Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)
Country	Colony of Natal
Type	Military decoration for bravery
Eligibility	Other Ranks
Awarded for	Gallantry in the field
Status	Discontinued in 1913
Post-nominals	DCM
Statistics
Established	1897
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold
Equivalent	Distinguished Conduct Medal
Next (lower)	Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
Related	Distinguished Service Order
Ribbon bar

The Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal) was a special award for bravery. It was given to soldiers in the Colony of Natal, a British colony in Southern Africa. This medal was created in 1897. It was given to soldiers who showed great courage in battle. The letters DCM could be added after a recipient's name.

What is the Distinguished Conduct Medal?

The original Distinguished Conduct Medal was started by Queen Victoria in 1854. This happened during the Crimean War. It was an award for brave actions by soldiers in the British Army. These soldiers were usually "other ranks," meaning they were not officers.

Why was this medal important?

For soldiers who were not officers, the Distinguished Conduct Medal was very important. It was the second highest award for bravery in battle. Only the Victoria Cross was considered higher. It was like the Distinguished Service Order, which was given to officers for similar brave acts.

Natal's Own Military Forces

In the late 1800s, the Colony of Natal had its own armed forces. These included the Natal Police and a group called the Volunteer Force. The Volunteer Force later became the Natal Militia in 1904. By 1908, the police and militia joined together. They formed the Natal Colonial Forces.

How the Natal Medal Started

In 1895, Queen Victoria allowed British colonies to create their own versions of military medals. This meant they could award these medals to their local soldiers. The Colony of Natal started this system in August 1895.

When was the Natal DCM created?

In 1897, the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal) was one of these new awards. It was created under this special permission. Even after Natal became part of the Union of South Africa in 1910, the medal was still awarded. It was used until new medals for the Union Defence Forces were introduced in 1913.

How Medals Are Ranked

Medals are often ranked in an "order of wear." This means there's a specific way to wear them. The Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal) was ranked the same as the original British Distinguished Conduct Medal. It was worn after the Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold. This was a civilian award. It was worn before the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

Medals in South Africa

After 1952, the Union of South Africa created its own military awards. These new South African medals were generally worn before older British medals. The only exception was the Victoria Cross, which always came first. Among the British medals, the Natal DCM was worn after the Air Force Cross.

What the Medal Looks Like

The medal was made of silver. It was a round disk, about 36 millimeters (1.4 inches) across. It was about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) thick. A decorative hanger connected the medal to its ribbon.

Front of the Medal

The first medals had a design showing a "Trophy of Arms." This was a collection of weapons and armor. It included a shield with the Royal Coat of Arms. After King Edward VII became king in 1902, his picture was on the front. The words "EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR" were written around it. This means "Edward VII, King and Emperor."

Back of the Medal

The back of the medal was smooth. It had a raised edge. The word "NATAL" was curved at the top. Below it, in four straight lines, were the words "FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD." A small laurel wreath and two spear blades were at the bottom.

The Ribbon

The ribbon for the Natal DCM was the same as the British DCM. It was 32 millimeters (1.25 inches) wide. It was a deep red color. A 10-millimeter (0.4-inch) wide navy blue stripe ran down the center.

Who Received the Medal?

Only a few of the British colonies in South Africa created their own versions of the DCM. These included the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, and the Transvaal Colony. However, only Natal actually awarded its version of the medal.

How many were awarded?

Ten of these medals were given out. One was awarded in 1901 for the Second Boer War. This medal had the old "Trophy of Arms" design. Nine more were given for the Zulu Rebellion in 1906. These medals had King Edward VII's picture on them.

In 1913, the Union of South Africa created its own DCM. But this version was never actually awarded. Instead, South African soldiers received the British version of the DCM during the two World Wars.

Images for kids

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  Ribbon for the Air Force Cross

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  Ribbon for the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)

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  Ribbon for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal