British Empire Medal

BEM: This medal replaced the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (1917-1922) and had a military and a civil division. The medal was awarded for meritorious service which warranted such a mark of royal appreciation.

Civil division: The medal was not awarded to members of, or persons eligible for appointment to, any of the five levels of the Order of the British Empire.

Military division: The medal was awarded to subordinate personnel only: non-commissioned officers. Petty Officers and men, who were eligible for the military division of the various levels of this order. After the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM) was superseded by the George Cross, the BEM continued to be awarded for gallantry (but of a degree less than that required to earn the George Medal).

With the institution of the Queen's Gallantry Medal (a medal not awarded to Canadians), the award of the BEM and later admitted to the order could continued to wear the BEM. A thin, circular, silver medal, 1.42 inches in diameter. Britannia is shown seated on the obverse, the sun to her right and the legend around the edge: FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE and in exergue below: FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. Reverse: The Royal Cypher surmounted by a crown with the words: INSTITUTED BY/KING GEROGE V at the bottom within a border of four heraldic lions. The laurel leaves on the underside of a straight bar attached to the medal by a single-toe claw. Originally the civil ribbon was purple (1.25" wide). The military ribbon had a narrow central red stripe added. Currently (after 1937): The civil ribbon is rose-pink with pear-grey edges (1.25" wide). The military ribbon has a narrow, pearl-grey central stripe added.