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| VC | Victoria Cross | 1856 - introduced as the premier award for gallantry, available to all ranks |
| GC | George Cross | 1940 - awarded for actions for which military honours would not normally be granted |
| DSO | Distinguished Service Order | 1886 - awarded for gallantry. 1993 - awarded for 'Leadership' only |
| CGC | Conspicuous Gallantry Cross | 1993 - replaces the DSO for 'gallantry, CGM and DCM |
| DSC | Distinguished Service Cross | 1901 & 1993 - incorporates the DSM ( Distinguished Service Medal ) |
| MC | Military Cross | 1914 & 1993 - incorporates the MM ( Military Medal ) |
| DFC | Distinguished Flying Cross | 1918 & 1993 - incorporates the DFM ( Distinguished Flying Medal ) |
| AFC | Air Force Cross | 1918 & 1993 - incorporates the AFM ( Air Force Medal ) |
| QGM | Queen's Gallantry Medal | 1974 - awarded for actions not deemed suitable for a military decoration |
| GM | George Medal | 1940 - awarded for actions for which military honours would not normally be granted |
| DCM | Distinguished Conduct Medal | 1854 & 1993 - replaced by the CGC ( Conspicuous Gallantry Cross ) |
| CGM | Conspicuous Gallantry Medal | 1855 & 1993 - replaced by the CGC ( Conspicuous Gallantry Cross ) |
| DSM | Distinguished Service Medal | 1914 & 1993 - replaced by the DSC ( Distinguished Service Cross ) |
| MM | Military Medal | 1916 & 1993 - replaced by the MC ( Military Cross ) |
| DFM | Distinguished Flying Medal | 1918 & 1993 - replaced by the DFC ( Distinguished Flying Cross ) |
| AFM | Air Force Medal | 1918 & 1993 - replaced by the AFC ( Air Force Cross ) |
| India GSM | 1854 - 1895 | to cover minor campaigns and operations in India |
| Baltic Medal | 1854 - 1855 | for operations against the Russians in the Baltic Sea |
| Crimea Medal | 1854 - 1856 | for operations against the Russians during the Crimean War |
| Indian Mutiny Medal | 1857 - 1858 | awarded for the suppression of the Indian Mutiny |
| 2nd China War Medal | 1857 - 1860 | awarded to British servicemen for operations against China |
| New Zealand Medal | 1860 - 1866 | First and Second Maori Wars |
| Canada GSM | 1866 - 1870 | for operations to put down Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870 |
| Abyssinian War Medal | 1867 - 1868 | awarded for a punitive expedition against King Theodore of Abyssinia |
| Ashantee Medal | 1873 - 1874 | for operations against King Kalkali of the Gold Coast |
| South Africa Medal | 1877 - 1879 | for operations against the Galeka, Gaika and Zulu tribes |
| Afghanistan Medal | 1878 - 1880 | for operations during the Second Afghan War |
| Egypt Medal | 1882 - 1889 | for operations against the mutineering army of Egypt |
| Central Africa Medal | 1891 - 1898 | awarded for numerous campaigns in Central Africa |
| India Medal | 1895 - 1902 | replaced the India GSM to cover minor campaigns and operations in India |
| Queen's Sudan Medal | 1896 - 1897 | for operations against the Sudanese |
| Queen's South Africa Medal | 1899 - 1902 | 2nd Boer War, South Africa ( Queen Victoria ) |
| King's South Africa Medal | 1901 - 1902 | 2nd Boer War, South Africa ( King Edward VII ) |
| China War Medal | 1900 | instituted for service during the Boxer Rebellion and subsequent expeditions |
| India GSM | 1908 - 1935 | for minor campaigns and operations in India before and after WW I |
| 1914 Star | 1914 | for service in France & Belgium between 5 August - 22 November 1914 |
| 1914 - 15 Star | 1914 - 1915 | for service in any theatre of war between 5 August 1914 - 31 December 1915 |
| British War Medal | 1914 - 1920 | awarded for the conclusion of WW I and for further operations up to 1920 |
| Mercantile Marine War Medal | 1914 - 1918 | awarded by the Board of Trade to members of the Merchant Navy |
| Victory Medal | 1914 - 1919 | awarded for the successful conclusion of WW I |
| Victory Medal + MiD | 1914 - 1919 | Victory Medal with 'Mentioned in Despatches' Oakleaf |
| Naval GSM | 1915 - 1962 | for service in minor operations for which no separate medal might be issued |
| General Service Medal | 1918 - 1962 | for numerous campaigns and operations that fell short of full-scale war |
| India GSM | 1936 - 1939 | introduced when change of effigy from George V to George VI became necessary |
| 1939 - 45 Star | 1939 - 1945 | awarded to personnel who had completed six months' service overseas |
| Atlantic Star | 1939 - 1945 | Royal Navy for six months' service afloat in Atlantic, home waters & North Russia |
