Orders and Decorations - George Medal (GM)

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Terms

The medal was awarded only for acts of great bravery and was intended primarily for civilians. Awards to the military were confined to actions for which purely military honours were not normally granted.

Bars

The silver, slip-on bar is laurelled and is awarded for a further act of bravery.

Description

The circular silver medal is 1.42 inches in diameter.

Obverse

The obverse shows a crowned effigy of the reigning monarch and a legend:

King George VI
(a) GEORGEIVS VID: G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP: (1940-1949)
(b) GEORGIVS VI DEI GRA BRITT: OMN REX FID: + (1949-1952)

Queen Elizabeth II
(a) ELIZABETH II D: G: BR: OMN: REGINA F: D: (1952-1959)
(b) ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F: D: (1959-1964)

Reverse

The reverse shows St. George on horseback slaying the Dragon with the legend THE GEORGE MEDAL around the top edge of the medal.

Mounting

A single-toe scroll claw at the top of the medal has a hollow ball through which a larger silver ring passes.

Ribbon

The red ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, with five equally spaced thin blue stripes.

Naming

Names are engraved in Roman capital letters (usually with serifs). Servicemen normally have their first name and surname in full (plus rank and regiment or corps), while civilians have only the surname and initials.

Dates

The George Medal was established on 24 September 1940.

Issued

Canadians have received 77 George Medals (with 1 cancelled), plus 4 first bars.