The Medal for Gallantry(MG) is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It recognises acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances. The MG was introduced on 15 January 1991, replacing the Imperial equivalent. It is ranked third in the Gallantry Decorations in the Australian Honours System.[3][4] Recipients of the Medal of Gallantry are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "MG".
Description
The Medal for Gallantry is circular and is made of gold-plated silver. It is ensigned with the Crown of Saint Edward. The obverse bears a Federation Star, which is superimposed on a circle of flames. This image represents action under fire.
The reverse shows a horizontal panel superimposed on a design of fluted rays.
The Medal for Gallantry is suspended from a 32 millimetre-wide ribbon by a narrow gold-plated silver suspender bar. The ribbon has a design of chevrons of light orange alternating with chevrons of deep orange angled at 60 degrees. The chevron pattern is placed as a stylised "A" with the points facing upwards.
Decoration allowance
Veterans who are paid disability pension under the Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act), and who have been awarded a gallantry award specified in the Act, including the Medal for Gallantry, are also paid a decoration allowance. In May 2011, the allowance was A$2.10 per fortnight.[5]
Sergeant "C" (Matthew Locke MG of the Special Air Service Regiment) was subsequently killed in action in 2007.[7]
Lance Corporal "E" is now known as Corporal Ben Roberts-SmithVC MG of the Special Air Service Regiment. He was awarded the MG for actions in the period May–September 2006 in Afghanistan,[8] and was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia.[9]
Corporal "B", (later identified as Sergeant Brett Wood MG), of the 2nd Commando Regiment was subsequently killed in action on 23 May 2011.[10]
For acts of gallantry in hazardous circumstances as platoon sergeant of 2 Platoon, A Company, the 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, during the Battle of Long Tan, Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam on 18 August 1966.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances on 4 December 2010 while a sniper team member in Mentoring Task Force - Two on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan.
For gallantry as a Patrol Medic during the treatment and evacuation of a wounded Australian soldier in the Special Forces Task Group, whilst deployed on Operation SLIPPER, Afghanistan in 2006.
For gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances as the second-in-command of a Special Air Service Regiment patrol in the Special Forces Task Group whilst deployed on Operation Slipper, Afghanistan, in 2006.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances during operations against Taliban and Anti Coalition Militia while deployed on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan, from June to October 2006.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances while a rifleman with Team Three, Mentoring Team C, Mentoring Task Force 1, in the Central Baluchi Valley, Afghanistan on 15 March and 8 July 2010.
For gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances while a rifleman and combat first aider in Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force 1 at Kakarak, Afghanistan on 16 March 2009.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances as a patrol commander, Special Operations Task Group Rotation XVII on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan on 2 July 2012.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances while a joint terminal attack controller for Mentoring Team A, Mentoring Task Force 1, at Sorkh Lez in the Mirabad Valley, Afghanistan on 2 July 2010.
For gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances as a patrol sniper in the Special Operations Task Group – Task Force 637, whilst deployed on Operation SLIPPER Rotation Three Afghanistan, May – September 2006.
For gallantry in action in extremely hazardous conditions, as a patrol member in the Special Forces Task Group whilst deployed on Operation SLIPPER, Afghanistan in 2006.
For an act of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances as a Medical Assistant within the Special Operations Task Group - Task Force 637, while deployed on Operation.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances while deployed in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion, The Grenadier Guards Battle Group during Exercise LONG LOOK 2007.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances as an explosive ordnance disposal technician with the Special Operations Task Group on Operation SLIPPER.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances as the radio operator in the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment's mortar line during the Battle for Fire Support Base Coral in Vietnam on 13 May 1968.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances on 24 August 2010 while a rifleman with Mentoring Team Delta, the 1st Mentoring Task Force at Derapet, Tangi Valley, Afghanistan.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances on 24 August 2010 while a platoon sergeant and mentor with Mentoring Team Delta, the 1st Mentoring Task Force at Derapet, Tangi Valley, Afghanistan.
For gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances while acting as an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team member at Kakarak, Afghanistan on 4 January 2009.
For acts of gallantry in hazardous circumstances as member of 4 Section, 11 Platoon, D Company, 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, during the Battle of Long Tan, Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam on 18 August 1966.
For acts of gallantry in hazardous circumstances as Commander 3 Troop, 1 Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, during the Battle of Long Tan, Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam on 18 August 1966.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances on 20 March 2011 while a joint fires observer in Mentoring Task Force - Two on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances in Afghanistan as part of the Special Operations Task Group during Operation SLIPPER, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances during a waterborne terrorist attack in the North Persian Gulf, Iraq, during Operation CATALYST.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances as a commander, Tactical Explosive Ordnance Disposal patrol from Australian Clearance Diving Team Three on Operation FALCONER in Al Faw Peninsula, Iraq on 16 April 2003.
For gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances on 13 November 1965 during a battle in the Tra Bong valley of Vietnam as an assistant advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
For distinguished service, particularly in response to the massacre of civilian refugees at Kibeho on 22 April 1995 whilst serving with UNAMIR II in Rwanda.
Wallace was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his efforts on 2 March 2002, during Operation Anaconda, while attached to the United States 10th Mountain Division in the Shahi Kot Valley, Afghanistan.
For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances on 28 May and 18 August 1965 as an advisor and assistant advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
In March 2018, only 55 of the recipients were listed on the "It's an Honour" website. A further 8 recipients have been identified from official publications of the Governor General, the Department of Defence and from special issues of the Australian Government Gazette.
Many of the awards have been presented at the official Australia Day ceremonies - held on 26 January - and Queen's Birthday ceremonies - held on the 2nd Monday in June.
^ abcdefgAwards vide Special Gazette No S565 dated Wednesday 1 December 1999 (as a result of the Independent Review of the End of War List) - see The Vietnam End of War List, vvaa.org.au, for a list of the 6 awardees.