Level 4 Awards
These awards represent military or civilian gallantry that merits national recognition at the fourth level. They are not medals but are collectively known as emblems. All Level 4 awards are published in the London Gazette. The current Level 4 awards include a Mention in Despatches (MiD), King’s Commendation for Bravery (KCB) and King’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air (KCBA). Earlier, the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery (QCB) was titled the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct (QCBC) and prior to March 1952 was the King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.
Today, most mentions and commendations for bravery are awarded for rescue situations, internal-security ‘Emergencies’, overseas military interventions and UN peacekeeping operations.
Kings’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air
The Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air is awarded for a specific act (or acts) of bravery while flying, not in the presence of the enemy. The emblem represents an eagle with spreadeagled wings in silver. In 2022, the commendation was retitled King’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air. This award is available posthumously.…
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King’s Commendation for Bravery
The first commendations were known as the King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct (KCBC). These were awarded to military or civilian personnel for an act (or acts) of bravery not in the presence of the enemy during and after World War 2. The commendation was denoted by a spray of laurel leaves in silver. For service during World War 2 the comme…
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Mention in Despatches
A member of the armed forces mentioned in dispatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described. Soldiers who are mentioned in dispatches do not receive a medal for their action but nonetheless are…
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