To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described.

How do I find out why someone is mentioned in despatches?

Signs that a soldier had been mentioned

Not all “mentions” appear in this way in the medal index cards or rolls. Another way is from medals or photographs of them. If they show a bronze oak leaf affixed to the ribbon of the Victory Medal, then the man had been mentioned in despatches.

What is mention in despatches award?

Mention in Dispatches. 1. In order to recognize distinguished and meritorious service in operational areas and acts of gallantry which are not of a sufficiently high order to warrant the grant of gallantry awards, the President is pleased to approve of the institution of a system of Mention in Despatches.

What does an oak leaf mean on a medal ribbon UK?

The oakleaf on the ribbon of this medal indicates the award of the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Who was awarded the Military Cross in ww1?

During World War I, Acting Captain Francis Wallington of the Royal Field Artillery was the first person to be awarded the MC and three bars when he was invested with his third bar on 10 July 1918 (gazetted 13 September 1918: he had obtained the first three awards as a second lieutenant).

Mentioned in dispatches

42 related questions found

Which is the highest military award of Britain?

Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour in the British armed forces, awarded for extreme bravery in the face of the enemy. It was instituted in 1856 by Queen Victoria at the request of her consort, Prince Albert.

What did mentioned in despatches mean?

A soldier mentioned in dispatches (or despatches) (MID) is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.

Do war medals have names on them?

The UK War Medals were made from cupro-nickel, whilst the Canadian War Medal are made from silver. Those War Medals issued to UK personnel were not officially named.

Do ww2 medals have names on them?

Second World War medals are not named. Check the official description of eligibility for each medal. The locations and dates of service recorded on an individual's service record will indicate if they are entitled to a particular medal.

What are oak leaves in military?

An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the second and subsequent award of the decoration.

What is Operation rakshak?

Operation Rakshak is an ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operation started during the height of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir in June 1990. ... Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala was also killed during Operation Rakshak 18 November 2017, and was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra 25 January 2018.

What is Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card?

COAS COMMENDATION CARD. Conditions of Eligibility. Awarded for individual acts of gallantry or distinguished service or devotion to duty performed either in operation or non-operational areas which are not of a sufficiently high order to qualify for a higher gallantry award or for which the higher award is ...

How do I find out what medals my father was awarded UK?

You can search and download these documents direct from the National Archives Discovery Catalogue: (). There is a small charge for download of the document.

How many George Medals have been awarded?

The George Medal is awarded by the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations for acts of great bravery; over 2,000 medals have been awarded since its inception in September 1940.

What does the oak Leaf medal look like?

An oak leaf cluster is a ribbon device to denote preceding decorations and awards consisting of a miniature bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem.

What is the rarest military medal?

The Victoria Cross is the 'holy grail' for medal collectors because there are only 1,357 in existence. Bearing the inscription 'For valour' and known as a VC, this medal was first awarded for 'conspicuous bravery' in 1856 and later backdated to the Crimean war of 1854.

How do I get my father's military medals?

Requests for replacement medals should be submitted on Standard Form 180, “Request Pertaining to Military Records,” which may be obtained at VA offices or the Internet at

Can I wear my grandad's medals?

The rule is that war medals should only be worn on the left breast by the person upon whom they were conferred. ... However, if you wish to wear your family medals you should wear them on the right breast to indicate they were not conferred upon you.

What's the difference between dispatch and despatch?

It is common for us, when we have two words for the same thing, to make one mean something slightly different from the other. So dispatch becomes the noun meaning 'speed and energy' and despatch becomes the verb meaning 'to send off with speed and energy'.

How do you spell dispatch in UK?

“Despatch” came from the Spanish “despachar,” while the Italian “dispacciare” formed the basis of the modern word of “dispatch.” “Despatch” is the British variant of the term. Conversely, “dispatch” is the American version, and it retains the standard form used since the 1500s.

What is the London Gazette Supplement?

Military achievements

Today, the Ministry of Defence Supplement to The London Gazette is published weekly on Tuesdays, on behalf of the forces. It includes commissions, appointments and medals for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

Who can wear the George Cross?

This award recognises all NHS staff, past and present, across all disciplines and all four nations. Over more than seven decades, and especially in recent times, you have supported the people of our country with courage, compassion and dedication, demonstrating the highest standards of public service.

What is the value of a Victoria Cross?

Owing to its rarity, the VC is highly prized and the medal has fetched over £400,000 at auctions. A number of public and private collections are devoted to the Victoria Cross. The private collection of Lord Ashcroft, amassed since 1986, contains over one-tenth of all VCs awarded.

Is knighthood higher than CBE?

The honour of knighthood comes from medieval times, as does the way used to award the knighthood - the touch of a sword by the King or Queen. ... CBE is the highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, followed by OBE and then MBE. They are given to people to recognise a positive impact they have made in their work.