Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

Army Gold Medal / Military General Service Medal, 1793-1814 – Images & Transcripts

There are 26,608 records of the men who applied for and received the Military General Service Medal or who were awarded the Army Gold Medal (WO100).

The Military General Service Medal was issued in 1847. It is a campaign medal issued to men and officers of the British Army. It was approved on 1 June 1847 as a retrospective award for those who served in various military actions between 1793 and 1814, a period that covered the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Anglo-American War of 1812. The 5th Duke of Richmond, who had fought at Waterloo, campaigned for a medal for all survivors of the campaigns between 1793 and 1814. He appealed to Parliament and also enlisted the support of Queen Victoria, who persuaded the Duke of Wellington that an award was necessary for all ranks. Senior officers had received the Army Gold Medal 30 years before.

The medal was one of the first medals to be issued with clasps. The clasps represented individual campaigns and the medal was never issued without at least one clasp. The maximum number a man could have was 15. Medals were only issued to survivors and had to be actively applied for. General illiteracy and poor advertising of the new award meant that many men did not hear about it. The number of medals issued represents a tiny proportion of the men who fought in the campaigns of this period.

British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920 – Image links & Transcript

The collection includes the 4.5 million campaign medal index cards and silver war badge cards of soldiers. It is the most comprehensive list of individuals who fought in the First World War. The index cards were created by the Army Medal Office in Droitwich.

You can purchase the original medal index card for a small fee from The National Archives, through the link provided on the transcript. Each card details a soldier’s medal entitlement. Some of the cards have additional annotations about awarded medals. Other ranks were automatically sent their medals, but officers had to claim their medals.

The records remind us of the vast impact of the Great War. The call to arms went out across the British Empire. The collection includes some records for the Imperial units, but most of the index cards are for British soldiers. Available in the collection are cards which include medal entitlement for the General Service Medal awarded to men who took part in operations on the North West Frontier in 1919.

British Royal Air Force, Gallantry Awards, 1914-1919 – Transcripts only

Awards for gallantry were given to those who displayed acts of exceptional bravery. This set is focused specifically on members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and awards given from 1914 to 1919, during the First World War. Awards and medals were often announced in the London Gazette, the official newspaper of the British government. The British Royal Air Force, gallantry awards 1914-1919 includes the names of 11 Victoria Cross recipients. The Victoria Cross is the highest honour that can be awarded.

The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the first air branch of the British Army. The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy. At the outbreak of the First World War, the RNAS had 727 personnel with 93 aircraft and 6 airships. On 1 April 1918, it was amalgamated with the RFC and the RAF was created. As the air force became more sophisticated, it revolutionised war. The RAF supported the Army and Navy through photographic reconnaissance and tactical air support. The RAF was also used to drop propaganda leaflets in an attempt to demoralise the enemy forces. In the final years of the war, ‘aces’ (fighter pilots with five or more victories) were celebrated at home as heroes of the war and the air force began to be romanticised in popular culture.

British Royal Navy, Foreign Awards to Officers index, 1914-1922 - Transcripts

Transcript of foreign awards awarded to naval officers have been compiled from transcripts held in The National Archives and document Foreign Decorations and Medals awarded to Royal Navy Officers, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Naval Reserve. A few entries pertain to Naval Other Ranks and Civil Admiralty Staff.

The countries represented by these foreign awards are as follows: Belgium, China, Czecho-Slovakia, Egypt, France and the French Colonies, Greece, Hedjaz, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Serbia, Siam, Sweden, Tunis, United States of America, and Zanzibar.

Commando Gallantry Award Citations, 1939-1945 – Transcripts only

Index of citations for those awarded the Military Medal for their service during the Second World War. The Military Medal was given in recognition of acts of gallantry and devotion to duty while under fire.

