Medal for Gallantry

Award

The Medal for Gallantry (MG) is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It recognises acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances. The MG was introduced on 15 January 1991, replacing the Imperial equivalent. It is ranked third in the Gallantry Decorations in the Australian Honours System.^[3][4] Recipients of the Medal of Gallantry are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "MG".

Description

• The Medal for Gallantry is circular and is made of gold-plated silver. It is ensigned with the Crown of Saint Edward. The obverse bears a Federation Star, which is superimposed on a circle of flames. This image represents action under fire.
• The reverse shows a horizontal panel superimposed on a design of fluted rays.
• The Medal for Gallantry is suspended from a 32 millimetre-wide ribbon by a narrow gold-plated silver suspender bar. The ribbon has a design of chevrons of light orange alternating with chevrons of deep orange angled at 60 degrees. The chevron pattern is placed as a stylised "A" with the points facing upwards.

Decoration allowance

Veterans who are paid disability pension under the Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act), and who have been awarded a gallantry award specified in the Act, including the Medal for Gallantry, are also paid a decoration allowance. In May 2011, the allowance was A$2.10 per fortnight.^[5]

Notable recipients

• Signalman Martin "Jock" Wallace MG, formerly of the 152 Signal Squadron and the Special Air Service Regiment. Awarded 27 November 2002 for actions in Afghanistan on 2 March 2002.^[6]
• Sergeant "C" (Matthew Locke MG of the Special Air Service Regiment) was subsequently killed in action in 2007.^[7]
• Lance Corporal "E" is now known as Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG of the Special Air Service Regiment. He was awarded the MG for actions in the period May–September 2006 in Afghanistan,^[8] and was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia.^[9]
• Corporal "B", (later identified as Sergeant Brett Wood MG), of the 2nd Commando Regiment was subsequently killed in action on 23 May 2011.^[10]

List of recipients

Number awarded

In March 2018, only 55 of the recipients were listed on the "It's an Honour" website. A further 8 recipients have been identified from official publications of the Governor General, the Department of Defence and from special issues of the Australian Government Gazette.

Many of the awards have been presented at the official Australia Day ceremonies - held on 26 January - and Queen's Birthday ceremonies - held on the 2nd Monday in June.

