Queen's Gallantry Medal

The Queen’s Gallantry Medal (QGM) is the third level civil decoration of the United Kingdom.

It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry. It therefore ended the rather strange situation whereby the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry was awarded for lesser acts of bravery than the George Medal, but took precedence over it in order of wear and postnominal letters. From 30 November 1977, it has also been awarded posthumously, and thus from that date it also replaced the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry.

The medal is awarded for "exemplary acts of bravery", and is primarily a civilian medal, although military personnel can receive it too. Recipients may use the post nominal letters "QGM". Just over 1000 medals have been awarded since its inception. The Royal Ulster Constabulary has 120 recipients of the QGM which is almost twice as many awards of the QGM as any other service.

Description
'''NOTE:- The Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry was discontinued as a posthumous award in 1977, when the Royal Warrant which had instituted the George Medal was amended to allow the George Medal to be awarded posthumously. Prior to this, if the level of bravery of the individual was such to merit either award, should the police officer survive the event, he/she would be awarded the George Medal, and conversely, should they lose their life, then the appropriate award was the Queen's Police medal for Gallantry (posthumous award). After 1954, the Queen's Police medal could only be awarded posthumously.
 * The QGM is silver and circular in shape, 36 mm in diameter. The obverse of the medal shows the crowned effigy of the monarch.
 * The reverse bears the image of a St. Edward's Crown above the words 'The Queen's Gallantry Medal' in four lines, flanked by laurel sprigs.
 * The ribbon is of three equal stripes of dark blue, pearl grey and dark blue with a narrow rose pink stripe in the centre.
 * Further awards of the QGM are indicated by a silver bar ornamented with laurel leaves. When the ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette denotes award of the Clasp.

Notable recipients of the Queen's Gallantry Medal
Among the more notable recipients are:
 * Guy Edwards - former Formula 1 driver. Noted for assisting several drivers in rescuing Niki Lauda from his blazing Ferrari 312T at the 1976 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Awarded 1976 for his rescue of said driver.
 * Charles (Nish) Bruce QGM - Former 22 Special Air Service Soldier. Awarded: November 1986 for his conduct in Operation Banner, Northern Ireland in December 1984.
 * John Smeaton QGM - Former Baggage Handler. Awarded: December 2007 for his actions in the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack
 * Police Constable T.G. Thedoris Appuhami of Moratuwa - Sri Lanka, who was awarded the King's Medal for Gallantry at Queen's House ~ 1937