Orders, decorations, and medals of Guelphia

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The honours system of Guelphia is a means of awarding for merit those who are deserving, either for achievement or service to the country. The awards exist within a graduated series of importance and with names and principles sometimes dating back centuries. The honours system consists of three types of award - honours, decorations, and medals.

As the head of state, the monarch is the fount of honour for all honours, decorations, medals and grants of arms, but the system for identifying and recognising candidates to honour is in practice carried out by the Chancellery of Honours within the Royal Household.

Orders of chivalry

The Order of Guelphia (post nominal KCG/DCG) is the highest honour in the nation for actions excluding acts of valour and gallantry. The Order was constituted by Alexander I in 1838 consists of the Sovereign, as well as a Chancellor, Registrar, Herald, twenty-four knights, six supernumerary knights, and three honorary companions, all of whom are foreign heads of state. The motto of the order is OMNIUM RERUM PRINCIPIA PARVA SUNT or in English EVERYTHING HAS A SMALL BEGINNING.

The Guelphian Order of Merit (post nominal KGCM/DGCM, KM/DM, CM, OM and MM) is awarded for public service to the nation. Established by Philip I in 1927, the order consists of five grades, and is often granted to long serving ministers, members of defence force, civil servants and diplomats for meritorious service to the nation and the King. The Guelphian Order of Merit is the only order of chivalry to consist of multiple grades, and has the largest number of recipients of any of the three orders.

The Royal Service Order (post nominal KSO/DSO) is a dynastic order of knighthood conferred for personal service to the Sovereign. The order consists of two divisions of Knight and Member. The order was established by Philip I in 1936, and is the most personal gift of the Sovereign for services rendered by an individual to him. There are just eighteen members of the order at any given time, only six of whom may be knights. Typical recipients include members of the Royal Household, equerries, and other courtiers.

Bravery decorations

There are four medals awarded for various acts of bravery by civilians.

The Cross of Gallantry (post nominal CG) is the highest civilian honour that can be awarded, and ranks above all other honours except the Cross of Valour. Whilst it is primarily a civilian award, the Cross of Gallantry is also awarded to military personnel for the highest acts of conspicuous gallantry not in the face of the enemy. Like the Cross of Valour, the Cross of Gallantry is also seldom granted, and there have been just sixteen recipients of the award.

The Bravery Star (post nominal BS) is Guelphia's second highest civilian award for bravery. The star is awarded for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. It is ranked second as a bravery decoration, and as of 2012, 325 awards have been made.

The Bravery Medal (post nominal BM) is awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances. The decorations recognise acts of bravery by members of the community who selflessly put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others. It is ranked third as a civilian bravery decoration, and as of 2012, 843 awards have been made.

The National Citation for Bravery is a commendation for acts of bravery considered to worthy of recognition. The Citation is ranked third among the civilian awards for bravery, and has been awarded 1,213 times.

Military decorations

In the Defence Force decorations are given to military personnel or units by the monarch for heroism in battle or distinguished service. There is a strict hierarchy to the system of decorations, with two bravery awards at the top, followed five lesser medals granted for specifically defined actions.

Decisions as to whom is awarded a decoration is the prerogative of the monarch on the advice of the Awards Committee of the Joint Defence Headquarters Chiefs of Staff Council. With the exception of the Kings Service Medal, the awards are only granted during wartime or war-like situations, with most being granted during the First and Second world wars. Additional awards have been granted for defence personnel on United Nations missions.

Decorations for gallantry

The Cross of Valour (post nominal CV) is the highest recognition for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of the Guelphia Defence Force. It is the highest honour that can be awarded in Guelphia, ranking above all others. The CV can also be given posthumously. The award was established by in December 1916, and was immediately granted to three members of the Guelphian Army who had performed daring actions during the First World War. It has since been granted a further four times, all during the Second World War.

The Gallantry Star (post nominal GS) is a military decoration awarded for conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land, air and sea. The Gallantry Star can also be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the Star. To date, there have been 125 recipients of the award.

The Gallantry Medal (post nominal GM) is the military decoration awarded for gallantry in action against the enemy on land, air or sea missions. The Gallantry Medal may also be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the medal. To date, there have been 210 recipients of the award.

Decorations for Distinguished or Conspicuous Service

The Distinguished Service Cross (post nominal DSC) is the military decoration awarded to personnel of the Guelphian Defence Force for distinguished service in action on land, air and sea, and may be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the Distinguished Service Cross. To date, there have been 360 recipients of the award, with 25 of these recipients also awarded an additional bar.

The Distinguished Service Star (post nominal DSS) is the military decoration awarded to personnel of the Guelphia Defence Forces for meritorious service in action on land, air and sea. The Star may also be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the Star. To date, there have been 448 recipients of the award.

The Conspicuous Conduct Medal (post nominal CCM) is an award to all branches of the Guelphian Defence Force personnel for acts of gallantry, distinguished or meritorious service in peacetime, or actions not in the face of the enemy. The medal may also be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the medal. To date, there have been 780 recipients of the award.

Mentioned in Dispatches is awarded to personnel for gallantry or otherwise commendable service. The a report from a senior military commander in the Guelphia Defence Force to his superiors, detailing the conduct of military operations. If a subordinate officer or soldier performs a noteworthy or commendable action he is said to have been mentioned in dispatches. The award entitles the recipient to a wear a silver oak leaf on the campaign medal of the conflict in which the commendation took place.

Commemorative medals

The Coronation Medal is issued by a monarch on the occasion of his coronation. The medals are usually granted to members of community groups, emergency services who have completed five or more years of meritorious service. The medals were issued in 1912, 1946, 1973, 1987, and 1996. The award is relatively common and does not confer a post nominal title.

Service medals

There are a large number of civilian and military service medals considered generally to be of the lowest degree in the Guelphia honours system. A service medal is awarded to a member of the military or emergency service who joins, or is already serving, during a designated time period. No other requirement is needed to obtain the service medal other than a person must simply be a member of the defence force or the emergency services.

Military

  • Air Force Service Medal
  • Army Service Medal
  • Champion Shots Medal
  • Defence Medal
  • Navy Service Medal
  • Nursing Medal
  • St Michael's Cross

Civil

  • Ambulance Service Medal
  • Civil Defence Medal
  • Civil Service Citation
  • Civil Service Medal
  • Fire Service Medal
  • Maritime Service Medal
  • Police Service Medal

Campaign medals

There also exists a number of campaign medals, which are awarded to an individual who participates in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theatre. There are campaign awards for action during the First World War, Second World War, Korean War, or United Nations missions.

  • 1914-18 Medal
  • 1939-45 Medal
  • Korean Medal

References and notes