Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)

Of the four Colonies which were to form the Union of South Africa in 1910, the Cape of Good Hope, Colony of Natal and Transvaal Colony adopted their own territorial versions of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Of these, only Natal actually awarded the medal, with ten awards made, one in 1901 for the Second Boer War (with the trophy of arms obverse) and nine for the Zulu Rebellion of 1906 (with Edward VII's effigy on the obverse). In June 1913 the Union of South Africa instituted its own version of the DCM, but this was never awarded, with members of the Union Defence Forces awarded the British version during the two World Wars.

^ Abbott, P.E.; Tamplin, J.M.A. (1981). British Gallantry Awards (2 ed.). Nimrod Dix and Co, London. p. 89. ISBN 9780902633742.

The Distinguished Conduct Medal was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1854, during the Crimean War, as a decoration for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. The medal could also be awarded to non-commissioned military personnel of the British Dominions and Colonies.

For all ranks below commissioned officer, the Distinguished Conduct Medal was the second highest award for gallantry in action after the Victoria Cross, and the other ranks' equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order, awarded to commissioned officers. Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal are entitled to the post-nominal letters DCM.

^ "The King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, (Lancaster), Distinguished Conduct Medal". www.kingsownmuseum.com.

^ New Zealand Defence Force – British Commonwealth Gallantry, Meritorious and Distinguished Service Awards – The Distinguished Conduct Medal Archived 27 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Access date 19 May 2015)

^ TracesOfWar.com – Distinguished Conduct Medal (Access date 19 May 2015)