Medals and Awards

Imperial

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

The Distinguished Service Order awarded individual instances of meritorious or distinguished service in war. It was a military order and could only be awarded to officers, usually of the rank of Major or above. Anyone below the rank of Major could only earn the order through high acts of gallantry, second only to the Victoria Cross. It could not be awarded posthumously. Awardees were allowed to use the postnominal, DSO.

Effectively it was often the highest honour for leadership in action. Queen-Empress Victoria established the order in 1886. Australia replaced the DSO in 1991 with the Distinguished Service Cross.

Only 3 officers of the 44th Battalion received the Distinguished Service Order. Nearly 9,000 Distinguished Service Orders were awarded in the British Empire during the Great War.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

The Order of the British Empire was established in 1917 by King-Emperor George V to fill the gaps between the many orders in the British Imperial honours system. It came in 5 levels, the MBE being the lowest. It’s motto was “For God and Empire” Australia replaced the MBE in 1975 with the Member of the Order of Australia. Awardees were allowed to use the postnominal, MBE.

Only 1 member of the 44th Battalion received the Member of the Order of the British Empire.

Military Cross (MC)

The Military Cross was awarded to officers of the rank of Captain or below for gallantry during active operations against the enemy. It was established in 1914 by King-Emperor George V. It could not be awarded posthumously. Awardees were allowed to use the postnominal, MC.

Effectively it was often the second highest honour for gallantry as a junior officer, second only to the Victoria Cross. Australia replaced the MC in 1991 with the Distinguished Service Medal.

16 officers of the 44th Battalion received the Military Cross, in addition to one officer being awarded a bar to their MC. Over 2,400 Military Crosses were awarded in the British Empire during the Great War.

Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)

The Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded for distinguished, gallant and good conduct in the field by other ranks. It was established in 1854 by Queen-Empress Victoria. It could not be awarded posthumously. Awardees were allowed to use the postnominal, DCM.

For enlisted ranks it was the second highest honour for gallantry in the field, second only to the Victoria Cross. Australia replaced the DCM in 1991 with the Star of Gallantry.

13 men of the 44th Battalion received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, in addition to one man being awarded a bar to their DCM. Around 25,000 Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded in the British Empire during the Great War.

Military Medal (MM)

The Military Medal was awarded for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire by other ranks. It was established in 1916 by King-Emperor George V as a lesser alternative to the DCM. It could not be awarded posthumously. Awardees were allowed to use the postnominal, MM.

For enlisted ranks it was the third highest honour for gallantry in the field, behind the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Victoria Cross. Australia replaced MM in 1991 with the Medal for Gallantry.

91 men of the 44th Battalion received the Military Medal, in addition to one man being awarded a bar to their MM. Over 115,000 Military Medals were awarded in the British Empire during the Great War.

Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)

The Meritorious Service Medal was awarded for Meritorious service by those military members who are of irreproachable character with at least 20 years of service. It could be awarded to any enlisted man or warrant officer. Sometimes, it would be awarded for acts of gallantry in performance of military duty, not necessarily on active service, or in saving or attempting to save the life of an officer or soldier. It was established in 1845 by Queen-Empress Victoria. It could not be awarded posthumously. Awardees were allowed to use the postnominal, MSM.

5 men of the 44th Battalion received the Meritorious Service Medal.

Mentioned in Despatches (MiD)

To be Mentioned in Despatches was to appear in an official report or the London Gazette, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described. A cluster of bronze oak leaves was worn on the campaign medal to signify the awarding of the MiD. It could be awarded many times but there was no physical difference between someone with 1 MiD and someone with 4 MiDs. It could be awarded to both officers and other ranks. It could be awarded posthumously.

Effectively, it was the fourth highest award for gallantry or meritorious action in the face of the enemy. Australia replaced the MiD in 1991 with the Commendation for Gallantry (gallantry) & Commendation for Distinguished Service (meritorious service). 

21 members of the 44th Battalion were Mentioned in Despatches. Over 140,000 Imperial personnel were Mentioned in Despatches during the Great War.

British War Medal

The British War Medal was awarded to all officers and men of the British Empire who had served for at least 28 days overseas on mobilised service during World War One or who had died prior to achieving that period. It was established in 1919 by King-Emperor George V. It was the standard campaign medal for service in the Great War. 

Virtually all of the officers and men of the 44th Battalion received the medal. A total of 6.6 million men and women received the British War Medal.

Victory Medal

The Victory Medal was awarded to all officers and men of all Allied Forces in the Great War who had served for a prescribed period on active service. It was established in 1919 by an inter-allied committee. The sheer scale of World War One meant that the awarding of two medals for one war was justified. 

Virtually all of the officers and men of the 44th Battalion received the medal. Over 14 million men and women received the Victory Medal.

Silver War Badge

The Silver War Badge was awarded to soldiers who returned to Australia due to being medically discharged or honourably discharged during the war. This was so members of the public knew that they had served the war effort and were not abstaining from their patriotic duties. This usually meant that the soldier had been wounded to the point that they could no longer participate in the war.

Wound Stripe

The Wound Stripe was awarded to all officers and men of the British Empire who were wounded in combat. It was established in 1916. The badge was worn vertically on the left forearm.

Long Service Stripes

Long Service Stripes were awarded for each year of service overseas in the Great War. They were blue, except for service in 1914 which was denoted with red.

Good Service Stripes

Good Service Stripes were awarded for each year of service overseas in the Great War where the recipient had not incurred a regimental entry resulting in forfeiture of pay. They were white & khaki.

Returned From Active Service Badge

Awarded at the conclusion of service.

Foreign

11 Officers and men of the 44th Battalion were awarded awards from other countries for their service in the war. 

Belgian Knight of the Order of Leopold

The Order of Leopold is the oldest and highest order of Belgium and is named in honour of its founder, King Leopold I. It was established in 1832 by King Leopold I. It comes in 5 grades with the Knight being the lowest. In a military setting it was awarded for 20 years as an officer or 40 years as an NCO in the Belgian military. It could be awarded to foreign militaries for great feats in World War One. It was also awarded to all British Lieutenant Generals at the end of the war.

1 Officer of the 44th Battalion received the Knight of the Order of Leopold.

United States Distinguished Service Cross

The Distinguished Service Cross is the United States Army’s second highest military decoration for soldiers who display extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. It is second only to the Medal of Honor. It was occasionally awarded to allied forces. 

1 Man of the 44th Battalion received the Distinguished Service Cross. Over 6,300 allied personnel received the Distinguished Service Cross during the Great War.

Belgian Croix de Guerre

The Croix de Guerre was awarded for bravery or other military virtue on the battlefield. It was also awarded for three years service at the frontline, good conduct on the battlefield, to very old or very young volunteers, to escaped POWs and severely injured soldiers. Belgium occasionally awarded it to its allies. It was established in 1915 by King Albert I.

1 Officer and 4 men of the 44th Battalion received the Belgian Croix de Guerre.

French Croix de Guerre

The Croix de Guerre was awarded to soldiers who distinguished themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. It was occasionally awarded to allied forces. It was established in 1915. Effectively, it was the equivalent to the MiD.

1 Officer and 3 men of the 44th Battalion received the French Croix de Guerre. Over 2 million allied personnel received the Croix de Guerre during the war.