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Conceived as the naval counterpart to the DCM, it was instituted for award to petty officers and seaman of the Royal Navy and to NCOs and other ranks of the Royal Marines. Originally awarded only for gallantry during the Crimean War, it was revived in 1874 to recognise heroism during the Ashantee War and has since been awarded, albeit sparingly, for other wars and campaigns. The Crimean issue utilised the dies of the Meritorious Service Medal which had the date 1848 below the truncation of the Queen's neck on the obverse. The raised relief inscription MERITORIOUS SERVICE on the reverse was erased and the words CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY engraved in their place. When the decoration was revived in 1874 a new obverse was designed without a date while a new die, with the entire inscription in raised relief, was employed for the reverse. In 1943 the CGM was extended to NCOs and other ranks of the RAF. Both naval and RAF medals are identical, but the naval medal has a white ribbon with dark blue edges, whereas the RAF award has a pale blue ribbon with dark blue edges. As a result of the 1993 Review the CGM has been replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
BAR
A silver, laurelled bar was awarded for additional acts of pre-eminent bravery.
DESCRIPTION
The medal is circular, silver, 1.42 inches in diameter.
OBVERSE
The effigy of the reigning monarch.
REVERSE
The reverse shows the legend FOR/CONSPICUOUS/GALLANTRY in three lines, encircled
by a laurel wreath and surmounted by an Imperial Crown.
A straight suspender is fastened to the medal with a single-toe claw.
Recipients name rank and unit are impressed on the rim.
RIBBON
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide; White (RN) or sky blue (RAF) with dark blue
edges.
On 13 August 1855, a modified MSM with the inscription: FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY
was instituted for the Crimea War.
The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was introduced on 07 July 1874.
The CGM was amended when DSM was introduced on 14 October 1914.
Total Issued - ?
There were two CGMs to the RCN during WWII (BERNAYS and KERWIN).
There were no awards to Canadians in WWI or Korea.
METAL
Silver
SIZE
36mm
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