The Distinguished Conduct Medal

Instigated as a means of recognising acts of gallantry performed by 'other ranks' (i.e. non-commissioned officers) during the Crimean War (from 4 December 1854), the Distinguished Conduct Medal was regarded as second only to the Victoria Cross in prestige. Acting upon the fear during the First World War that the overwhelming demand for medals would devalue the prestige of those already available, the Military Medal was issued as an alternative to the Distinguished Conduct Medal from March 1916. Although the Distinguished Conduct Medal remained available the lesser Military Medal was usually awarded from the spring of 1916 other than for exceptional acts of bravery. With the medal 36mm in diameter attached to a 1.25 inch wide ribbon, a silver laurelled bar was awarded for subsequent acts of bravery (although prior to 1916 these comprised plain dated bars). The front of the medal comprised (from 1902) the head of the reigning monarch; the reverse contained the legend 'For Distinguished Conduct in the Field'. In 1993 the medal was replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Recipients of the medal were entitled the holder to append the letters 'DCM' to their name. Awards of the medal were announced in the London Gazette, accompanied by a citation. 21,041 DCMs were awarded during the First World War, plus 439 first Bars, 180 second Bars and 1 third Bar.

The Following were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Name	Regiment	Rank	Service No	Details
CONCANNON, Arthur	1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby) Regiment	Lance Corporal	10968	Distinguished Conduct Medal gazette date unknown Military Medal gazetted 14 Sep 1916
Lance Corporal Concannon was killed in action on the 31 July 1917 during an attack on Westhoek. His widow collected his Military Medal in a presentation at Nottingham Castle from Sir John Maxwell.

The Military Cross

The British Military Cross was instituted on 28 December 1914 as a means of formally recognising the courage of junior officers during wartime (officially for "gallantry in the field" for Captains and below). In this way the Military Cross complemented the Military Medal which was awarded to servicemen below officer rank. Also available was an additional award of a Bar to the Military Cross to recognise further acts of gallantry. Such silver bars were worn above the ribbon. From 1931 the MC (as it was known) was also awarded to Majors. Although recipients were not initially permitted to list the letters MC after their name this restriction was subsequently withdrawn. Awards of the MC were announced in the London Gazette along with a citation, other than for those awarded as part of New Year or Birthday honours. 31,793 MCs were awarded during the First World War, plus 2,761 first Bars, 157 second Bars and 4 third Bars.

The Following were awarded the Military Cross
Name	Regiment	Rank	Service No	Details
EAGLES, J E	Wesleyan Chaplain to the 75th Division	Reverend	-	Gazette date unknown
Reverend Eagles was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry whilst in action on 19th September 1918. In a ceremony at Whitwick Picture House his father, Mr J W Eagles, received two volumes of Dr Hastings' "Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels", on his behalf from the people of Whitwick.
-
McCARTHY, Thaddeus Francis	4th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment	Lieutenant	-	Award gazetted 25 Sep 1917
Lieutenant McCarthy was killed in action on the 14th April 1918 aged 22. The Coalville Times of April 26th 1918 carried the news of Thaddeus Mccarthy's death and reported that pre war he was articled to Mr R A Loseby, Solicitor of Leicester, and enlisted at the age of 20 having passed his intermediate law examination.
-
CONLEY, William Cockayne	1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment Attached 9th Trench Mortar Battery	Lieutenant	-	Gazette date unknown
Lieutenant Conley was killed in action on 26th October 1917.

The Military Medal

The Military Medal was established Britain by King George V on 25 March 1916, a year and a half after Britain declared war against Germany. Its inception was intended to meet the enormous demand for medals during the First World War. The medal was initially awarded to NCOs and men of the Army (including the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Division) for individual or associated acts of bravery which were insufficient to merit an award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (or DCM). Awards of the medal were announced in the London Gazette without a citation. Recipients of the medal, which was silver and circular of 36mm in diameter and featured the head of the monarch on the front, were allowed to list the letters 'MM' after their name. 110'342 MMs were awarded during the First World War, along with 5,718 first bars, 180 second bars and 1 third bar. A further 15,000 Military Medals were awarded during the Second World War.