See also

• Australian Honours Order of Precedence

References

1. "Medal for Gallantry". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. 13 April 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
2. Governor-General Annual Report 2022-23 (PDF). Governor General of Australia. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
3. "The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards" (PDF). Government House. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
4. The highest ranked military gallantry decoration is the Victoria Cross/Victoria Cross for Australia.
   The second ranked military gallantry decoration is the Star of Gallantry.
   (Refer to "The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards" (PDF). Government House. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.)
5. "Veteran's Entitlements Act 1986 - Sect 102". Commonwealth Consolidated Acts. Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII). Retrieved 17 November 2007.
6. Lee, Sandra (2006). 18 Hours: The true story of an SAS War Hero. Sydney: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-7322-8230-6.
7. Vale SGT Locke Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, defence.gov.au
8. Benjamin Roberts-Smith, defence.gov.au
9. Cowan, Sean; Taylor, Nick (22 January 2011). "WA digger awarded VC medal". The West Australian. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
10. "How Sgt Brett Wood earned a Medal for Gallantry in Afghanistan". Herald Sun. 24 May 2011.
    Vale SGT Wood Archived 29 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, defence.gov.au
    To be awarded the medal for gallantry, defence.gov.au
11. Gallantry awards for actions during the Vietnam War, 2 November 2016, Governor General's website
12. The Vietnam End of War List. Australian Awards to Service Personnel Announced 3 June 1998 and Subsequently. vvaa.org.au
13. CAPT Thomas Henry Arrowsmith, Certificate, vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 10 Feb 1978, itsanhonour.gov.au; Mentioned in Despatches, 19 September 1969, awm.gov.au
14. Medal for Gallantry - Australia Day 2013 Archived 18 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Media Notes, Governor General's website
15. CPL Cameron Baird VC MG, www.army.gov.au
16. 2LT Graeme Eric Bolitho, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
17. CAPT James Raymond Bourke, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 9 May 1979;
    AM (Member of the Order of Australia) For service to veterans and their families through the establishment and implementation of 'Operation Aussies Home'. 26 January 2009
18. Awards vide Special Gazette No S565 dated Wednesday 1 December 1999 (as a result of the Independent Review of the End of War List) - see The Vietnam End of War List, vvaa.org.au, for a list of the 6 awardees.
19. Report of the Independent Review Panel of the End of War List - Vietnam, 25 August 1999, defence.gov.au Archived 1 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
20. Defence Honours and Awards Policy Review, 7 February 2008, defence.gov.au Archived 8 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
21. CPL John Douglas Campbell Burridge, Certificate, Mentioned in Despatches, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
22. CPL Trevor William Byng, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
23. Soldiers' gallantry honoured, Defence Media Release MECC 337/06, 2 December 2006.
24. Medal for Gallantry - Queen's Birthday 2013, Media Notes, Governor General's website
25. Mark Davis (2008) Gallantry of the highest order, Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 2008
26. Sgt Cashmore, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 15 May 1978
27. Private Casson, Certificate and Mentioned in Despatches, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
28. Sgt Collett, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
29. "Australian Gazette".
30. Medal for Gallantry - Australia Day 2012, Media Notes, Governor General's website
31. Special Operations Commander, Major General Tim McOwan (11 December 2008). "Update on Special Operations in Afghanistan (MECC 81211/08)" (Press release). Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013.
32. Capt Green, Certificate and Mentioned in Despatches, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 15 May 1981
33. Trooper Handley, Certificate and mentioned in Despatches, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
34. Maj Healy, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 14 July 1977; National Medal - 1st clasp, 15 May 1979
35. Lt Hindson, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au;
    MC (Military Cross), Special Air Service - Vietnam - 10 December 1968;
    National Medal, 21 September 1977;
    Centenary Medal, "For many years voluntary service to veterans' associations and the Army" - 1 January 2001
36. 2LT Kendall, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 19 March 1979
37. Maj McDonald, Certificate and Mentioned in Despatches, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 14 July 1977; National Medal - 1st clasp, 23 October 1981
38. Maj McFarlane, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 14 July 1977; National Medal - 1st clasp, 15 May 1979
39. "December 1996 : Gallant diggers". Army : The Soldiers' Newspaper. No. 1225. armynews.realviewdigital.com. 12 November 2009. p. 40.
40. Lague, David (25 March 2000). "Gallantry Award For Sergeant Who Led Bloody Timor Battle". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
41. Capt Peacock, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 18 June 1980
42. 2Lt Sabben, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
43. Capt Sibree, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 15 May 1978;
    AM (Member of the Order of Australia), "For service to the RAA as Commandant of the Infantry Centre Commander Singleton Military Area". 11 June 1990
44. Capt Smith, Certificate and Mentioned in Despatches, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
45. 2LT Sullivan, Certificate and Mentioned in Despatches, www.vietnamroll.gov.au;
    MC (Military Cross), Armoured Regiment - Vietnam - 22 May 1970;
    National Medal, 11 March 1981
46. 2LT Williams, Certificate, www.vietnamroll.gov.au; National Medal, 9 May 1979
47. "Australian SAS Trooper Awarded Medal for Gallantry (118/03)" (Press release). Department of Defence. 18 May 2003. Archived from the original on 2 January 2004.
48. Honours List - Australia Day 2018, Governor General's website
49. Honours List - Australia Day 2017, Governor General's website
50. Honours List - Queens's Birthday 2017, Governor General's website
51. Honours List - Australia Day 2016 Archived 28 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Governor General's website
52. Honours List - Queens's Birthday 2016, Governor General's website
53. Medal for Gallantry - Australia Day 2015, Media Notes, Governor General's website
54. Medal for Gallantry - Queen's Birthday 2015, Media Notes, Governor General's website
55. Medal for Gallantry - Australia Day 2014 Archived 27 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Media Notes, Governor General's website
56. Honours List - Queens's Birthday 2014, Governor General's website
57. Medal for Gallantry - Queen's Birthday 2012, Media Notes, Governor General's website
58. Honours Lists - Australia Day 2011 Archived 12 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Governor General's website
59. Medal for Gallantry - Queen's Birthday 2011 Archived 27 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Media Notes, Governor General's website
60. Medal for Gallantry - Australia Day 2010 Archived 27 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Media Notes, Governor General's website
61. Honours List - Queen's Birthday 2010 Archived 12 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Governor General's website
62. Medal for Gallantry - Australia Day 2009 Archived 27 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Media Notes, Governor General's website
63. Medal for Gallantry - Queen's Birthday 2009 Archived 27 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Media Notes, Governor General's website
64. Medal for Gallantry - Australia Day 2008^{[permanent dead link]}, Media Notes, Governor General's website
65. Honours List - Queen's Birthday 2008 Archived 12 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Governor General's website
66. Gallantry awards for actions during the Vietnam War^{[permanent dead link]}, Special Gazette No. S167, 18 August 2008, Commonwealth of Australia ^{[dead link]}

External links

• It's an Honour