Empire Gallantry Medal


The Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, usually known as the Empire Gallantry Medal, was a British medal awarded for acts of the gallantry that did not reach the standard required for the Albert Medal and the Edward Medal. King George V introduced it on 29 December 1922. Recipients were entitled to use the post-nominal letters "EGM" and as a Medal of the Order of the British Empire it was also divided into military and civil divisions. Unlike appointments to the Order of the British Empire it could be awarded posthumously.

History

In 1922, the original Medal of the Order of the British Empire was split into two, the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry awarded for acts of gallantry, and the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service that is generally known as the British Empire Medal awarded for meritorious services and was the lower level award of the Order of the British Empire. The EGM was awarded until 1940, when it was superseded by the George Cross.
Shortly after the commencement of the Blitz, King George VI created the George Cross to recognise gallantry by men and women in all walks of civilian life. It was to rank immediately after the Victoria Cross. The Empire Gallantry Medal was revoked by Royal Warrant on 24 September 1940. All living recipients and the next-of-kin of recipients who had been posthumously awarded the medal after 3 September 1939 were obliged to exchange the Empire Gallantry Medal for the George Cross. It was only in 1971, that then living recipients of the Albert Medal and Edward Medal were deemed to be George Cross recipients. Most former Albert Medal and Edward Medal recipients accepted the invitation to change their original insignia for the George Cross but unlike the Empire Gallantry Medallists they were not obliged to exchange their original insignia.

Appearance

The medal and ribbon were designed first by Langford Jones, though it was changed throughout its existence. The phrase "For God and the Empire" was inscribed round the upper side of the obverse. The first type of reverse had six lions, with the Royal Cypher centred. The 2nd type of reverse had four lions, two on either side of the Royal Cypher. The original ribbon was plain purple, with the addition of a thin vertical red stripe for military awards. A silver laurel branch was added diagonally to the ribbon for both types of award in 1933. The ribbon changed to rose pink with pearl grey edges in July 1937, with an addition pearl grey vertical stripe for military awards, and stayed in this version until its revocation.

Statistics

The four honorary awards were not able to be exchanged for the George Cross and neither were the four posthumous awards prior to 3 September 1939. Of the remaining 122 awards, 112 were exchanged including four Military Division posthumous awards gazetted after the start of World War II.

Selected recipients

NameRank OrganisationDate gazettedImage
Flying OfficerRoyal Air Force12 April 1929
Leading AircraftmanRoyal Air Force9 November 1928
CoxswainCromer Lifeboat30 June 1924
MulazimTrans-Jordan Frontier Force30 June 1939
Pilot OfficerRoyal Air Force 30 June 1939
Land-lord, Property Owner and Sand Contractor4 June 1934
Sub LieutenantRoyal Navy14 March 1940
CommanderRoyal Navy23 December 1939
Barge pilot5 February 1937
Lance SergeantBritish Army19 November 1935
Chauffeur5 December 1924
Flight CadetRoyal Air Force18 October 1929
CorporalWomen's Auxiliary Air Force19 July 1940
CaptainAus-NZ Airmail Flight9 July 1937
NurseMiddlesex Hospital2 March 1934
Radio OfficerMerchant Navy13 October 1939