Distinguished Conduct Medal Citations, 1914-1920 – Transcripts & Images

The citations for Distinguished Conduct Medals are hard to find – histories of military units often have no space for more than a brief mention or just the bare fact of the award tucked away in an appendix. Others are lost in the labyrinth of small print in the official London Gazette. To view the citations you should view the original image as well as viewing the transcript.

The Distinguished Conduct Medal was instituted in 1854 during the Crimean War to recognise gallantry for other ranks (non-officer rank). Bars were awarded in recognition of further acts of gallantry meriting the same award

These records list the full citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (and second and third award bars) in the Great War. The Distinguished Conduct Medal may not have the cachet of the Victoria Cross (VC), but the deeds told in the citations for the award are very similar.

Distinguished Conduct Medal Citations, 1939-1945 – Images & transcripts

During the Second World War, 1,891 of the first George VI versions and nine first Bars were awarded. Notices of the medal being awarded were published in the London Gazette.

The Distinguished Conduct Medal was instituted in 1854 during the Crimean War to recognise gallantry for other ranks (non-officer rank). Bars were awarded in recognition of further acts of gallantry meriting the same award.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1857-1908 – Transcripts only

There are over 3,000 transcripts and they include a reference for original military documents held at The National Archives as well as the date of the London Gazette in which the recipient’s name appears.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920 – Images & Transcripts

The records come from The National Archives series WO 372, known as the War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War. The images found here, from piece number 23 within this series, are index cards created by the Army Office for recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal, and Women’s Services. Both men and women are represented in this collection.

Distinguished Flying Medal, 1939-1945 – Images & transcripts

The Distinguished Flying Medal was bestowed upon Royal Air Force (and other services) personnel below commissioned rank. The medal was awarded, in part, for acts of valour and courage while flying in active operations against the enemy. During the Second World War, 6,637 Distinguished Flying Medals were awarded.

Distinguished Service Order (DSO), 1923-2010 – Images & transcripts

In recognition of meritorious or distinguished service during wartime, the Distinguished Service Order was awarded to officers of the armed forces. Queen Victoria established the medal in 1886.

The DSO is still awarded today. For service in the First World War, there were 8,981 DSOs awarded and subsequently published in The London Gazette.

India Efficiency Medal Awards, 1930-1939 and India Volunteer Force Medal Awards, 1915-1939 – Transcripts only

The records show over 15,000 individuals from the Indian Defence Force (IDF) or the Auxiliary Force India (AFI) who were awarded the medals between 1915 and 1939. The IDF and AFI were India’s equivalent to the United Kingdom’s Territorial Army, which comprised part-time regiments of European soldiers who could be fully mobilised in wartime. Prior to 1920, the IDF and AFI were known as the Indian Volunteer Force (1857-1917). During the First World War, most of the Indian Volunteer units were stationed in India on internal security assignments. They became a part of the umbrella organisation Indian Defence Force (IDF) in 1917. The IDF was disbanded after the war but voluntary service continued through the Auxiliary Force from 1920 onward.

The Volunteer Forces Long Service Medal & Good Conduct Medal were instituted in May 1894 and awarded to non-commissioned officers and men who had served for a minimum of 20 years in the volunteer forces. The award was superseded by the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal in 1908 but remained in use in India until 1930.

The Efficiency Medal was introduced in October 1930 when it replaced the Volunteer Forces Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. The medal was awarded for 12 years of continuous and efficient service.

Indian Mutiny Medal, 1857-1859 - Transcripts only

This record set contains the records of those men from the British Army who fought in the Indian Mutiny of 1857-1859 with extracts of men from the Honourable East India Company Army. These records were taken from the medal rolls held at The National Archives (WO 100/35-39) and those in the British Library Indian Collection (L/MIL/5). In addition, details have been taken from muster books, casualty returns, despatches, depot books and several other sources.

There are one hundred records of men who deserted and several who forfeited their medals due to ‘disgraceful conduct’, being court martialed, or committing a felony, among other reasons. Additionally, there are almost 9,000 records of men who were killed in action, died from their wounds, committed suicide, or died on furlough.

