A New Badge

With the growing exposure of the League on the internet, a decision was taken to try and protect our badge by applying for its copyright. Our Archivist investigated the circumstances surrounding the introduction of the badge in 1996 when the DCM and CGM League was opened up to become the Gallantry Medallists’ League. Recollections of its introduction were few and far between and the files in the archives did not add any further background information. An approach was made to the College of Arms, the official heraldic authority for England, to determine if our badge had ever been approved, especially as it bore an image of the Imperial State Crown. It was discovered that no such authority had ever been given to the League. More worryingly, the design of the crown depicted in our badge was incorrect and in light of this, no official authority could be given for its continued use.

The AGM 2019 were briefed on these developments and the members agreed that the League should seek authority for an authorised badge although this may have meant a completely new design. Getting a new design had already been considered by the Committee, as the three stripes emblazoned diagonally across the centre of the badge represented the three Services and there was nothing to represent the fact that many of our members are civilians. It had also been discovered in 2015 that the charity ‘Help for Heroes’ had introduced their own tie which was almost a direct copy of the GML tie.

The Archivist approached the Norfolk Herald Extraordinary of the College of Arms who has responsibility for military badges and several new designs of heraldic artwork were produced. As we wished our new design to incorporate a crown, the design had to be approved personally by the Garter King of Arms and The Sovereign. Despite not being a military association, the College of Arms were content that due to the fact that all gallantry medallists would be invested by, or in the name of The Sovereign, the League could retain the Imperial State Crown in the design.

At their meeting on 28 July 2019, the Committee selected one design for approval by the Garter King of Arms. This design retained the laurel wreath to symbolise ‘victory over adversity’ and a cypher of our initials GML was drawn in the centre. A request that our motto might also be retained was accepted. The final design was reviewed in August by the Garter King of Arms, who has delegated authority from Her Majesty to approve non-operational military badges, government badges and those of military associations. Garter approved and signed the artwork produced by the College which is now held in the League Archives. Accordingly, our badge and its history will be retained by the College of Arms in perpetuity as well as being protected in law.

After some frantic efforts by the Archivist, new lapel badges were manufactured in time for the Edinburgh muster. A new tie was also produced for wear by all members of the League, the design incorporated the blue and red stripes of the DCM ribbon with the GML cypher in gold embroidered onto the blue stripe. A ladies scarf in a similar design of red and blue stripes was also introduced.

Following his accession to the throne in 2022, King Charles chose the rounded Tudor Crown for his royal cypher. Subsequently, approval was given for this crown to be used in places where his late mother’s St Edward’s Crown was shown. The League badge was changed at that time to reflect the King’s wishes and is shown here.