The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was instituted in June 1917 to reward war services in all capacities, military and civil. In 1918, in order to mark the distinction between awards for civilian and military services, a military division of the order was created. Broadly speaking, it may be said that the military division is con- ferred on military personnel for distinguished service other than gallantry in action during war. The order is divided into five classes. The badge of the first, second, third and fourth classes consists of a silver-gilt cross, that of the fifth class being executed in silver. Mem- bers of the first and second classes wear a star on the left breast in addition. A silver medal of the order can also be awarded to those persons, not being members of the order, whose services to the Empire warrant such recognition. The ribbon is plain purple, that of the military division being distinguished by a narrow red line down the centre.
The Distinguished Service Medal. Established in Oct. 1914 by King George V. Obverse: the effigy of King George V. in naval uniform. Reverse: the words " For Distinguished Service," sur- mounted by a crown and encircled by a wreath of laurel. Ribbon : blue with two broad white stripes in the centre. Awarded to petty officers and men of the Royal Navy, and non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Marines and all other persons holding corre- sponding positions in the naval forces who may at any time show themselves to the fore in action and set an example of bravery and resource under fire, but without performing acts of such preeminent bravery as would render them eligible for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. Bars are awarded for further services.
The Military Cross. Instituted in Dec. 1914 by royal warrant. It consists of an ornamental silver cross, on each arm of which is an imperial crown with the imperial cypher " G.R.I." in the centre. Bars are awarded for further services. It is awarded to military officers below the rank of major and to warrant officers in the army, Indian army, or Colonial forces. During the first two years after its institution, this decoration was not confined to service in action, but was also given in recognition of distinguished service at the base or with the administrative branches of the army in theatres of war. After 1916, however, it was confined to those whose services were thought worthy of recognition while under the fire of the enemy. Ribbon : white watered silk with a purple centre.
The Military Medal. Instituted in March 1916 for award to non- commissioned officers and men of the army for individual or asso- ciated acts of bravery in the field. The medal is of silver. Obverse: the royal effigy. Reverse: the words " For bravery in the Field " encircled by a wreath and surmounted by the royal cypher and crown. Ribbon: dark blue having in the centre three white and two crimson stripes alternating. Bars are awarded for further acts of bravery in action. The award was subsequently extended to warrant officers and to women, the qualification for the last named being " For bravery and devotion under fire."
The Distinguished Flying Cross. Instituted in 1918 for award to officers and warrant officers of the R.A.F. for acts of valour, courage, or devotion to duty performed while flying in active operations against the enemy. The cross is of silver, terminated in the hori- zontal and base bars with bombs, the upper bar terminating with a rose, surmounted by another cross composed of aeroplane propellers, charged in the centre with a roundel within a wreath of laurels a rose winged ensigned by an imperial crown, thereon the letters R.A.F. On the reverse the royal cypher above the date 1918, the whole attached to the clasp and ribbon by two stripes one-eighth of an inch wide running at an angle of 45 from left to right. Bars are awarded for further services.
The Distinguished Flying Medal. Instituted in 1918 for award under similar conditions to the Distinguished Flying Cross, to non- commissioned officers and men of the R.A.F. The medal is of silver, oval-shaped, bearing on the obverse the royal effigy and on the reverse, within a wreath of laurel, a representation of Athena, Nike seated on an aeroplane, a hawk rising from her right arm above the words " For Courage." The whole ensigned by a bomb attached to the clasp and ribbon by two wings. Ribbon : violet and white in alternate diagonal stripes one-sixteenth of an inch wide running at an angle of 45 from left to right. Bars are also awarded.
The Air Force Cross. Instituted in 1918 for award to officers and warrant officers of the R.A.F. for acts of valour, courage or devo- tion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy, and also to individuals not belonging to the R.A.F. (whether naval, military or civil) who render distinguished service to aviation in actual flying. The cross is of silver and consists of a thunderbolt in the form of a cross, the arms conjoined by wings, the base bar terminating with a bomb, surmounted by another cross composed of aeroplane propellers, the four ends enscribed with the letters G. V.R.I. In the centre a roundel, thereon a representation of Hermes mounted on a hawk in flight bestowing a wreath. Reverse: the royal cypher above the date 1918. The whole ensigned by an imperial crown attached to the clasp and ribbon by two sprigs of laurel. Ribbon: red and white in alternate diagonal stripes one- eighth of an inch wide, running at an angle of 45 from left to right. Bars are awarded for further services.
