British Empire Medal

British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service

Award

British Empire Medal

Obverse (left) and reverse: British Empire Medal, civil division ribbon

Type| Medal affiliated with an order
Awarded for| Meritorious service
Country| United Kingdom
Presented by| Charles III
Post-nominals| BEM
Motto| For God and the Empire
Status| Currently awarded
Established| 1922–present
1993–2011 Commonwealth but not UK
Final award| 2025 New Year Honours[citation needed]

Ribbon bars: Civil and Military BEM (to 1937)

Ribbon bars: Civil and Military BEM (since 1937)
Precedence
Next (higher)| Royal Victorian Medal[1]
Next (lower)| King's Police Medal[1]
Related| Order of the British Empire
Medal of the Order of the British Empire, obverse. Awarded 1917–22.

The British Empire Medal (BEM; formerly British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) is a British and Commonwealth award for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown.[1] The current honour was created in 1922 to replace the original medal, which had been established in 1917 as part of the Order of the British Empire.

## Award

[edit]

The British Empire Medal is granted by the monarch of the United Kingdom in recognition of meritorious civil or military service. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "BEM" with special privileges to use St Paul's Cathedral for funerals, baptisms and weddings. BEM holders can also apply for a family crest designed by the Monarch’s artist.

Since December 1918, the honour has been divided into civil and military divisions in a similar way to the Order of the British Empire itself. While recipients are not members of the Order, the medal is affiliated to it.[2]

Between 1993 and 2012, the British Empire Medal was not awarded to citizens of the United Kingdom, although it continued to be awarded in some Commonwealth realms during that time. The practice of awarding the Medal to British citizens was resumed in June 2012, to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[3]

Since March 1941 a clasp attached to the ribbon can be bestowed to denote a further award.[2]

A holder of the BEM subsequently appointed to membership of the Order of the British Empire is permitted to wear the insignia for both.[4]

## History

[edit]

### 1917–1922

[edit]

The Medal of the Order of the British Empire was established in June 1917, along with the Order of the British Empire of which it was a part, and could be awarded for either meritorious service or for gallantry. It was awarded to 2,014 people, 800 of whom were from foreign countries.[1][2]

### 1922–1940

[edit]

In 1922, the original medal was discontinued, and was replaced by two separate honours, both of which still formed part of the Order of the British Empire. These two honours were known as the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service (usually referred to as British Empire Medal, BEM) and the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (usually referred to as Empire Gallantry Medal, EGM). Of these medals, the EGM was awarded for acts of bravery, until it was replaced by the George Cross in 1940.[4] The BEM was awarded in similar circumstances as the other Order of the British Empire medals. In the uniformed services, it was awarded to non-commissioned officers of the armed forces, officers below superintendent rank in the police,[citation needed][citation needed]

### 1940–1992

[edit]

Silver oak-leaf emblem for gallantry, awarded 1958–74

On 24 September 1940, the George Cross was established, and the EGM was revoked by Royal Warrant the same day. All living recipients, other than honorary recipients, and the next-of-kin of those posthumously awarded the EGM after 3 September 1939, the start of the Second World War, were to exchange their insignia for the George Cross. Recipients of the BEM were not affected by these changes.[5]

From 1940, the war led to an increasing number of BEMs awarded to service personnel and civilians, including the Merchant Navy, police and civil defence, for acts of gallantry that did not reach the standard of the George Medal (GM). Such awards often had citations, while awards for meritorious service usually did not.[2]

From 14 January 1958, awards of the BEM for acts of gallantry were formally designated the British Empire Medal for Gallantry and consisted of the BEM with a silver oak leaf emblem worn on the ribbon.[6] The first recipients of this newly designated award were two Board of Customs officers, George Elrick Thomson and John Rees Thomas, who ventured into a burning steamship hold in an attempt to rescue a colleague.[7] Like the GM, the BEM for Gallantry could not be awarded posthumously and was eventually replaced in 1974 with the Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM).[8] Again, recipients of the BEM for services other than acts of bravery were not affected by these changes.

