Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)

Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)
Awarded by the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India
Country	Colony of Natal
Type	Military decoration for bravery
Eligibility	Other Ranks
Awarded for	Gallantry in the field
Status	Discontinued in 1913
Post-nominals	DCM
Statistics
Established	1897
Total awarded	8
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold
Equivalent	Distinguished Conduct Medal
Next (lower)	Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
Related	Distinguished Service Order
Ribbon bar

In 1895, Queen Victoria authorised Colonial governments to adopt various British military decorations and medals and to award them to their local military forces. The Colony of Natal introduced this system in August 1895 and, in 1897, instituted the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal), post-nominal letters DCM.

The Distinguished Conduct Medal, post-nominal letters DCM, was instituted by Queen Victoria on 4 December 1854, during the Crimean War, as a decoration for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, until it was discontinued in 1993. The medal could also be awarded to non-commissioned military personnel of the British Dominions and Colonies.

For all ranks below commissioned officers, the Distinguished Conduct Medal was the second highest award for gallantry in action after the Victoria Cross, and the other ranks' equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order, which was awarded to commissioned officers for bravery. Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal are entitled to the post-nominal letters DCM. A Bar to the medal, introduced in 1881, could be awarded in recognition of each subsequent act of distinguished conduct for which the medal would have been awarded.

In the late 19th century, the Colony of Natal's armed forces consisted of the para-military Natal Police and a military Volunteer Force. The Volunteer Force was reorganised as the Natal Militia in 1904 and, in 1908, the Natal Police and Natal Militia were amalgamated to form the Natal Colonial Forces.

On 31 May 1895, Queen Victoria authorised Dominion and Colonial governments to adopt various military medals and to award them to their local military forces. The Colony of Natal introduced this system in August 1895. In 1897, the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal) was one of three known decorations and medals which were instituted by Natal in terms of this authority.

The Natal medal remained current even after Natal became a Province of the Union of South Africa in 1910, until the first medals for the Union Defence Forces were introduced in June 1913.

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