Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct explained

King's Commendation for Brave Conduct
(1939–52)
Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
(1952–94)
Presenter:United Kingdom and Commonwealth
Type:Commendation
Eligibility:Both service personnel and civilians
Awarded For:Gallantry entailing risk to life and meriting national recognition
Status:Discontinued 1994. Replaced by Queen's Commendation for Bravery
Description:Certificate / Pin back badge / Ribbon device
Established:1939
Lastawarded:1994
Higher:Queen's Gallantry Medal
Same:King's/Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

The Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct, formerly the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct, acknowledged brave acts by both civilians and members of the armed services in both war and peace, for gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. Established by King George VI in 1939, the award was discontinued in 1994 on the institution of the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

It represented the lowest level of bravery award in the British honours system, alongside a mention in despatches. There is no entitlement to post-nominal letters.

Institution

The Commendation for Brave Conduct was established in 1939 at the beginning of World War II. No Royal Warrant or other public statement was issued which specified the title, precedence and eligibility of the award, suggesting it was a prompt wartime solution to a gap in the awards available to reward gallantry by non-combatants, particularly those involved in Civil Defence and the Merchant Navy. Awards were published in the London Gazette,[1] with most entries referring to a 'Commendation for brave conduct', or simply 'Commendation'. This was not formally described as the 'King's Commendation for Brave Conduct' until September 1945. Commendations could be made posthumously, enabling official recognition of bravery in all circumstances, since other gallantry awards, except for the Victoria Cross and the George Cross, could not be awarded posthumously.[1]

After 1945, the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct continued to be the lowest level of bravery award in the British honours system, alongside a mention in despatches, in rewarding bravery by civilians and members of the armed forces in non-frontline circumstances, where the action did not merit the award of another award for gallantry.[1]

Evolution

During World War I it was recognised that there was no suitable reward for acts of bravery by civilians, such as the seamen of the British Mercantile Marine (later known as the Merchant Navy), which did not merit a specific gallantry medal. That led to the formal introduction of 'Commendations', a system reintroduced in 1939 by King George VI, later officially titled the 'King's Commendation for Brave Conduct'. Renamed the 'Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct' in 1952, the award was discontinued in 1994, on the creation of the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

Description

Awards

Example awards

Examples of awards were those to:

King's and Queen's Commendations

This table summarises the various King's and Queen's Commendations awarded by the United Kingdom:

Period For BraveryFor Bravery (Air) For valuable service For valuable service (Air)
1939 - 1952King's Commendation for
Brave Conduct
King’s Commendation for
Valuable Service in the Air
1952 - 1994Queen's Commendation for
Brave Conduct
Queen’s Commendation for
Valuable Service in the Air
From 1994[14] Queen's Commendation for
Bravery in the Air

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Abbott (1981), p.301-302
  2. Confirmed by London Gazette entries 1916 to 1919, only Merchant seamen receiving 'Commendations'.
  3. Duckers (2001), p.56
  4. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/116568/MACLACHLAN,%20PETER CWGC details – Peter MacLachlan
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20060623051652/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/imperial.cfm#qcbc Australia: It's an honour: Imperial Awards
  6. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30009300 Imperial War Museum – Kings Commendation
  7. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1946-06-06/debates/113831b1-0745-4530-a4f6-a37d059efaca/WarDecorations(NewMedals)?highlight=%22france%20and%20germany%20star%22#contribution-50d6375f-8d98-47a2-8bef-4495cbe9af84 Hansard 6 June 1946
  8. Mussell (2015), p.108
  9. Dorling (1956), p.98
  10. Based on recipients listed in London Gazette
  11. Slader (1988), p.305
  12. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2800523/MARTIN,%20EGERTON%20GABRIEL%20BAYNES CWGC details – EGB Martin
  13. Scarlett (1992), p.33
  14. Web site: Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility. Ministry of Defence Medal Office. 11 June 2018.