Distinguished Conduct Medal

Distinguished Conduct Medal
Queen Victoria version
TypeMilitary decoration for bravery
Awarded forGallantry in the field
Country United Kingdom
Presented bythe Monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
EligibilityOther ranks
Post-nominalsDCM
StatusDiscontinued in 1993
Established4 December 1854
First awarded1855
Last awarded1993
Total30,200+[1]
Ribbon bar without and with rosette to indicate award of a bar
Order of Wear
Next (higher)Air Force Cross
EquivalentDistinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)
Next (lower)Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
RelatedDistinguished Service Order

The Distinguished Conduct Medal was a decoration established in 1854 by Queen Victoria for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, ranking below the Victoria Cross, until it was discontinued in 1993 when it was replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The medal was also awarded to non-commissioned military personnel of other Commonwealth Dominions and Colonies.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Abbott82 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "The King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, (Lancaster), Distinguished Conduct Medal".
  3. ^ Veterans Affairs Canada – Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) (Access date 19 May 2015)
  4. ^ New Zealand Defence Force – British Commonwealth Gallantry, Meritorious and Distinguished Service Awards – The Distinguished Conduct Medal Archived 27 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Access date 19 May 2015)