Chapter 74

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Dress and Decoration

November 2007 Edition

CHAPTER 74

DRESS AND DECORATION

(MOD Sponsors: Naval Secretary; DCTA - J.7401 only)

CONTENTS

ParaJ.7401. Uniform and DressJ.7402. Orders, Decorations and Medals, GeneralJ.7403. Gallantry and Operational AwardsJ.7404. The New Year Honours List and Sovereign’s Birthday Honours ListJ.7405. Medals for Meritorious Service and for Long ServiceJ.7406. War/Campaign Medals and ClaspsJ.7407. Presentation of Insignia of Orders, Decorations and MedalsJ.7408. Wearing of Orders, Decorations, Medals and RibbonsJ.7409. Royal Humane Society AwardsJ.7410. Civil Awards for GallantryJ.7411. Commonwealth and Foreign AwardsJ.7412. Wearing of Civil, Commonwealth and Foreign Awards for GallantryJ.7413. Recording on Personal DocumentsJ.7414. Packages Containing MedalsJ.7415. CustodyJ.7416. Travelling on Change of StationJ.7417. Responsibility for Loss During Affixing by TailorsJ.7418. Loss and ReplacementJ.7419. Personnel Sent to HospitalJ.7420. Personnel of Unsound MindJ.7421. Deceased PersonnelJ.7422. Absentees and DesertersJ.7423. Forfeiture and Restoration

ANNEXES

J.Annex 74A:Regulations Concerning the Acceptance and Wearing by Persons in theService of the Crown of Orders, Decorations and medals Conferred byheads or Governments of Foreign States and by Members of theCommonwealth Overseas of which The Queen is not the Head of State.

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CHAPTER 74

DRESS AND DECORATION

J.7401.Uniform and Dress

1. The uniform to be worn by Service personnel and the orders of dress on differentoccasions are laid down in the uniform, dress and clothing regulations of the respectiveServices.

2. The prescribed patterns are to be adhered to and personnel will be responsible for thecost of replacing or restoring to the approved pattern any articles which they alter withoutauthority or which are so altered as a result of their instructions.

3. Uniform is to be worn by all ranks while on duty, except when authority to the contraryis given, and on such other occasions as may be ordered.

4. Regulations governing the wearing of uniform and civilian clothes are in BR 81, RoyalNavy and Royal Marines Uniform Regulations.

J.7402.Orders, Decorations and Medals, General

1. The Sovereign’s awards to members of the Forces fall under four broad headings:

a. Awards for

(1) Gallant and distinguished services in operational areas.

(2) Non-operational gallantry

b. Awards for inclusion in either the New Year Honours List or the Sovereign’sBirthday Honours List.

c. Medals for meritorious service or for long service and good conduct.

d. War/campaign medals for service in a specified operation or operational area.

2. Alternatively, Queen’s Commendations for Bravery, Queen’s Commendations forBravery in the Air, Queen’s Commendations for Valuable Service and Mentions-in-Despatches may also be awarded, for distinguished services under 1.a sub para (1) andsub para (2).

3. Awards granted by certain civilian societies are officially recognized, such as theRoyal Humane Society and may be worn in uniform.

4. Persons recommended for awards other than those mentioned in J.7408. sub para 8must be known to be alive at the time the recommendation is forwarded to the Ministry ofDefence.

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J.7403.Gallantry and Operational Awards

1. Operational Gallantry or Distinguished Service Awards. The following awardsmay be recommended for gallant or distinguished services in an operational area:

* Victoria CrossCompanion of the Order of the BathCommander of the Order of the British Empire* Distinguished Service OrderOfficer of the Order of the British EmpireMember of the Order of the British Empire* Conspicuous Gallantry Cross* Royal Red Cross (Class I)* Distinguished Service Cross* Military Cross* Distinguished Flying CrossRoyal Red Cross (Class II)Mention-in-DespatchesQueen’s Commendation for BraveryQueen’s Commendation for Bravery in the AirQueen’s Commendation for Valuable Service

2. Civilian or Non-Operational Gallantry Awards. The following awards may berecommended for non-operational gallantry. They may also be awarded in-theatre forgallantry not in active operations against the enemy.

* George Cross* Air Force Cross* George Medal* Queen’s Gallantry MedalQueen’s Commendation for BraveryQueen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air.

Note*. see J.7403. sub para 3

3. Awards of a Bar. The award of a bar (or additional bar) may be recommended for theholder of an award marked *.

4. Extracts of Statutes and Warrants. Relevant extracts from the statutes and warrantsgoverning the above awards (except Queen’s Commendations and Mentions-in-Despatches) are to be found in BR 81, Royal Naval and Royal Marines UniformRegulations, Annex J. 2B.

5. Recommendations. A recommendation for an award for gallantry should be made assoon as possible after the action for which the award is proposed.

6. Scales of Awards. On proposals submitted by the Commander-in-Chief, a scale ofawards may be approved for a specific operation or operational area. Instructionsregarding individual recommendations are issued when the scale has been approved.

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7. (Navy only) Recommendations for the award of the AFC and QCBA must include thefollowing information regarding the individuals concerned:

a. Total log book hours

b. Total hours flown on type

c. Hours flown in last six months

d. Types of aircraft flown

8. War Procedure for Awards. In time of war, with a view to immediate reward inspecially deserving cases, the Sovereign may place a limited number of awards at thedisposal of a Commander-in-Chief or Force Commander, who may approve an award andpermit the recipient to wear the ribbon and use the appropriate letters after his name. Suchawards require the formal approval of the Sovereign and details are to be forwarded to theMinistry of Defence as soon as possible.

