The British Empire Medal (BEM), officially the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the crown. While recipients are not technically members of the Order of the British Empire this honour is nevertheless affiliated with it. It is no longer awarded in the UK but some Commonwealth realms such as the Bahamas and Cook Islands still confer it as of 2008.[1]
Recipients are entitled to put the letters "BEM" after their name.
The BEM was awarded in similar circumstances to the Order of the British Empire, but usually to people below management or professional level. In the uniformed services, it was awarded to non-commissioned officers of the armed forces, officers below superintendent rank in the police, and personnel below divisional officer level in the fire services.
A British Empire Medal for Gallantry was also awarded from 14 January 1958[2] until its replacement with the Queen's Gallantry Medal in 1974. This was awarded to similar classes of people to those who were awarded the BEM for Meritorious Service and was for acts of gallantry (not in the face of the enemy) below the level required for the George Medal. It could not be awarded posthumously.
See also
References
- ^ See the 2008 New Year (London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58558, p. 29, 28 December 2007. Retrieved on 2008-10-14.) and Queen's Birthday Honours (London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58731, p. 31, 14 June 2008. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.)
- ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41285, p. 365, 14 January 1958.
External links
- Search recommendations for the British Empire Medal on The UK National Archives' website.
- British Empire Medal on the Veterans Affairs Canada site
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