British Empire Medal

The British Empire Medal (BEM) 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.

After the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM) was superseded by the George Cross, the BEM continued to be awarded for gallantry (but of a degree less than that required to earn the George Medal). Those awarded the medal could continue to wear it even if promoted to a higher grade of the order. With the institution of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal (a medal not awarded to Canadians), the award of the BEM for gallantry was ceased in June 1974.

Bar

Bars could be awarded for services or acts that would have earned the medal. No Canadian received a bar.

After 1957, when the medal was awarded for gallantry, a silver oak leaf emblem was worn on the ribbon to signify that the award was for gallantry and not for service.

Description

A thin, circular, silver medal, 1.42 inches in diameter.

Obverse

Britannia is shown seated, 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 GEORGE V at the bottom within a border of four heraldic lions.

Mounting

The laurel leaves on the underside of a straight bar attached to the medal by a single-toe claw.

Ribbon

Originally: The civil ribbon was purple (1.25 inches wide). The military ribbon had a narrow central red stripe added.

Current (after 1937): The civil ribbon is rose-pink with pear-grey edges (1.25 inches wide). The military ribbon has a narrow, pearl-grey central stripe added.

Dates

The medal was created by Royal Warrant on 29 December 1922.

The first award of the BEM to a Canadian was on 26 January 1935.

The EGM was superseded by the George Cross on 24 September 1940 and the BEM was thereafter awarded for gallantry as well as service.

Since 06 December 1957, a silver oak leaf has been worn to signify an award for gallantry.

Naming

Military awards have the service number, full name and unit or service engraved and civil awards usually have the names in full engraved around the rim.

Issued

A total of 1,368 awards went to Canadians: 120 civil and 1,248 military.

There have been 57 Signals recipients of the BEM. Please see British Empire Medal - Signals Recipients for a listing of the individuals.