The Following were awarded the Military Medal
Name	Regiment	Rank	Service No	Details
BAILEY, T	Leicestershire Regiment	Sergeant	17042	Award gazetted 11 February 1919
Sergeant Bailey was awarded the Military medals for actions on the 23rd September 1918 at Epehy. He was awarded the medal for good work with a trench mortar while under fire. The Coalville Times of 7 February 1919 reported that Sergeant Bailey had spent 3 years and 2 months in France and despite going over the top 15 times he had not received a scratch, although, he was slightly gassed in 1915. After the war in a ceremony at Whitwick Picture House he was presented with a clock by Mr J Gilberd on behalf of the people of Whitwick.
-
BERRINGTON, Robert William	8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment	Acting Corporal	14032	Award gazetted 19 Sep 1916
Robert Berrington was killed in the Attack on Gueuedecourt during the Battle of Morval on the 25 September 1916 aged 23. The extract from the Coalville Times (left) of 15 September 1916 announces the award of his medal.
-
BISHOP, W	1/4th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment	Corporal	201351	Award gazetted 10 April 1918
Corporal Bishop was awarded the Military medals for actions on the 27th November 1917 in Palestine. He was awarded the medal for acting as an observer atop a house whilst under heavy machine gun fire during a Turkish attack. The Coalville Times of 7th February 1919 reported that in a ceremony at Whitwick Picture House he was presented with a watch and chain by Mr A J Briers on behalf of the people of Whitwick.
-
HICKIN, Archibald Percival	7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment	Private	-	Award gazetted 27 October 1916
the Coalville Times of 12th April 1918 reported that Private Hickin's medal had been forwarded to the Rev Walters with a request that it be publicly presented when he returned from France.
-
MARTIN, Joseph	Leicestershire Regiment	Private	17624	Award gazetted 19 March 1918
Private Martin had his medal pinned on his coat by Sir Douglas Haig.
-
QUEMBY, George Henry	9th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment Regiment	Private	16013	Gazette date unknown
Private Quemby was awarded the Military Medal for actions on the 27th October 1918. After the war in a ceremony at Whitwick Picture House he was presented with a timepiece by Mr J H Robinson (Manager of Whitwick Quarry) on behalf of the people of Whitwick. At the presentation the official account was read out: On the 27th October 1918, this man displayed very marked courage in the dressing of wounds. He was working with his party at Salettuol bridgehead, when a hostile aeroplane bombed the bridge, inflicting many casualties on the working party and on surrounding troops. Private Quemby immediately started dressing the worst cases, and arranged their evacuation. Notwithstanding the fact that that the bridgehead was shortly afterwards heavily machine-gunned by hostile planes, he worked there all afternoon clearing the casualties. Awarded the Military medal for the above. (Signed) H. C. Owen, Major A. and Q. Branch of Staff, 23rd Division.
-
TAYLOR, Sam William	'C' Company, 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment	Serjeant	240099	Gazette date unknown
Sam Taylor was killed in 1/5th Leicesters attack on the Hindenburg Line. Late afternoon on the 29th September 1918 his battalion was advancing towards the German lines in the vicinity of Fosse Wood when a shell killed Sergeant Taylor. The Coalville Times of 1st November 1918 contains extracts from a letter sent to his parents by an officer of the battalion. The letter states that he was killed instantaneously by a shell splinter wound to the head. The officer also said that days before he had recommended Sergeant Taylor for a gallantry award for single handedly dealing with a machine gun post. It is unclear whether this resulted in the award of his Military Medal or that this had been previously earned.
-
WEST, Frank	London Regiment	Private	493859	Award gazetted 19 March 1918
Private West initially enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment and was the eldest son of Mr George West, one of the Whitwick Overseers and manager of the Whitwick Conservative Club. Frank was 28 years of age when he was awarded his medal and before the war was a clerk at Whitwick Colliery. The Coalville Times of 22nd March 1918 also stated that Frank had a brother Fred serving in the Royal Engineers.
-
WHITMORE, R C	Leicestershire Regiment	Private	-	Gazette date unknown
Private Whitmore was the son of Mr Thomas Whitmore a collier at Whitiwick Colliery residing on Church Lane. 21 Years of age when he won his medal in 1917, pre war he was also employed by Whitwick Colliery and was a drummer in the Whitwick Scouts Band. having enlisted in May 1915, Private Whitmore won his Military Medal for his coolness and bravery in the way he worked a Lewis Gun at a critical time during a German attack.

Meritorious Service Medal

The Meritorious Service Medal, which was in existence prior to the First World War, was typically awarded by British military authorities as a means of formally recognising long military service or given acts of merit. The MSM (as it was known) was first issued in 1902 and was awarded to warrant officers and senior NCOs. Such servicemen were eligible for the award once they had received their army discharge after a period of at least 21 years. With the vastly increased demand for medals generated by the First World War the MSM was, from 1916, also awarded for acts of gallantry or meritorious conduct when not in the face of the enemy. Each 'Immediate MSM' - that is, those medals awarded for given conduct - was published in the London Gazette. The medal itself was made of silver and was 36mm in diameter. The head of the monarch featured on the obverse with a crown and wreath, accompanied by the words For Meritorious Service, on the reverse. The ribbon attached to the medal was crimson with white edges and a central stripe. A Bar was sometimes awarded for further acts of gallantry.

The Following were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal
Name	Regiment	Rank	Service No	Details
ROBINSON, J H	'B' Company 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment	Corporal	240599	Award gazetted 17 June 1918
Corporal Robinson volunteered to serve under the colours in September 1914 and formed part of the battalions Lewis Gun team. He also receives a mention in the regimental history for treating incoming mortar shells with scorn and taking pot shots at them with a rifle. After the war he was presented with a tea service in a ceremony at the Whitwick Picture House by the Reverend Walters and later his old Scout troop presented him with a wristlet watch.

Mentioned in Dispatches

This is the lowest form of recognition that was announced in the London Gazette. Originally there was no award as such, the literal mention of the individual in the Commander-in-Chief's despatch being deemed sufficient. However, eventually it was decided that an oakleaf emblem could be worn with the ribbon of the Victory Medal, denoting the mention. The mentioned man also received a certificate carrying his service details and a reference to the despatch in which he was mentioned. No complete index or register of those who were MiD exists, although the Public Record Office has a partial list. The mention did not entitle the man to use the letters MiD after his name for official purposes, although this form is seen from time to time.