Military Medals

[Munden]

Which is Britain's second highest ranking Military Medal after the Victoria Cross?

[Quizmonster]

The Distinguished Service Order or DSO. Click http://www.gwpda.org/medals/britmedl/britain.html and read the appropriate paragraph. (The George Cross is of higher precedence in terms of valour, but it is a civilian award and you asked about military medals.)

[Jaybee]

Are you certain about that, Quizmonster? I thought the highest civilian award was the George Medal, not Cross. A young serviceman recieved the George Cross only this week. He would have received the Victoria Cross if his actions had been in the face of enemy action, not because of another US blunder.

[Quizmonster]

Dear Jaybee, here's what the Encyclop�dia Britannica says about the George Cross..."a British civilian and military decoration, instituted in 1940 by King George VI for "acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger." The award, which can be conferred posthumously, is usually given to civilians, although it can be bestowed on military personnel for acts for which military decorations are not usually awarded. The island of Malta received the George Cross in recognition of its inhabitants' - ie civilians, basically - gallantry in World War II. The cross ranks second only to the Victoria Cross (the highest British military decoration)."

You're absolutely right about the young soldier's recent decoration. However, I personally had never even heard of a soldier receiving the medal and - from the above - you can easily see why! There is a definite suggestion throughout the encyclop�dia entry that awarding it to a military winner is rare, so seeing the young hero on the news certainly surprised me. Well spotted, though, and I am more than happy to correct the mistaken impression I had harboured for decades. Cheers

[IanPat]

the George Cross and the Victoria Cross hold equal value.