Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Medal - Military Medal

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Overview

The Military Medal is a circular silver medal of 36 mm diameter. The obverse bears the effigy of the reigning monarch and an appropriate inscription. The reverse has the inscription "FOR BRAVERY IN THE FIELD" in four lines, surrounded by a laurel wreath, surmounted by the Royal Cypher and Imperial Crown. The suspender is of an ornate scroll type. The ribbon is dark blue, 1.25 inches wide with five equal centre stripes of white, red, white, red, and white, each 0.125 inches wide.

Historical information

The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award was established in 1916, with retrospective application to 1914, and was awarded to other ranks for "acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire". In 1991 the Medal for Gallantry in the Australian Honours system replaced the Military Medal.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-120

Inscriptions and markings

The name and service details of the recipient are impressed on the rim of the Military Medal.

From the beginning many military awards for both bravery and long service had distinctions based on class, rank or responsibility. Awards could be issued in different medals, gold, silver or bronze. Their could be a Cross for officers and a Medal for other ranks for example Military Cross and Military Medal. For long service, officers received a Decoration, soldiers a Medal. Contemporary practice has been to remove rank restrictions for bravery awards while retaining options for the circumstancesof the action. Recognition for exceptional service such as the Oder of Australia retains criteria for the level of service being commended. In general long service medals have no rank distinction only years of service.
In contrast to the previous policies for medals, sacrifice was traditionally been recognised as equally honoured. Rank distinctions are not normally found on Memorials and Honour Boards, the Australian War memorial being a national example.

Contextual Information

The Australian Army Museum has in its collections 27 Military Medals awarded to the following:
World War 1
Corporal George Love Brown (9832) 11 Field Ambulance, 41 Battalion AIF
Warrant Officer (Class 2) Harry Cartwright MM, MSM (2795) 11 Battalion AIF
Corporal Alexander Davidson MM* (4783) 46 Batttalion AIF
Lieutenant Vivian Edwards (723) MM, MID, 4th Trench Mortar Battery
Lance Corporal William Harry Fewster MM (W40026) Labour Company
Sergeant Herbert James Fowles DCM and Bar, MM (1855) 11 Battalion AIF
Private Jack Clifford Gillam MM (1826) 44 Battalion AIF
Corporal Ambrose Guido Clarence Gledhill MM and Bar (3797) 11 Battalion AIF
Private Henry Edward Haynes MM (4811) 51 Battalion AIF
Lieutenant Albert Heasman MM (595) 16 Battalion AIF
Lance Corporal Gilbert Arthur Heasman MM (2145) 11th Battalion AIF
Lance Corporal Cecil Arthur Hill MM (225) 3rd Field Company Engineers, AIF
Gunner Leslie Norman William Holding MM (20301) 8 Field Artillery Brigade AIF
Sister Alicia Mary Kelly MM, ARRC, Australian Nursing Service
Corporal Joseph Sowden Kidd MM (3380) 4 Divisional Signal Company
Corporal Albert George Birt McEwan MM, (2167) 1 Machine Gun Battalion
2nd Lieutenant Archibald McNicol MC, MM, Royal Garrison Artillery
Quarter Master Sergeant Alfred Moore MM, CdeG(B) (874), 13 Field Artillery Brigade
Lieutenant Norman Henry Morrell MM (W237606) 13 Brigade Staff
Sergeant Charles Thomas Palmer MM (968) Australian Army Pay Corps
Private George Joseph Prater MM, MID (18706) 28 Battalion AIF
Corporal Burnett Stringfellow MM (994) Royal Australian Engineers
Warrant Officer John Alexander Spence DCM, MM (3400) 52nd Battalion AIF
Private Ashburton Thompson MM (2994) 48 Battalion

World War 2
Warrant Officer George Frederick Airey MM WX13977, 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion
Corporal Henry William Alfred Bray MM (WX3770), 2/7 Field Ambulance
Sergeant Thomas Leonard Johnson MM (WX1024), 2/11 Battalion

Multiple examples of this medal are retained as an ongoing memorial to the service and sacrifice of Western Australians. Medals are displayed in context throughout the Museum. All medals are identified, archivally stored and those not on display are accessible and viewable with prior notice.

Links to additional resources

Awards to Australians

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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