Orders & Decorations

Mentioned in Dispatches (MID)

• Awarded for gallantry or otherwise commendable service.
• A despatch is an official report from a senior commander, usually of an army, to his superiors, detailing the conduct of military operations soldiers who are mentioned in despatches receive a certificate and are entitled to wear a bronze oak leaf on the ribbon of the service medal issued to soldiers who served in a conflict.
• If no campaign medal is awarded, the oak leaf is worn on the left breast of dress uniform.

Air Force Cross (AFC)

• Awarded for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy.
• It is a so called "periodic" that is awarded for "meritorious service" as an acknowledgement of long and active membership or outstanding dedication to the squadron.
• Bars can be awarded for further acts of valour.
• Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "AFC".

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

• Awarded for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy.
• Bars can be awarded for further acts of valour.
• Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DFC".

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

• Awarded in recognition of an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea.
• It is only awarded to RAF officers serving with the Fleet.
• Bars can be awarded for further acts of valour.
• Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSC".

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

• Awarded for an individual instances of meritorious or distinguished service in war.
• It is normally given for service under fire or under conditions equivalent to service in actual combat with the enemy.
• Prior to 1943, the order could be given only to someone Mentioned in Despatches.
• It is generally given to officers in command (above the rank of Flight Lieutenant), as an acknowledgement of outstandig leadership. A number of more junior officers were awarded the DSO, and this was often regarded as an acknowledgement that the officer had only just missed out on the award of the Victoria Cross.
• Bars can be awarded for further acts of valour.
• Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSO".

Victoria Cross (VC)

• Awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.
• It is awarded more often for getting into danger (i.e. in the furtherance of operations) than for getting out of the kind of desperate situation which is latent in all operations. Exception to this general rule may, however, be made when there is clear evidence of actions of the highest gallantry.
• Bars can be awarded for further acts of valour.
• Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "VC".