Queen's Gallantry Medal

Queen's Gallantry Medal
Reverse of medal and ribbon
Awarded by United Kingdom
Type	Civil decoration.
Eligibility	British and Commonwealth
Awarded for	"… exemplary acts of bravery."
Status	Currently awarded.
Description	Silver disk, 36mm diameter
Post-nominals	QGM
Statistics
Established	20 June 1974
Total awarded	1000th medal awarded in 2012
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry
Next (lower)	Royal Victorian Medal

The Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM) is the third level civil decoration of the United Kingdom.

It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry. It therefore ended the rather strange situation whereby the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry was awarded for lesser acts of bravery than the George Medal, but took precedence over it in order of wear and postnominal letters. From 30 November 1977, it has also been awarded posthumously, and thus from that date it also replaced the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry.

The medal is awarded for "exemplary acts of bravery", and is primarily a civilian medal, although military personnel can receive it too. Recipients may use the post nominal letters "QGM". Just over 1000 medals have been awarded since its inception. The Royal Ulster Constabulary has 120 recipients of the QGM which is almost twice as many awards of the QGM as any other service.

For a comprehensive history, names, and details of the acts for which the QGM has been awarded throughout the Commonwealth, refer to For Exemplary Bravery-The Queen's Gallantry Medal by Nick Metcalfe MBE, QGM (see Sources below for details).

NOTE:- The Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry was discontinued as a posthumous award in 1977, when the Royal Warrant which had instituted the George Medal was amended to allow the George Medal to be awarded posthumously. Prior to this, if the level of bravery of the individual was such to merit either award, should the police officer survive the event, he/she would be awarded the George Medal, and conversely, should they lose their life, then the appropriate award was the Queen's Police medal for Gallantry (posthumous award). After 1954, the Queen's Police medal could only be awarded posthumously.

Among the more notable recipients are: