Military Medal

Awarded for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire

The Military Medal was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land.

The medal was established on 25 March 1916.

It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Military Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers (although WOs could also be awarded the MM), although it took precedence below that decoration as well as the Distinguished Conduct Medal, also awarded to non-commissioned members of the Army.

Recipients of the Military Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "MM". In 1993, the Military Medal was discontinued, and since then the Military Cross has been awarded to personnel of all ranks.

Description
* A circular silver medal of 36 mm diameter. The obverse bears the effigy of the reigning monarch.
* The reverse has the inscription 'FOR BRAVERY IN THE FIELD' in four lines, surrounded by a laurel wreath, surmounted by the Royal Cypher and Imperial Crown
* The suspender is of an ornate scroll type.
* The ribbon is dark blue, 1.25 inches wide, with five equal centre stripes of white, red, white, red, and white (0.125 inches each).
* Silver, laurelled bars are authorised for subsequent awards.


There have been over 135,000 people awarded the Military Medal.