### 1992–2012

[edit]

The BEM continued to be awarded to subjects of the United Kingdom until 1992. After a 1993 review of the British honours system, the government decided that the distinction between the BEM and MBE had "become increasingly tenuous" and the Prime Minister, John Major, ended the award of the BEM[9] to British subjects, although the medal continued to be awarded in some Commonwealth realms, such as the Bahamas and the Cook Islands.[10]

### From 2012

[edit]

Following the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the BEM would once again be awarded in the United Kingdom; this would start beginning in 2012, to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[9] In the 2012 Birthday Honours, released on 16 June 2012, the BEM was awarded to 293 people.[11]

Although those awarded the honour do not receive it from the monarch in person, but from the Lord Lieutenant of their county, recipients are invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party to celebrate their achievement.[11]

### Appearance

[edit]

The Medal of the Order of the British Empire awarded from 1917 to 1922 is a circular silver medal, 30 millimetres (1.2 in) in diameter, showing a seated Britannia and the inscription "for God and the empire" on the obverse and the royal cypher on the reverse. The medal has a ring suspender for the 27-millimetre-wide (1.1 in) ribbon of plain purple, the military division having a red central stripe. The medal was awarded unnamed.[8]

The medals introduced in 1922 broadly follow the same design but, with a diameter of 36 millimetres (1.4 in), are larger than the previous medal, and have either "for meritorious service" or "for gallantry" in the obverse exergue. The medal has a straight bar suspender for the 1.25-inch-wide (32 mm) ribbon. This was plain purple, with a red central stripe for the military division, until 1937 when, like the Order, the ribbon changed to the current design of rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with an additional pearl-grey central stripe for the military division. The medal is presented with the recipient's name on the rim.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "ORDERS OF WEAR" (PDF). direct.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
2. ^ a b c d P E Abbott; JMA Tamplin (1981). "chapters 35–38". British Gallantry Awards. London: Nimrod Dix & Co. ISBN 0-9026-3374-0.
3. ^ Second Report on Operation of the Reformed Honours System, The Cabinet Office, 12 December 2011, pp.3–4
4. ^ a b H. Taprell Dorling (1956). Ribbons and Medals. A. H. Baldwin & Son, London. p. 36\. OCLC 930416375.
5. ^ P E Abbott; JMA Tamplin (1981). British Gallantry Awards. London: Nimrod Dix & Co. pp. 139–140\. ISBN 0-9026-3374-0.
6. ^ "No. 41285". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 January 1958. p. 365.
7. ^ "Page 1127 | Supplement 41316, 14 February 1958 | London Gazette | the Gazette". Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
8. ^ a b c John W. Mussell, ed. (2014). Medal Yearbook 2015. Token Publishing Limited, Honiton, Devon. pp. 68–69\. ISBN 978-1-908-828-16-3.
9. ^ a b "British Empire Medal is to return". BBC News. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
10. ^ See 2008 New Year ("No. 58558". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2007. p. 29.) and Queen's Birthday Honours ("No. 58731". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2008. p. 31.)
11. ^ a b "Birthday Honours: 'Working class' British Empire Medal revived". BBC News. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Empire Medal.

* Search recommendations for the British Empire Medal on The UK National Archives' website.
* British Empire Medal on the Veterans Affairs Canada site Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom

Orders|

| Current|

* Garter
* Thistle
* Bath
* Merit
* St Michael and St George
* Royal Victorian
* Distinguished Service
* British Empire
* Imperial Service
* Companions of Honour
* St John

| Royal family orders|

* George VI
* Elizabeth II
* Charles III

|

Dormant|

* St Patrick
* Crown of India
* Star of India
* Indian Empire
* Indian Merit
* British India
* Burma

Defunct|

* Royal Guelphic

| Royal family orders|

* George IV
* Victoria & Albert
* Edward VII
* George V

|

Other|

* Royal Victorian Chain
* Hereditary peerage
* Life peerage
* Privy counsellor
* Baronet
* Knight Bachelor
* Aide-de-camp

Current
decorations
and medals|

| Level 1|

* Victoria Cross
* George Cross

|

Level 2A|

* Distinguished Service Order
* Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
* Royal Red Cross (class I)

Level 2B|

* George Medal
* King's Police Medal, for Gallantry
* King's Fire Service Medal, for Gallantry

Level 3A|

* Distinguished Service Cross
* Military Cross
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Air Force Cross
* Royal Red Cross (class II)

Level 3B|

* Sea Gallantry Medal
* King's Gallantry Medal
* Royal Victorian Medal
* British Empire Medal
* King’s Police Medal, for Distinguished Service
* King's Fire Service Medal, for Distinguished Service
* King's Ambulance Service Medal
* King's Volunteer Reserves Medal
* Polar Medal
* Imperial Service Medal
* Overseas Territories Police Medal
* Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service

