Victoria 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, ranking below the Victoria Cross, until it was discontinued in 1993 when it was replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The medal was also awarded to non-commissioned military personnel of other Commonwealth Dominions and Colonies.

During the First World War, concern arose that the high number of medals being awarded would devalue the medal’s prestige. The Military Medal was therefore instituted on 25 March 1916 as an alternative and lower award, with the Distinguished Conduct Medal reserved for more exceptional acts of bravery.^[5][13][14] Around 25,000 Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded during the First World War.

All awards of the Distinguished Conduct Medal were notified in the London Gazette and, during the First World War, citations were generally also included.