Albert Medal for gallantry, there were no official honours to recognize distinguished service. The Royal Irish Constabulary had established the Constabulary Medal in 1842, but it was limited to service in Ireland. In Canada some members of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP) and the Dominion Police were awarded the Imperial Service Medal, while a very few senior officers were appointed to the Imperial Service Order. However, the breadth of recognition available to the police was very limited.
In 1909 King Edward VII established the King’s Police Medal, which could be awarded for gallantry or for distinguished services. The name of the decoration was changed to the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal in 1940, though members of the fire services had been eligible for the medal from its inception.
Beginning in 1950, the medal for gallantry was only awarded posthumously, the George Medal being better suited for this sort of recognition. In 1954 this medal was restructured into two separate awards — the Queen’s Police Medal and the Queen’s Fire Services Medal — none of which were ever awarded on the advice of the Canadian government, though the offer was extended by the British government. The modern Canadian equivalent for KPMs awarded for gallantry is the Medal of Bravery, and for distinguished service the equivalent is an appointment to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces or an awarding of a Meritorious Service Decoration.
Criteria: To recognize those in the police and fire services for heroic acts of courage and instances of conspicuous devotion to duty. Specifically:
King’s Police Medal distinguished service reverse.
a) Conspicuous gallantry in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals; the risks incurred to be estimated with due regard to the obligations and duties of the officer concerned.
b) An especially distinguished record in administrative or detective service.
c) Success in organizing police forces or fire departments, or in maintaining their organ-ization under special difficulties.
d) Special services in dealing with serious or widespread outbreaks of crime or public disorder, or fire.
e) Valuable political and secret services.
f) Special services to Royalty and Heads of State.
g) Prolonged service, but only when distinguished by very exceptional ability and merit.[6]
Insignia: A circular silver medal 36 mm in diameter, the obverse bearing an effigy of the reigning sovereign. There have been three obverse types awarded to Canadians:
• George V 1st type: An uncrowned George V circumscribed by the legend GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:.
• George VI 1st type: A crowned effigy of George VI circumscribed by the legend GEORGIVS VI D: G:BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP:.
• George VI 2nd type: A crowned effigy of George VI circumscribed by the legend GEORGIVS VI DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF:+.
There are two distinctive reverses for this medal, one for gallantry the other for distinguished service:
• When awarded for distinguished service: a helmeted knight standing erect, holding close to his body the sword of justice, his other hand atop a shield bearing the text TO GUARD MY PEOPLE on three lines. In the background of this allegory is a fortified city.
• When awarded for gallantry, the reverse is identical to that for distinguished service save the addition of the text FOR GALLANTRY at the bottom of the reverse. This reverse was introduced in 1933 and issued in 1934.
Suspender: A claw-footed suspender with an oval ring 9 mm by 14 mm.
Ribbon: Three ribbon types were used with this medal:
• A blue ribbon 35 mm wide edged on each side with 4 mm of white (1912–16).
• A blue ribbon 35 mm wide with a central 4 mm wide stripe of white and edged on each side by 4 mm of white (1916–33, for both distinguished service and gallantry; from 1933 onward only for distinguished service).
• A blue ribbon 35 mm wide, with a central 4 mm stripe of white and edged on each side by 4 mm of white; in the centre of each white stripe is 1 mm of red (to denote the medal was awarded for gallantry, used from 1933 onward).
Bars: A silver laurelled bar, though none awarded to Canadians.
Naming: Engraved capitals, most often found with the abbreviated rank, full given and surname of the recipient. The name of the police service is also occasionally included.
Postnominals: KPM or KPFSM (not introduced until 1969).
Other: A King Edward VII, a second King George V type, and two types of Queen Elizabeth II issues of the medal also exist, though none were awarded to Canadians.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 50 (8 George V 1st type, 37 George VI 1st type, 5 George VI 2nd type).
Mention in Dispatches
Mention in Dispatches oak leaf First World War issue.
Mention in Dispatches oak leaf, Second World War and Korea War issue.
Origins: Prior to the creation of official gallantry decorations, it was customary to mention individuals who had distinguished themselves in the field or at sea in dispatches. These dispatches or reports were sent by commanders to the Sovereign and to Parliament to inform them of progress in a particular campaign. To be mentioned in and of itself was an honour, though it was not originally accompanied by an insignia or certificate. The tradition originated in the Royal Navy as a mechanism for allowing flag officers to learn of the service and actions of naval officers serving at sea. Exemplary action would be noted and placed in an officer’s record and was, in the long term, often crucial in securing promotions. As the British Empire expanded, it was no longer just the navy that saw action far away from the British Isles but also the army. Thus the practice spread to the land forces, though it would not be until 1844 that it was extended to non-commissioned officers.[7]
Mentions in Dispatches (MIDs) became widely used in the South African War (1899–1902), and a handful of Canadians were awarded them. Prior to the establishment of the broad range of British gallantry awards, there was no real intermediate award for bravery in the field that did not warrant either the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Distinguished Service Order, or Victoria Cross, and the MID filled this gap.
During the First World War, Canadians continued to receive MIDs. Because the British honours system quickly expanded in this period to include a variety of intermediate bravery awards, MIDs were not greatly used by the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Also because of this expansion, the MID lost some of its cachet as an award of much significance: soldiers would much rather receive a medal than a simple mention in the London Gazette. Indeed, more Canadians received the Military Medal than were awarded an MID.
Military
