George Medal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Medal |
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Obverse and reverse of the original medal, reflecting the then reigning monarch King George VI
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| Awarded for | Silver disc, 36 mm diameter |
| Presented by | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Commonwealth |
The George Medal (GM) is a special award given for bravery. It was created on September 24, 1940, by King George VI. This medal is for people in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. It's usually given to civilians, or to military people for brave actions not involving enemy combat.
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History of the George Medal
In 1940, during the Blitz (heavy bombing of Britain), many brave acts by ordinary people happened. The King wanted a way to honor these heroes. Existing awards didn't quite fit. So, the George Cross and the George Medal were created. They were made to recognize civilian bravery during bombings and other brave deeds.
King George VI announced these new awards. He said he wanted to quickly recognize brave men and women from all walks of life. He decided to name these new honors after himself. The George Cross would be a very high award, and the George Medal would be given more widely. The official document for the GM was published on January 31, 1941.
Who Can Get the George Medal?
The George Medal is given for "acts of great bravery." At first, it wasn't clear if someone could receive it after they had passed away. In 1977, this rule was changed. Now, the medal can be awarded even if the person is no longer alive.
This medal is mainly for civilians. However, military members can also receive it. This happens if their brave actions are not directly against an enemy. The rules state that the medal is "primarily for civilians." It's given to military personnel only for actions where typical military honors are not usually awarded.
People who receive the George Medal can use the letters GM after their name.
Sometimes, a person might perform another act of great bravery after already receiving the GM. In such cases, they can be awarded a "bar" to their medal. This bar is a small silver strip worn on the medal's ribbon. If someone wears only the ribbon, a small silver rosette shows each bar they have earned.
About 2,122 George Medals have been awarded since 1940. Twenty-seven people have received a second award (a bar). Details of all awards are officially published in The London Gazette.
What the George Medal Looks Like
The George Medal is a round silver medal. It is about 36 millimeters (1.4 inches) across. The ribbon hangs from a ring at the top.
The front side of the medal shows a picture of the king or queen who was ruling at the time. So far, there have been four different designs:
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King George VI, from 1940 to 1948.
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King George VI, from 1948 to 1952.
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Queen Elizabeth II, from 1952 to the late 1950s.
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Queen Elizabeth II, from the late 1950s until now.
The back side of the medal shows Saint George on a horse. He is slaying a dragon on the coast of England. Around the top edge, it says "THE GEORGE MEDAL."
The medal was designed by George Kruger Gray. The ribbon is about 31.7 millimeters (1.25 inches) wide. It is crimson (a deep red) with five thin blue stripes. The blue color comes from the ribbon of the George Cross. Men wear the medal on their left chest. Women who are not in uniform wear it on their left shoulder, with the ribbon tied into a bow.
The name of the person who received the medal is engraved around its edge.
Notable George Medal Recipients
The very first people to receive the George Medal were honored on September 30, 1940. They included Chief Officer Ernest Herbert Harmer and Second Officer Cyril William Arthur Brown of the Dover Fire Brigade. Also, Section Officer Alexander Edmund Campbell of the Dover Auxiliary Fire Service received it. On July 29, they bravely went back to a ship full of explosives in Dover Harbour to fight fires during an air raid. Seven other people also received the medal, including the first women: Ambulance Driver Dorothy Clarke and Ambulance Attendant Bessie Jane Hepburn. They rescued a man badly hurt in an explosion.
The first person to earn the medal chronologically was Coxswain Robert Cross. He commanded the RNLI lifeboat City of Bradford. On February 2, 1940, he took his lifeboat out in strong winds and snow to rescue the crew of a fishing boat.
The youngest person to receive the George Medal was Charity Anne Bick. She was only 14 years old but lied about her age to join the ARP service. She delivered many important messages by bicycle during a heavy air raid in West Bromwich in late 1940.
The first person to receive a second award (a bar) was George Samuel Sewell. He was an engineer for Shell-Mex and BP Ltd. He earned his bar for his actions during an air raid at an oil terminal. He was one of the first to receive the medal in September 1940, and his bar was announced on July 4, 1941.
In 2015, the 75th anniversary of the George Medal's creation was celebrated with a special ceremony in London.
See also
In Spanish: Medalla de Jorge para niños
- Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms
