1. Types of award
The main civilian gallantry awards in the 19th and early 20th centuries were:
- Albert Medal (for merchant seamen, the Royal Navy and later firemen, miners, railwaymen, the army, and others)
- Edward Medal (for miners, quarrymen and later dock workers, railwaymen, etc.)
- Sea Gallantry Medal (for merchant seamen)
- Empire Gallantry Medal (from 1922 for meritorious service) primarily for civilians but also for the military in certain circumstances
- British Empire Medal (from 1922 for meritorious service) primarily for civilians but also for the military in certain circumstances
- George Cross (from 1940 for meritorious service, replacing the Empire Gallantry Medal, and later the Edward Medal and Albert Medal) primarily for civilians but also for the military in certain circumstances
- George Medal (from 1940 for meritorious service) primarily for civilians but also for the military in certain circumstances
- Queen's Gallantry Medal (from 1974 for meritorious service)
2. The records
The main series of records dealing with civilian awards are HO 45, PREM 2 and (for the Merchant Navy) MT 9 code 6 and BT 261. The recommendations for all the military GCs, GMs and BEMs awarded in the period 1941-6 are in AIR 2, 'B', code 30.
HO 250 contains the recommendations for all gallantry awards to civilians (including firemen, policemen and air raid precautions wardens) during the period 1940-1949. The recommendations are not indexed.
For the period 1940-1948 gallantry awards to civilians can be found in WO 373/66 to WO 373/70, and these include awards of the GC, George Medal (GM), Order of the British Empire (OBE), BEM, and the King's/Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct.
3. Awards to police
Medals instituted expressly to acknowledge gallantry by police officers:
- African Police Medal (later the Colonial Police Medal)
- Constabulary Medal (Ireland)
- King's Police Medal (later the King's Police and Fire Services Medal, and now the Queen's Police Medal)
For records, try HO 250 under Civilians, and see table below.
4. Foreign awards and British awards to foreigners
These were handled by the Treaty Department of the Foreign Office. Before 1906, reports are in FO 83; after 1906 they are in FO 372. For 1906-1951, consult the index to Foreign Office correspondence, available at The National Archives. Only a limited number of the Treaty Department's files survive. Many foreign awards to Britons, and British awards to foreigners for the period from 1946 to the present can be found in WO 373 from piece 106 onwards.
5. Alphabetical table of gallantry medals
All the series listed in the table below contain some information on individuals. For policy files on medals, look at AIR 1, HO 45, AIR 2 code 30, WO 32 code 50, ADM 1 code 85, MT 9 code 6, ADM 116 code 85, T 300 and T 333. Search Discovery, our catalogue, using medal title or its abbreviation. This table refers to awards granted before the changes in the honours and awards system of 1993.
The London Gazette is available online.
| Type of medal | Series references |
|---|---|
| African Police Medal | Chief Clerk's correspondence - CO 523; Colonial Gazettes |
| Albert Medal | Board of Trade registers BT 97; Marine Department MT 9 code 6; Admiralty registers ADM 171; Home Office registered papers HO 45; London Gazette ZJ 1; War Office registers WO 327; Board of Trade registers BT 261; Home Office, supplementary registered papers HO 144 |
| British Empire Medal | London Gazette ZJ 1; Admiralty & Secretariat ADM 1 code 85 and ADM 116 code 85; Air Ministry corresp. AIR 2 code 30; Board of Trade Marine Dept MT 9 code 6; Admiralty registers ADM 171; Home Office Inter-departmental Committee on Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, HO 250; MoD Honours and Awards WO 373 |
| Colonial Police Medal | London Gazette ZJ 1; Colonial Gazettes |
| Constabulary Medal | Royal Irish Constabulary circulars HO 184; Home Office registered papers HO 45 |
| Edward Medal | Home Office registered papers HO 45; Chief Clerk's corresp. CO 523; London Gazette ZJ 1; Home Office HO 178 |
| Empire Gallantry Medal | London Gazette ZJ 1; Admiralty & Secretariat ADM 1 code 85 and ADM 116 code 85; Air Ministry corresp. AIR 2 code 30; Board of Trade Marine Dept MT 9 code 6; Admiralty registers ADM 171; Home Office Interdepartmental Committee on Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, HO 250 |
| George Cross | Air Ministry corresp. AIR 2 code 30; Prime Minister's Office PREM 2; Board of Trade Marine Dept MT 9 code 6; War Office registered papers WO 32 code 50AP; London Gazette ZJ 1; War Office registers WO 330; Home Office, Interdepartmental Committee on Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, HO 250 |
| George Medal | Air Ministry correspondence AIR 2 code 30; Prime Minister's Office PREM 2; Board of Trade Marine Dept MT 9 code 6; London Gazette ZJ 1; Admiralty ADM 1 code 85; War Office registers WO 330; Home Office, Interdepartmental Committee on Civil Defence Gallantry Awards HO 250 |
| King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom | Eden's circular despatch T3530/206/372 of 17 March 1945, called for recommendations for the award of British honours to foreigners for war service. Brief citations are in T 339 |
| King's Police and Fire Services Medal, & King's and Queen's Police Medal | Medal Office of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police MEPO 2; Police Orders MEPO 7; Chief Clerk's corresp. CO 523; London Gazette ZJ 1; Home Office correspondence HO 45; Colonial & Dominion Gazettes; Home Office HO 178 |
| New Zealand Cross | New Zealand Gazette, CO 212 |
| Queen's Fire Service Medal | London Gazette ZJ 1 |
| Queen's Gallantry Medal | London Gazette ZJ 1 |
| Sea Gallantry Medal | Board of Trade Marine Department MT 9 code 6; London Gazette ZJ 1; Parliamentary papers; Board of Trade registers BT 261 |