_ The Air Force Medal. Instituted in 1918 for award, under similar conditions to the Air Force Cross, to non-commissioned officers and men of the R.A.F. and to individuals not belonging to
that force (whether naval, military or civil) who render distinguishe_ service to aviation in actual flying. The medal is of silver, oval- shaped. Obverse: the royal effigy. Reverse: within a wreath of laurel a representation of Hermes mounted on a hawk in flight bestowing a wreath. The whole ensigned by a bomb attached to the clasp and ribbon by two wings. Ribbon : red and white in alternate diagonal stripes one-sixteenth of an inch wide running at an angle of 45 from left to right. Bars are awarded for further services.
The Military Star of the Sultan Fouad. Instituted in 1919 for award to officers of the Egyptian army who are mentioned in despatches for merit or for distinguished services on the field of battle or before the enemy. It consists of a five-rayed star sus- pended from a straight clasp. The obverse is enamelled white, bordered gilt, with a gilt fillet in the centre of each ray. The centre is enamelled red and blue, upon which appears a garland of laurel, surrounding two crossed swords, and surmounted by the Sultan's crown, all in relief and gilt. The reverse is similar, but has in the centre a blue circle surrounded by a gold chaplet bearing in Arabic the inscription " The Military Star of the Sultan Fouad." Bars are awarded for further services. The ribbon is of five equal stripes of blue, chamois, black, chamois, blue.
V. AMERICAN AND FRENCH PERSONAL DECORATIONS The World War of 1917-8 caused the institution in the United States of four new service decorations in addition to the Congressional Medal of Honor reserved for acts of the highest bravery.
(1) Distinguished Service Cross. Army. Instituted on Jan. 12 1918 for award to military personnel, including women, who dis- tinguish themselves by extraordinary heroism in connexion with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States under circ imstances which do not justify the award of the Medal of Honor. The cross is of bronze surcharged with the American spread eagle, and hangs from a blue ribbon with narrow white and red stripes at either edge. Beneath the eagle is a scroll bearing the words " For Valor." A bronze oak leaf is worn on the ribbon to denote a second award.
(2) Distinguished Service Medal. Army. Instituted on Jan. 12 1918 for award to military personnel, including women, for excep- tionally meritorious service to the Government in duty of great responsibility in time of war, or in connexion with military opera- tions against an armed enemy of the United States. The medal is of bronze and bears on the obverse the coat-of-arms of the United States surrounded by a circular ribbon of blue enamel bearing the words " For Distinguished Service " and the date " MCMXVIII." Ribbon: scarlet, in the centre a broad stripe of white, with a narrow stripe of dark blue on each side of it. Further acts of bravery are denoted by a bronze oak leaf worn on the ribbon.
(3) Distinguished Service Medal. Navy. Awarded to naval personnel who, since April 6 1917, distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility. The medal is of bronze. Obverse : a foul anchor, placed perpendicularly; on the right a sprig of laurel. The words
Distinguished Service " in raised letters round the top circum- ference; in the background a squadron of ships with the sun rising over the horizon. Reverse: a plaque for the name of the recipient superimposed upon a sprig of laurel. The clasp for suspension from the ribbon shows the American eagle standing upon a scroll with the date " 1917-18." Ribbon: blue with a central stripe of yellow. An emblem is worn on the ribbon to denote a second award. Enlisted or enrolled personnel who receive the medal are granted a monthly increase in pay of two dollars.
(4) Navy Cross. Awarded to naval personnel for extraordinary heroism or distinguished service since April 6 1917 in cases not justifying the award of either the Medal of Honor or the Dis- tinguished Service Medal. The decoration is a bronze cross patee convexed with points of laurel at the junction of the limbs. In the centre are crossed foul anchors and the letters " U.S.N." Ribbon: blue with a central narrow stripe of white. An emblem is worn on the ribbon to denote a second award. Enlisted or enrolled personnel who receive the cross are granted $2 a month increase in pay.
The principal personal decorations in France are as follows :
The Medaille Militaire. Established in 1852. It is only awarded to general officers in command of armies and to non-commissioned officers and men of the army and navy who specially distinguished themselves in action. The decoration is of rather complicated de- sign. In the centre of the obverse is the gilt female head of the Republic on a roughened gilt ground, surrounded by a narrow band of blue enamel bearing the words " Republique Franfaise 1870 " in pit letters. On the reverse " Valeur et Discipline." Above the medal is a trophy of arms. Ribbon : orange with green edges.
The Legion of Honour is dealt with in 15.863.
The Croix de Guerre. Established in 1915 to commemorate individual mentions in despatches during the war 1914-8. The cross was awarded to soldiers or sailors of all ranks, including officers, who were mentioned in orders of the day for an individual Feat of arms. The different classes of orders (regimental, divisional,
