Medals awarded to members of the 42nd Battalion AIF

		The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) dates back to 1886, during the reign of Queen Victoria. The award is generally not given to officers below the rank of Captain. In terms of gallantry awards, The DSO ranks below the Victoria Cross and above the Military Cross, in order of precedence. It can be awarded for gallantry in action but it is more common for it to be awarded for leadership in the field. Shown here in front (obverse) and rear (reverse) views. < The ribbon colour is closer to true on the reverse picture.
		DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL (DCM) (King George V Issue) Founded by Queen Victoria in 1854. The DCM is awarded for acts of gallantry which, though conspicuous, do not merit the award of the Victoria Cross. It is open to Warrant Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and men of the Army. It may also be awarded to men of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force when the act of gallantry is performed on land. Bars are awarded for subsequent acts of gallantry.
		The Military Cross (MC) and the Military Medal (MM) were created to recognize the gallantry of junior officers and other ranks in the field. The two were awarded for "Gallantry in the Field," & "Bravery in the Field" the only difference being that the MC was for officers (although not above the rank of captain), and the MM for other ranks. In both cases, additional awards are indicated by silver bars worn over the ribbon. At first, recipients of the Military Cross were not allowed to use the letters MC after their names to indicate their award, but this restriction was later withdrawn. These awards equate with the DSO but at different rank levels and as the DSO is for Majors and above it is rarely awarded for personal "gallantry", more often for "distinguished service".
	The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) In 1916, the MSM was awarded to all ranks if: duly recommended for the grant in respect of gallant conduct in the performance of military duty otherwise than in action against the enemy, or in saving, or attempting to save the life of an officer or soldier, or for devotion to duty in a theatre of war. The gallantry portion was cancelled on 07 September 1928 because the British Empire Medal now served this purpose. The King's Regulations and Order's of 1939 listed the MSM and stated that it could be awarded to a soldier of the active militia who is recommended on account of gallant conduct in the performance of military duty (not necessarily on active service) or in saving or attempting to save the life of an officer or soldier, or for devotion to duty in a theatre of war.
		Croix de Guerre (France) (War Cross 1914-1918 ) Probably the best known French decoration, this cross was awarded to all those French nationals who were mentioned in dispatches since the outbreak of war (2 August 1914). It was instituted on 8 April 1915 as an outward recognition for being mentioned in the order of the day of an army, corps, division, brigade or battalion. Award of the Legion of Honour for valour displayed on the field or of the French Military Medal automatically brought entitlement to the War Cross for French nationals. It was also awarded to troops of other nationalities for conspicuous service in France. The reverse side bears the year 1914 together with the year in which they were struck (1915, 1916, 1917 or 1918).
	Croix De Guerre (Belgium) also called The War Cross 1914-1918 Awarded to military personnel for an act of bravery against the enemy. This bronze cross was instituted on 25 October 1915 and was also awarded to foreign military personnel. Except for bravery, it could also be awarded in a number of other cases, e.g. to military personnel with at least 5 front stripes (3 years of frontline duty) for good conduct, to volunteers either over 40 years or under 16 years old with at least 18 months of service in a combat unit, for escaped military personnel who re-entered the army or for military personnel who, through severe war wounds, were invalided out. These classes apply only to Belgian nationals. Foreign personnel were only considered for bravery or conspicuous service on Belgian soil. The obverse of the cross, which has crossed swords between the arms, shows a rampant lion in its central medallion. The reverse is identical but for the replacement of the lion by the Royal Cypher "A". The ribbon is red with five green stripes.
	Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) See Victory Medal text below. A soldier would be "Mentioned in Dispatches" for 'conspicuous service'. It may be for bravery or for exemplary service of another sort.
	British War Medal. Authorized on 29 July 1919, the British War Medal was awarded to all ranks who rendered service to His Majesty's Forces between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, or who had served in a theatre of war. Those who had enlisted in the O.M.F.C. in the United Kingdom and had not served in a theatre of war were not entitled to this medal. The requirements for RAF personnel were the same as for the army. Naval personnel were required to have 28 days of mobilized service or to have lost their lives before this period of service was complete.
	(Inter-Allied) Victory Medal, was agreed to by all allies in March 1919. All medals were to be almost identical to obviate the need to exchange allied medals and each was patterned after a French medal of 1870. The medal was authorized in Britain on 1 September 1919.The medal was awarded to all ranks of the fighting forces, to civilians under contract, and others employed with military hospitals who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 (inclusive). It was also awarded to members of the British Naval mission to Russia 1919 - 1920 and for mine clearance in the North Sea between 11 November 1918 and 30 November 1919. This medal was never issued alone and was always issued with the British War Medal. A multiple-leaved emblem is worn on this medal when it was awarded for WWI for those "Mentioned-in-Despatches."
	Return from Active Service Badge. "Returned men" as they were known were entitled to wear this badge on their civilian clothing. It was never hugely popular as most preferred the badge of the RSL which had a much higher recognition factor.