The records often reveal the exact cause of death or injury – for example, where the individual was wounded or what they died of. Some examples include Ralph Bunting’s blown-off thumb in a musket accident, Frederick William Burroughs’ head injury from a sabre cut, Patrick Byrne ‘contused by musket ball’, and several others injured by swords. The ‘Notes’ category sometimes provides details of the men’s occupations. Many were labourers, one man is a pearl button maker from Birmingham, and others were listed as dyer, boatman, flax dresser, tanner, comber, groom, collier, miner, whip stocker, or servant.

The Indian Mutiny Medal was a campaign medal sanctioned in 1858 for officers and men of British and Indian units who served in operations to suppress the Indian Mutiny. The medal was initially approved to award those troops who had fought against the mutineers, but in 1868, it was extended to all those who had borne arms or been under fire, including members of India’s judiciary and civil service, who were caught up in the fighting. Five clasps were authorized: Delhi, Defence of Lucknow, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow, and Central India. The maximum one man could receive was four clasps.

The Indian Mutiny is also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Sepoy Mutiny, or the Uprising of 1857. The mutiny began in the northern Indian city of Meerut, in May 1857, with a rebellion of Sepoys (Hindu or Muslim soldiers) in the service of the British East India Company Army against British authorities. The rebellion was focused around northern and central India and posed a significant threat to East India Company power in that area. Ultimately, the mutiny was a failure and peace was declared on 8 July 1858. However, it resulted in the dissolution of the East India Company that same year, as well as the reorganization of the army, the financial system, and the administration in India.

Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, 1898-1921 – Transcript only

Awards of the Long Service & Conduct Medal to men serving in the British Army. This medal was awarded after eighteen years' good service or, as many a wily old soldier would say, with a wink and tap of his nose, eighteen years' undetected crime.

Merchant Navy Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920 - Transcripts only

There are 157,424 records of Merchant Navy seamen in this collection. Each transcript has a link to download a copy of the original record card from The National Archives. Merchant Navy seamen who had served at sea for at least six months during the First World War and who had served on at least one voyage through a danger zone were entitled to the Mercantile Marine Medal, awarded by the Board of Trade, a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. Recipients of the Mercantile Marine Medal were automatically entitled to the British War Medal and those who were invalided out of the navy during the war were entitled to receive the Silver War Badge. The medal card tells you which medals were awarded and details of the seaman’s career in the Merchant Navy and his discharge number.

Military Cross, 1914-1918 – Transcript only

Awarded for acts of gallantry during active operations on land against the enemy, the Military Cross (MC) was established in 1914. Since its inception, over 48,000 MCs have been awarded. Currently, the MC is the third-level award for all ranks of the British Armed Forces for gallantry on land.

Military Medal, 1914-1920 – Images & Transcripts

The Military Medal was given to other ranks of the British Army who demonstrated gallantry and devotion to duty during conflict. The medal was first established in 1916 and was equivalent to the Military Cross. The physical medal was inscribed with the words, ‘For bravery in the field’. Those who have received the award are entitled to use the letters MM after their name. The Military Medal records in this collection were transcribed from The National Archives WO 372/23 series, War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War. Piece number 23 holds index cards for Military Medals, Distinguished Conduct Medals, and Women’s Services. You can view the original index card created by the War Office to track the names of recipients of the award.

Royal Artillery Honours & Awards, 1886-2013 – Transcripts only

The Royal Regiment of Artillery, more commonly known as the Royal Artillery, is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite the name the RA is made up of several regiments. The first regular companies of artillery men were raised in 1716 by royal warrant of George 1 and the name Royal Artillery came along four years later. By 1771 there were 32 companies in four battalions, as well as two ‘invalid battalions’ of older or unfit men employed in garrison duties.

