Context: The Distinguished Conduct Medal was a decoration established in 1854 by Queen Victoria for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, ranking below the Victoria Cross, until it was discontinued in 1993 when it was replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The medal was also awarded to non-commissioned military personnel of other Commonwealth Dominions and Colonies.
The DCM was created on 04 December 1854, because of the Crimea War and was first awarded to a Canadian on 19 April 1901.
Description: A circular, silver medal, 1.42 inch in diameter. An ornate scroll suspender is attached to the medal by a single-toe claw for mounting.
The crimson ribbon is 1.25-inch-wide with a dark blue central stripe.
Medal obverse: There are different styles of this metal:
Reverse: The reverse of all versions is smooth, with a raised rim, and bears the inscription “FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD” in four lines, underlined by a laurel wreath between two spear blades
King Edward V: (Version 1 & 2), King George VI:(Version 1), King George VII: Elizabeth the Second (EIIR) medals.
Bars: A silver, laurelled bar was awarded for a subsequent act or acts of distinguished conduct in the field.
Historical notes: There were 2,132 awards to Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) personnel, including 38 first bars and one second bar. The regimental or equivalent number, rank, initials, surname and unit of the recipient are impressed in plain block capitals around the rim of the medal.