| Air Crew Europe Star | 1939 - 1944 | for operational flying from UK bases over Europe |
| Africa Star | 1940 - 1943 | awarded for operations in North Africa |
| Pacific Star | 1941 - 1945 | for operations in the Pacific theatre of war |
| Burma Star | 1941 - 1945 | for operational service in the Burma campaign, Bengal and Assam |
| Italy Star | 1943 - 1945 | for operations in Italy, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Greece & Yugoslavia |
| France & Germany Star | 1944 - 1945 | for operational service in France, Belgium, The Netherlands & Germany |
| Defence Medal | 1939 - 1945 | awarded for 3 years' service at home or 6 months' service overseas |
| War Medal | 1939 - 1945 | awarded to all fulltime personnel of the armed forces |
| Korea Medal | 1950 - 1953 | awarded for operations during the Korean War |
| General Service Medal | 1962 - 2007 | for numerous campaigns and operations that fell short of full-scale war |
| Vietnam Medal | 1964 - 1968 | awarded to Australian and New Zealand forces who served in Vietnam |
| South Atlantic Medal | 1982 | awarded for operations to liberate South Georgia & the Falkland Islands |
| Gulf War Medal | 1990 - 1991 | awarded for operations to liberate Kuwait and the subsequent invasion of Iraq |
| NATO Service Medal | 1994 - | Yugoslavia - awarded to those who took part in the Alliance cooperations in Yugolsavia |
| NATO Service Medal | 1994 - | Kosovo - awarded to those who took part in the Alliance cooperations in Kosovo |
| NATO Service Medal | 1994 - | Macedonia - awarded to those who took part in the Alliance cooperations in Macedonia |
| Operational Service Medal | 2000 - | Afghanistan - intended for minor campaigns for which a seperate medal is not awarded |
| Operational Service Medal | 2000 - | Sierra Leone - intended for minor campaigns for which a seperate medal is not awarded |
| Iraq Medal | 2003 - | awarded for operations in the invasion of of Iraq, and subsequent operations |
| Victoria | Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal - 1887 |
| Victoria | Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal - 1897 |
| Edward VII | King Edward VII Coronation Medal - 1902 |
| George V | King George V Coronation Medal - 1911 |
| George V | King George VI Silver Jubilee Medal - 1935 |
| George VI | King George VI Coronation Medal - 1937 |
| Elizabeth II | Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal - 1953 |
| Elizabeth II | Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal - 1977 |
| Elizabeth II | Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal - 2002 |
| Elizabeth II | Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal - 2012 |
| KG | - | The Most Noble Order of the Garter ( King Edward III - 1348 ) |
| KT | - | The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle ( 1687 ( 787? )) |
| KP | - | The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick ( 1783 ) |
| GCB | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath ( 1725 ) |
| KCB | - | Knight Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath ( 1725 ) |
| CB | - | Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath ( 1725 ) |
| OM | - | The Order of Merit ( 1902 ) |
| GCSI | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India ( 1861 ) |
| KCSI | - | Knight Commander of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India ( 1861 ) |
| CSI | - | Companion of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India ( 1861 ) |
| GCMG | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George ( 1818 ) |
| KCMG | - | Knight Commander of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George ( 1818 ) |
| CMG | - | Companion of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George ( 1818 ) |
| GCIE | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire ( 1878 ) |
| KCIE | - | Knight Commander of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire ( 1878 ) |
| CIE | - | Companion of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire ( 1878 ) |
| GCVO | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Royal Victorian Order ( 1896 ) |
| KCVO | - | Knight Commander of The Royal Victorian Order ( 1896 ) |
| CVO | - | Commander of The Royal Victorian Order ( 1896 ) |
| GBE | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Order of the British Empire ( 1917 ) |
| KBE | - | Knight Commander of The Order of the British Empire ( 1917 ) |
| CBE | - | Companion of The Order of the British Empire ( 1917 ) |
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Iain Stewart, 6 July 2012