The first organised system of military medals was created by the Romans, who developed a complex hierarchy of military honours ranging from crowns that were presented to senior officers to mark victories in major campaigns, or metal disks bearing the Emperor's image, which were awarded to centurions and soldiers for valour in battle. Metal disks are the ancestors of modern military medals.
The Commonwealth tradition of marking major military campaigns or victories with medals goes back to the reign of Elizabeth I. She issued commemorative medals to mark England's victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588. At that time and up until the 19th century, medals like these were only presented to the most senior officers engaged in a battle.
The modern practice of issuing a campaign medal to participants of all ranks began during the time of Oliver Cromwell, when all members of the Parliamentary army who had participated in the Battle of Dunbar received a medal marking the occasion. The practice would not be repeated until 1815, when a medal was awarded to all members of the British forces who served during the Battle of Waterloo.
Most countries maintain formal honours systems consisting of three main types of honour: orders, decorations and medals. They reflect the official thanks of a government to those who have served it honourably, often with gallantry or distinction.
When you think of medals, the image of veterans gathered for ANZAC Day or Rememberance Day often comes to mind. But while these honours are generally associated with military service, civilian equivalents exist to honour exceptional contributions to the nation in times of war, natural disasters, outstanding acts of citizenship or in the service as a First Responder.
Authorised today by the Governor General on behalf of the Queen of Australia, they are prized acknowledgements of courage, leadership or meritorious conduct.
Honours are valued by recipients as tokens of thanks given on behalf of their fellow citizens. They are also treasured by relatives who inherit them, for the way that they link the family to great events in their country's past.
Australia changed from the British Imperial Honours System with the introduction of the Order of Australia in 1975 and produced its own service medal for World War II, the Australia Service Medal, and together with New Zealand struck the Vietnam Medal in 1964. There is now a wide range of medals in the Australian Honours System.
The term ‘medals’ includes badges of lower classes of orders (worn as medals rather than neck badges or breast stars), and medals associated with decorations, for example the Member of the Order of Australia and Medal of the Order of Australia. Medals may be divided into the following groups:
(1) medals for gallantry in action or for bravery in peacetime
(2) medals for meritorious service and special service or achievement in peacetime
(3) medals for war service and non-warlike service
(4) medals for long service
(5) Coronation, Jubilee or other commemorative medals.
Court mounting came about during the reign of Queen Victoria because she did not like the noise made by her courtier's medal 'chinking' together. The medals are attached to a stiff backing board to stop them from swinging.
Court Mounting is now the most common form of medal mounting found in the Australian Defence Force, Canadian and UK Armed Forces.
Swing mounting is when the ribbon is attached to a pin or brooch and the medals are able to freely swing from the ribbon. Historically this was the common form of wearing medals. Most WWI and WWII groups are mounted in this fashion. Unfortunately, the medals are often damaged due to the contact they have with other medals while swinging free.
Full size medals are usually court mounted either as a single medal or as a multiple medal group. They are mounted in a single row and positioned centrally above the left breast pocket (National Awards) or right breast pocket (Most state and territory awards including wearing the medals of another person) of shirts and jackets affixed with a series of pins or brooch type bar,
Miniature medals are usually 1/3 size of the full size medal, recipients will usually wear them during formal night time events such as dinners or balls. They are also often worn by young children (right side wear) at ceremonial events to honour family members.
The term ‘ribbon’ applies to the silk ribbon of an order, decoration or medal when the material is mounted to form a ribbon bar either on a brooch affixed to, or sewn on, uniforms.
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