Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry 1922-
The Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, usually known as the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM), was a British medal awarded for acts of the gallantry that did not reach the standard required for the Albert Medal or the Edward Medal. King George V introduced it on December 29, 1922.
1917-1922: The original Medal of the Order of the British Empire, which was awarded more than 2,000 times for either meritorious service or gallantry.
1922-1940: The original medal was discontinued and split into the British Empire Medal and the Empire Medal for Gallantry. Recipients were entitled to use the post-nominal letters EGM and as a Medal of the Order of the British Empire it was also divided into military and civil divisions. Unlike appointments to the Order of the British Empire it could be awarded posthumously.
1940-1992: The George Cross was established and the Empire Gallantry Medal was revoked. Beginning in 1958, the British Empire Medal, which was still being awarded, was done so with a silver oak life to indicate an award for gallantry.
1992-2012: The British Empire Medal was only awarded to foreign recipients.
2012-Present: The British Empire Medal would once again be awarded to British citizens, but only in the civil division.
Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry GR V Military & Civilian Divisions
The medal and ribbon were designed by Langford Jones, though it was changed throughout its existence. The phrase FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE was inscribed round the upper side of the obverse. The first type of reverse had six lions, with the Royal Cipher centered. The second type of reverse had four lions, two on either side of the Royal Cipher. The original ribbon was plain purple, with the addition of a thin vertical red stripe for military awards. A silver laurel branch was added diagonally to the ribbon for both military and civilian awards in 1933. The ribbon changed to rose pink with pearl grey edges in July 1937, with an additional pearl grey vertical stripe for military awards, and stayed in this version until its revocation.
Original British Empire Medal on Military Division Ribbon
Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry ER II Military Division
The obverse features Britannia robed and helmeted, seated on a rock facing right, holding a trident in her right hand and supporting a Union shield with her left hand. The sun shines in the upper right and waves lap at her feet. The inscription reads, FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE. The exegue inscription reads, FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. The reverse features the reigning monarch's cipher, either GRI (George VI) or (EIIR) Elizabeth II with heraldic lions on either side and surmounted by a royal crown. Both versions are inscribed at the base, INSTITUTED BY KING GEORGE VI.
A total of 64 awards were made in the civilian division and 62 in the military division. There were four honorary awards and four posthumous awards, which were not able to be exchanged for the George Cross. Of the remaining awards, 112 were exchanged including four Military Division posthumous awards awarded after the start of World War II.
The Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, usually known as the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM), was a British medal awarded for acts of the gallantry that did not reach the standard required for the Albert Medal or the Edward Medal. King George V introduced it on December 29, 1922.
1917-1922: The original Medal of the Order of the British Empire, which was awarded more than 2,000 times for either meritorious service or gallantry.
1922-1940: The original medal was discontinued and split into the British Empire Medal and the Empire Medal for Gallantry. Recipients were entitled to use the post-nominal letters EGM and as a Medal of the Order of the British Empire it was also divided into military and civil divisions. Unlike appointments to the Order of the British Empire it could be awarded posthumously.
1940-1992: The George Cross was established and the Empire Gallantry Medal was revoked. Beginning in 1958, the British Empire Medal, which was still being awarded, was done so with a silver oak life to indicate an award for gallantry.
1992-2012: The British Empire Medal was only awarded to foreign recipients.
2012-Present: The British Empire Medal would once again be awarded to British citizens, but only in the civil division.
Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry GR V Military & Civilian Divisions
The medal and ribbon were designed by Langford Jones, though it was changed throughout its existence. The phrase FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE was inscribed round the upper side of the obverse. The first type of reverse had six lions, with the Royal Cipher centered. The second type of reverse had four lions, two on either side of the Royal Cipher. The original ribbon was plain purple, with the addition of a thin vertical red stripe for military awards. A silver laurel branch was added diagonally to the ribbon for both military and civilian awards in 1933. The ribbon changed to rose pink with pearl grey edges in July 1937, with an additional pearl grey vertical stripe for military awards, and stayed in this version until its revocation.
Original British Empire Medal on Military Division Ribbon
Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry ER II Military Division
The obverse features Britannia robed and helmeted, seated on a rock facing right, holding a trident in her right hand and supporting a Union shield with her left hand. The sun shines in the upper right and waves lap at her feet. The inscription reads, FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE. The exegue inscription reads, FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. The reverse features the reigning monarch's cipher, either GRI (George VI) or (EIIR) Elizabeth II with heraldic lions on either side and surmounted by a royal crown. Both versions are inscribed at the base, INSTITUTED BY KING GEORGE VI.
A total of 64 awards were made in the civilian division and 62 in the military division. There were four honorary awards and four posthumous awards, which were not able to be exchanged for the George Cross. Of the remaining awards, 112 were exchanged including four Military Division posthumous awards awarded after the start of World War II.
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