The King's Commendation for Valuable Service is a British military award for meritorious service in an operational theatre.[1] It was established in 1994,[2] when the award of the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct and the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air were discontinued.[3]
| King's Commendation for Valuable Service | |
|---|---|
 Ribbon device | |
| Type | Merit award |
| Awarded for | Meritorious service in an operational theatre |
| Description | Ribbon device |
| Presented by | the United Kingdom |
| Eligibility | Personnel of the Armed Forces |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Established | 1994 |
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Criteria
editA King’s Commendation for Valuable Service is open to all ranks of the British Armed Forces for meritorious service, not in the face of an enemy, in an operational theatre. It is the lowest level of merit award, classed as 'level 4', alongside a Mention in Dispatches and other King's Commendations. The award does not entitle the holder to any post nominal letters.[4]
A King’s Commendation for Valuable Service can be awarded posthumously.[1]
Manner of wear
editThe holder is entitled to wear an emblem of a spray of silver oak leaves. This should be worn in a similar manner to a mention in despatches. If awarded for services in a theatre for which a campaign medal has been granted, it is worn on the ribbon of the appropriate medal. If the award is made for services where no campaign medal has been granted, the emblem is to be worn directly on the coat after any medal ribbons.[5]
From 2003, in addition to British campaign medals, commendation and mention in despatches devices can be worn on United Nations, NATO and EU medals.[2] Originally only one commendation or mention in dispatches emblem of each category could be worn on any one medal ribbon.[6] In a change introduced in 2014, those with multiple awards may wear up to three of each commendation and mention in dispatch devices on a single campaign medal and ribbon bar.[7]
Recipients
editKing's and Queen's Commendation awards
editThis table summarises the various King's and Queen's Commendations awarded by the United Kingdom:
| Period | For Bravery | For Bravery (Air) | For valuable service | For valuable service (Air) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 - 1952[8] | King's Commendation for Brave Conduct |
– | – | King’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air |
| 1952 - 1994[9] | Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct |
– | – | Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air |
| 1994 - 2022[1] | Queen's Commendation for Bravery |
Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air |
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service |
– |
| 2022 - present | King's Commendation for Bravery |
King's Commendation for Bravery in the Air |
King's Commendation for Valuable Service |
– |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility". gov.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ a b John Mussell (ed). Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 108. Published by Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon.
- ^ "London Gazette: 12 August 1994 Issue:53760 Page:11527".
- ^ "Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces (JSP 761) (V5.0 Oct 16). Appendix 1 to Annex A, page 1A1-2". MoD Joint Services Publication. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3355.
- ^ MOD, PS12 (Jan 2012). Army Dress Regulations (All Ranks) Part 13 (PDF). MOD. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces (JSP 761) (V5.0 Oct 16). Paras 12.02 and 12.19". MoD Joint Services Publication. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ "London Gazette: 24 July 1951 Supplement: 39294 Page:4035".
- ^ "London Gazette: 14 January 1958 Supplement: 41285 Page:365".