Level 4|

* Mentioned in Despatches
* King's Commendation for Bravery
* King's Commendation for Bravery in the Air
* King's Commendation for Valuable Service

Other|

* Badge of Honour
* Elizabeth Cross
* Elizabeth Emblem

Obsolete
decorations
and medals|

| Level 1|

* Indian Order of Merit (1st class)
* Albert Medal (1st class)
* Edward Medal (1st class)
* Empire Gallantry Medal

|

Level 2A|

* Indian Order of Merit (2nd class)
* Distinguished Conduct Medal
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)

Level 2B|

* Albert Medal (2nd class)
* Edward Medal (2nd class)
* Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold

Level 3A|

* Order of British India (1st class)
* Order of British India (2nd class)
* Indian Order of Merit (3rd class)
* Title Badge (India) (1st class)
* Title Badge (India) (2nd class)
* Title Badge (India) (3rd class)
* Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal
* King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal
* Indian Distinguished Service Medal
* Distinguished Service Medal
* Military Medal
* Distinguished Flying Medal
* Air Force Medal
* Burma Gallantry Medal

Level 3B|

* Constabulary Medal (Ireland)
* Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver
* Kaisar-i-Hind Medal (Gold, Silver, Bronze)
* Indian Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Ceylon Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Gallantry
* Mauritius Police Medal for Meritorious Service
* Colonial Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Canada Medal
* Queen's Medal for Chiefs
* Indian Police Medal, for Meritorious Service
* Ceylon Police Medal, for Merit
* Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Meritorious Service
* Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Meritorious Service

Level 4|

* Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
* Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

See also
Order of Wear
British campaign medals
Degradation (knighthood)
Revocations

* v
* t
* e

Former decorations of Australia

Australian Honours Order of Precedence prior to 6 October 1992

Orders of chivalry|

| Most Honourable
Order of the Bath|

* Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)
* Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB)
* Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)

|

Most Distinguished
Order of St Michael
and St George|

* Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
* Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG/DCMG)
* Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Most Excellent Order
of the British Empire|

* / Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
* / Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)
* / Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
* / Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
* / Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Imperial Service Order|

* Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)

Order of the
Companions of Honour|

* Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)

Miscellaneous|

* Hereditary peer
* Life peer
* Baronet
* Knight Bachelor

Military
gallantry/bravery
decorations|

| In the face
of the enemy|

* Victoria Cross (VC)
* Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
* Military Cross (MC)
* Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM)
* Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) (CGM)
* Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
* Military Medal (MM)
* Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
* Mentioned in despatches

|

Not the face
of the enemy|

* Air Force Cross (AFC)
* Air Force Medal (AFM)
* Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Distinguished
service
decorations|

| In the face
of the enemy|

* Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

|

Not the face
of the enemy|

* King's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (KPM)
* King's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service (KFSM)

Civil bravery
decorations|

* George Cross (GC)
* Albert Medal, First Class (AM)
* Albert Medal, First Class (Sea) (AM)
* Albert Medal, Second Class (AM)
* Albert Medal, Second Class (Sea) (AM)
* George Medal (GM)
* King's Police Medal for Gallantry (KPM)
* King's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry (KFSM)
* Sea Gallantry Medal (SGM)
* Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM)
* Edward Medal (EM)
* Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Nursing service|

* Member of the Royal Red Cross (RRC)
* Associate of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC)