In 1899 the RA was divided into three groups. The Royal Horse Artillery and the Royal Field Artillery made up one group. A second group called the Royal Garrison Artillery comprised the coastal defence, mountain, siege and heavy batteries. The third and final group, with responsibility for ammunition storage and supply, was known as the Royal Artillery.

In 1920 the rank of Bombardier was introduced.

Until 1924 the three groups acted as separate companies but at this point they were once again joined as a single regiment. In 1938 RA Brigades were renamed Regiments. During the Second World War there were over 1 million men serving in 960 gunner regiments. The RA also has an important role in air defence.

These records span 1886 to 2013 covering conflicts and military action including the Boer War, both World Wars, the Korean War, Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, the Former Yugoslavia, the Gulf as well as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Among the awards RA members received was the Military Cross. Created in 1914, the award is granted in recognition for acts of gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land. Although the MC has subsequently been extended to all ranks and can now be awarded posthumously, these records cover the period from 1916 to 1945. When the award was first introduced it was for commissioned officers up to the rank of Captain and for Warrant Officers. During the First World War, Acting Captain Francis Wallington was the first man to be awarded the MC and all three bars. You can find each of his awards in these records. In 1931 the MC was extended to Majors. From 1979 the award could be received posthumously and since 1993 it has been available to all ranks.

The Distinguished Service Order was introduced in 1886 for officers ranked Major or higher, although the award was sometimes given to Junior Officers, usually in recognition that they had narrowly missed out on a Victoria Cross. There was resentment among lower ranks between 1914 and 1916 when the award went to officers including Staff Officers, who could not have been described as serving under fire. After 1 January 1917 commanders in the field were instructed to only recommend this award for those actually serving under fire.

Royal Marines Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920 – Images & transcripts

The set contains the names of over 75,000 Royal Marine Officers, non-commissioned officers, and other ranks, and provides a complete listing of all Royal Marines who served in the First World War. The medals covered by the rolls are the 1914 Star, the Clasp to the 1914 Star, the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

This database is a transcription of The National Archives document series ADM 171/167-171 (inclusive), ADM 171/92, and ADM 171/139, which comprise the complete World War One Campaign Medal Rolls for the Royal Marines. Added to the transcript are service details for a large number of men, particularly those killed in action or who died of wounds during the First World War, and in many cases, post-war deaths and Second World War deaths are noted.

Each man's entry is linked to display the original medal roll page image. For recipients of the 1914 Star, two or more images are provided from the original handwritten 1914 Star Roll (ADM 171/139) and the later typewritten rolls.

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Ratings, Medal Roll, 1914-1920 – Images & transcripts

The Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve was founded in 1903 and formed of officers and other ranks who undertook naval training in their spare time. Unlike the Royal Navy Reserve they were not necessarily professional seamen. Known affectionately during the First World War as the ‘Wavy Navy’, the RNVR was to take over from the earlier Royal Navy Artillery Volunteers, beginning with divisions in London, the Clyde, and the Mersey.

Many of the men in the early days of the London division were yachtsmen. One company was made up entirely of men from the Stock Exchange. In the early months of the war, many were incorporated into the Army Royal Naval Division for service ashore. Many of the initial contingent were wiped out at Antwerp. Brigaded with the Royal Marines they also served ashore in the Dardanelles and on the Western Front.

Others went to the Royal Navy where they worked on the big ships of the Grand Fleet. Some were armed guards on merchant ships and many took part in boarding parties. They also manned armed yachts and launches.

Royal Navy Officers, Medal Roll, 1914-1920 – Images & transcripts

The medals covered by the rolls are the 1914 Star, the Clasp to the 1914 Star, the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. These records are a transcription of The National Archives document series ADM 171/89-93 (inclusive) and ADM 171/139, which comprise the complete First World War Campaign Medal Rolls for 53,000 officers of all branches of the Royal Navy. Added to the transcripts are service details for a large number of officers, particularly those killed in action or who died of wounds during the First World War, and in many cases, post-war deaths and Second World War deaths are noted.

