Medals

The Naval General Service Medal and campaign medal rolls for the period from 1793 to 1913 are in the series ADM 171. First World War medal rolls are also in ADM 171. There are also some medal rolls for the interwar years between 1920 and 1937.

Long service and good conduct medals from 1912 onwards are in ADM 171. Details of earlier awards have not survived. Gallantry awards are announced and published in the London Gazette, copies of which are held in the series ZJ 1.

The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was instituted for the Crimean War (1854-1856) and was reintroduced after 1874 for petty officers and seamen. Nominal lists of recipients can be found in the Navy List and in Admiralty Orders in ADM 182. There are medal rolls for 1914 to 1918 in ADM 171/75 and 1914 to 1929 in ADM 171/61.

Names of the recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (before 1914 known as the Conspicuous Service Cross) from 1901 appear in the London Gazette but no citations have survived. There is a medal roll for 1942 to 1972 in ADM 171/164-165. Awards to RNR officers between 1939 and 1946 are in BT 164/23.

Distinguished Service Medal awards are indexed in ADM 171/75 for 1914-1918. Rolls for 1942 to 1972 are in ADM 171/164-165.

Distinguished Service Order awards between 1886 and 1945 can be found in WO 390.

Victoria Cross awards are in the registers in series WO 98, these are searchable on DocumentsOnline and full citations appear in the London Gazette.