Meritorious service|

* / British Empire Medal (BEM)
* King's Commendation for Valuable Service

* v
* t
* e

South African military decorations and medals

Sorted in order of wear per era or 1994 constituent force

Pre-Union
until 6 April 1952|

* Victoria Cross
* Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst
* Distinguished Service Order
* Distinguished Service Cross
* Military Cross
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Air Force Cross
* Distinguished Conduct Medal
* Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)
* Distinguished Service Medal
* Military Medal
* Distinguished Flying Medal
* Air Force Medal
* British Empire Medal (Military)
* South Africa Medal (1853)
* South Africa Medal (1880)
* Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal
* Queen's South Africa Medal
* Medalje voor de Anglo-Boere Oorlog
* Lint voor Verwonding
* King's South Africa Medal
* Natal Native Rebellion Medal
* 1914–15 Star
* British War Medal
* Victory Medal (South Africa)
* Mercantile Marine War Medal
* 1939–1945 Star
* Atlantic Star
* Arctic Star
* Air Crew Europe Star
* Africa Star
* Pacific Star
* Burma Star
* Italy Star
* France and Germany Star
* Defence Medal
* War Medal
* Africa Service Medal
* King George V Coronation Medal
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
* King George VI Coronation Medal
* Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)
* Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
* Meritorious Service Medal (Natal)
* Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa)
* Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
* Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal)
* Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (South Africa)
* Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies
* Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies
* Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration
* Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal
* Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)
* Efficiency Medal (South Africa)
* Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
* Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Air Efficiency Award
* King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces
* Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal
* South African Medal for War Services
* Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry (Unofficial)
* Johannesburg Vrijwilliger Corps Medal (Unofficial)
* Kimberley Star (Unofficial)
* Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep (Unofficial)

1952–1994|

* Honoris Crux Gold
* Star of South Africa, Gold
* Star of South Africa, Silver
* Star of South Africa (1952)
* Louw Wepener Decoration
* Honoris Crux (1952)
* Honoris Crux Silver
* Van Riebeeck Decoration
* Honoris Crux (1975)
* Pro Virtute Decoration
* Southern Cross Decoration
* Pro Merito Decoration
* Van Riebeeck Medal
* Louw Wepener Medal
* Ad Astra Decoration
* Army Cross
* Air Force Cross
* Navy Cross
* Medical Service Cross
* Southern Cross Medal (1952)
* Pro Merito Medal (1967)
* Southern Cross Medal (1975)
* Pro Merito Medal (1975)
* Danie Theron Medal
* Jack Hindon Medal
* Military Merit Medal
* Korea Medal
* Pro Patria Medal
* Southern Africa Medal
* General Service Medal (South Africa)
* Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
* Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service
* Good Service Medal, Gold
* John Chard Decoration
* De Wet Decoration
* Cadet Corps Medal
* Good Service Medal, Silver
* Union Medal
* Permanent Force Good Service Medal
* John Chard Medal
* Good Service Medal, Bronze
* De Wet Medal
* Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces
* Commandant General's Medal
* SADF Champion Shot Medal
* National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal

Transkei|

* Cross for Bravery
* Transkei Defence Force Medal
* Independence Medal (Transkei)
* Military Rule Medal
* Faithful Service Medal

Bophuthatswana|

* Order of the Leopard, Commander
* Distinguished Gallantry Cross
* Defence Force Merit Decoration
* Distinguished Gallantry Medal
* Defence Force Merit Medal
* Marumo Medal, Class I
* Defence Force Commendation Medal
* Marumo Medal, Class II
* Nkwe Medal
* General Service Medal
* Independence Medal
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Bronze
* State President's Medal for Shooting

Venda|

* Gallantry Cross, Gold
* Gallantry Cross, Silver
* Distinguished Service Medal, Gold
* Distinguished Service Medal, Silver
* Venda Defence Force Medal
* General Service Medal (Venda)
* Independence Medal (Venda)
* Long Service Medal, Gold
* Long Service Medal, Silver
* Long Service Medal, Bronze

Ciskei|

* Sandile Decoration
* Sandile Medal
* Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal
* Ciskei Defence Medal
* Independence Medal (Ciskei)
* Medal for Long Service, Bronze
* President's Medal for Shooting

Umkhonto
we Sizwe|

* Star for Bravery in Gold
* Star for Bravery in Silver
* Conspicuous Leadership Star
* Decoration for Merit in Gold
* Merit Medal in Silver
* Merit Medal in Bronze
* Operational Medal for Southern Africa
* South Africa Service Medal
* Service Medal in Gold
* Service Medal in Silver
* Service Medal in Bronze

Azanian People's
Liberation Army|

* Gold Star for Bravery
* Bravery Star in Silver
* Star for Conspicuous Leadership
* Gold Decoration for Merit
* Silver Medal for Merit
* Bronze Medal for Merit
* Operational Medal for Southern Africa
* South Africa Service Medal
* Gold Service Medal
* Silver Service Medal
* Bronze Service Medal

From 1994|

* Nkwe ya Gauta
* Nkwe ya Selefera
* iPhrothiya yeGolide
* Nkwe ya Boronse
* iPhrothiya yeSiliva
* iPhrothiya yeBhronzi
* Tshumelo Ikatelaho
* Unitas Medal
* Closure Commemoration Medal
* Medalje vir Troue Diens

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