Each officer's entry is linked to display the original Medal Roll page image. For recipients of the 1914 Star, two or more images are provided from the original handwritten 1914 Star Roll (ADM 171/139) and the later typewritten Rolls.

Royal Navy Ratings, 1914 Star Medal Roll, 1914-1920 – Images & transcripts

Discover your Royal Marine and Royal Navy ancestors who were awarded medals for their service in the First World War. The records may reveal your relative’s rank and service number, as well as any awards your ancestor received. If your ancestor was killed in the line of duty, the records explain how and when your ancestor died. You may also discover if your ancestors deserted or forfeited their medals.

The records include The National Archives series ADM 171/139, which comprises the complete 1914 Star Medal issue rolls for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. There are also service details for a large number of men, particularly those who were killed in action or who died of wounds during World War One. In many cases, post-war deaths and World War Two deaths are noted.

The records include the following branches:

Royal Navy

Royal Naval Reserve

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Royal Naval Air Service

Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve

Royal Marine Light Infantry

Royal Marine Artillery

Royal Marine Band

The records also include civilian hospital staff and army officers, all of whom were associated or attached to the Royal Naval Division in 1914.

Victoria Cross Awards, 1854-2006 – Images & Transcripts

The Victoria Cross takes precedence over all other orders, decorations, and medals. Only 1,349 medals have been awarded.

Until the Crimean War, only senior officers were awarded medals for bravery. The assumption was that it was their leadership that drove the men on to victory. The Crimean War was the first major war to have war correspondents covering the action from the field. William Howard Russell, writing for The Times, wrote about the bravery of the common soldiers and pushed for this bravery to be formally recognised.

The idea took root and on 19 December 1854 the House of Commons decided that Queen Victoria should create a medal to recognise ‘distinguished and prominent personal gallantry’ from any rank from the highest to the lowest. Some of the military establishment were firmly against the idea, fearing that rank and file soldiers would break a formation just to take an opportunity to win the medal, but Prince Albert, the Queen’s husband, was very much in favour. It was he who suggested the name of the medal.

The medals are in the form of a bronze cross, a simple design that was rather unpopular at the time. The metal for these early medals, and many of the later ones, came from Chinese cannons captured by the Russians around 1855. Since the Second World War, the medal has been awarded only 14 times.

Waterloo Medal, 1815 - Transcript only

The Waterloo Medal Roll has the names of almost 37,000 men who received the British Army’s first campaign medal after the decisive victory against Napoleon Bonaparte. The Waterloo Medal Roll holds the details of 36,852 men who served in all ranks of the British Army in the decisive battle against Napoleon.

The Waterloo Medal was the first military award issued by the British Government to every member of the British Army recorded in service at either the Battle of Ligny (16 June 1815), the Battle of Quatre Bras (16 June 1815), or the Battle of Waterloo. The medal was also the first to be issued to the families of soldiers killed in battle and to have the name of the soldier engraved around the edge.

The Battle of Waterloo ended Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule as French Emperor. Britain and her allies, led by the Duke of Wellington joined with the Prussian forces led by Gebhard von Blucher to defeat Napoleon’s army in Belgium. Of the 68,000 Anglo allied forces, there were 17,000 military casualties. The French suffered losses of 48,000 of which 8,000 were taken prisoner.

The Waterloo Medal was controversial. Some veteran Peninsular regiments, like the 43rd Light Infantry, had been sent to America in 1814 and arrived too late to take part in the Battle of Waterloo. The Waterloo forces were, therefore, made up of a mix of seasoned veteran regiments, recent new recruits, and foreign auxiliaries. There were 106,000 men in total, only one-third of the Anglo allied forces were British.

Many Peninsular veterans were aggrieved that raw recruits who had not served during the entire war should be so publically acknowledged while veterans who had undergone the labours and privations of the whole war missed out.