The George Medal - for defending the home front

The George Medal ranks just below the George Cross in the military honours hierarchy. Like the George Cross, it is unusual as it is designed primarily as a recognition of civilian acts of bravery (but can also be awarded to military personnel for actions for which military honours would not normally granted includingacts of great bravery not in presence of the enemy).

Its history

The GeorgeMedal was created by King George VI on the advice of Winston Churchill in late 1940 during the height of the German blitz on London. Its intention was to reward the numerous acts of civilian courage taking placeon the home front in wartime Britain - 'acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger'.

As part of the honour, recipients are entitled to use the letters GM after their name.