Prior to the Crimean War (1854 -1856), Britain and Commonwealth countries did not have an exclusive official gallantry award for non-commissioned ranks.
The Distinguished Conduct Medal, introduced in 1854, fulfilled that need after the Victoria Cross was introduced in 1856 and became the second highest gallantry award after the VC.
The DCM was awarded for distinguished conduct in the field, including naval, and later air force, by non-commissioned ranks. The circular silver medal bears on the obverse an uncrowned or crowned effigy of the Sovereign, depending on whose effigy was depicted, facing left and the Sovereign’s legend around the circumference. The reverse has the words ‘For Distinguished Conduct In the Field’ in full capitals and arranged in four lines with a horizontal line running through a small oval wreath below the wording. After May 31, 1895, the word ‘Canada’ was inserted above the text and around the rim – Canada was one of the few countries to do so. The ribbon is crimson with a dark blue centre stripe.
According to John Blatherwick, the first DCM to a Canadian was awarded on April 19, 1901, for service in South Africa. In total, 2132 DCMs – 38 first bars and one second bar – were awarded to Canadians.
The naval counterpoint to the DCM was the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal instituted in 1855 for award to petty officers and ratings of the Royal Navy and non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the Royal Marines for acts of pre-eminent bravery in action with the enemy.
Existing silver Meritorious Service Medals of the day were modified into the CGM by erasing the words ‘Meritorious Service’ in raised capitals on the reverse and engraving ‘Conspicuous Gallantry’ in the same space. The raised date of 1848 on the effigy of Queen Victoria remained on the obverse. The ribbon was white.
In 1874, a new medal was struck eliminating the ‘1848’ with the inscription ‘For Conspicuous Gallantry’. In 1943 the CGM was extended to non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the Commonwealth air forces. The ribbon was changed to white with dark blue edges for the navy and sky blue with dark blue edges for the air forces. Only two Canadians were awarded the CGM (Sea); 12 were awarded the CGM (Air).
At the end of the 19th Century, the British Admiralty finally began to recognize that senior officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks were not the only individuals who performed gallant acts.
In 1901, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was introduced for issue to naval junior officers and warrant officers who were ineligible for the Distinguished Service Order. Only eight CGCs had been issued up to 1914 when the name was changed to the Distinguished Service Cross.
This remained as the Royal Navy and Commonwealth Navies’ award to personnel from Warrant Officer to Lieutenant for the performance of meritorious or distinguished service before the enemy.
In 1931, the award was extended to the Merchant Navy and the Fishing Fleets. In 1939, it was extended further up to and including Commander rank, Air Force officers serving with the fleet and Army officers who manned defence weapons systems in the Merchant Navy.
A silver cross pattée, the obverse of the DSC shows the Royal Cypher in the circular centre surmounted by an Imperial Crown. The reverse is plain with the year of the award engraved on the lower arm after 1939. The ribbon consists of three equal stripes of navy blue, white and navy blue. A total of 191 DSCs, 34 first Bars and 5 second Bars, have been awarded to Canadians.
As a counterpart to the DSC, the Distinguished Service Medal was instituted on October 14, 1914 for award to petty officers and ratings of the Royal Navy (and Commonwealth navies) and non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the Royal Marines and other military personnel serving with the fleet. A round, silver medal, the obverse of the DSM bears a raised, crowned effigy of the Sovereign with the legend surrounding the rim. The reverse has the words ‘For Distinguished Service’ in raised capitals centred in three lines, encircled by a laurel wreath surmounted by an Imperial Crown. The ribbon consists of three equal dark blue, white and dark blue with a thin dark blue stripe down the centre of the white. In total, 116 DSMs and two bars have been awarded to Canadians.