9. Posthumous Awards. All service and Civilian gallantry awards, except theDistinguished Sercive Order, may be awarded posthumously. However, the RRC and AFCmay only be awarded posthumously for acts of gallantry.

10. Civilians. Acts of gallantry by civilians (whether Crown servants or not) which appearto attain a standard meriting recognition should be reported through the same channels asrecommendations for Service personnel. If the act is not considered to be of a sufficientlyhigh standard to justify a State award, a Defence Council letter of appreciation may berecommended.

11. Classification. Recommendations are to be treated “RESTRICTED–HONOURS” orhigher. They are to be submitted in triplicate to the Naval Secretary (Honours and Awards)on MoD form F/HONS/776.

12. Royal Humane Society Awards. A recommendation may be submitted to the RoyalHumane Society for an award for saving or attempting to save life - see Para J.7409.

J.7404.The New Year Honours List and Sovereign’s Birthday Honours List

1. The following awards may be recommended for the New Year and Sovereign’sBirthday Honours Lists:

Order of the BathOrder of the British EmpireRoyal Red CrossQueen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal

2. Extracts from Statutes and Warrants. Extracts from the statutes and warrantsgoverning the above awards are to be found in BR 81, Royal Navy and Royal MarinesUniform Regulations, Annex J. 2B.

3. Order of Priority of Merit. When more than one name is submitted for any particularaward, the order of merit is to be stated.

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4. Retired Personnel. Retired personnel serving in civilian or Retired Officer posts arenot eligible for awards in the Military Division of an Order.

5. Recommendations. Recommendations, which are to be treated ‘RESTRICTED -HONOURS’ or higher, are to be forwarded in accordance with departmental instructions.(see The Purple Guide.)

6. Recommendations should be submitted as follows:

a. For personnel of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Queen Alexandra’s RoyalNaval Nursing Service who are serving in Commands, including those serving inHM Naval Bases, to MOD, 2SL/CNH (Naval Secretary (Honours and Awards)),Room 10, Mail Point G2, West Battery, Whale Island, Portsmouth PO2 8BYthrough Commanders-in-Chief, Chief of Fleet Support or Flag Officers to whomauthority to submit recommendations has specifically been delegated.

b. Service personnel serving in Research and Development Establishments. To theDirector-General of the MOD Department controlling the establishment. He is toadd his remarks and forward the recommendation to the Commander-in-Chief, orFlag Officer, in whose area the establishment is situated, for completion andinclusion in his list of recommendations. The Director-General concerned isresponsible for raising recommendations for Captains, Superintendents andOfficers-in-Charge.

c. Personnel serving in MOD. By heads of directorates and departments to theAdmiralty Board member responsible, in good time for them to be forwarded tothe Naval Secretary.

d. Personnel of the Royal Naval Reserve, and Queen Alexandra’s Royal NavalNursing Reserve. To 2SL/CNH (Directorate of Naval Reserves), Room 007Victory Building, HM Naval Base Portsmouth, Hants PO1 3LS. Recommendationsfor personnel of the Royal Marines Reserve to CGRM through DRMR,Headquarters Royal Marines, West Battery, Whale Island, Portsmouth, HantsPO2 8DX.

e. For personnel of Royal Fleet Auxiliary. To Commander-in-Chief Fleet throughCOMFRA.

7. Recommendations for the award of the RRC, ARRC and QVRM should be includedin the naval lists.

8. Any recommendations for the award to Royal Air Force and Army personnel servingwith the Royal Navy should also be included.

9. Recommendations are to be submitted to Form F/HONS/776 in triplicate and anoverall order of merit is to be given. It must be stressed that great care should be taken toensure that names, ranks, rates and service numbers are stated correctly and in full.

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10. Public Relations Information. For public relations purposes it is most important thatthe following information is included with the recommendations:

a. Date and place of birth.

b. Schools, university etc. (where known).

c. Married or single.

d. Name, relationship and full address of next-of-kin.

e. Number of children (if any).

f. Current Home address in full, including postcode.

11. Nil Returns. Nil returns are required from Commander-in-Chief and Flag Officers.

12. Civilian Recommendations. Recommendations for civilians are to be forwardedthrough the normal administrative channels in accordance with instructions issued halfyearly from the Ministry of Defence (Civilian Management (Honours)).

13. Submission Dates. Defence Council Instructions will be published twice a year givingthe date by which all recommendations should reach the Naval Secretary.

J.7405.Medals for Meritorious Service and for Long Service

1. The medals which are awarded for meritorious service and for long service and goodconduct are:

The Meritorious Service Medal.The Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

2. The Meritorious Service Medal is common to all three Services. Each Service has itsown Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and each medal is constituted under aseparate set of regulations.

3. Recommendations for Meritorious Service Medals and for Long Service and GoodConduct Medals are to be made in accordance with current regulations contained inBR 8748, Ratings Terms of Service.

J.7406.War/Campaign Medals and Clasps

1. The conditions governing the grant of war/campaign medals, the procedure forsubmitting the names of personnel who appear to be eligible and instructions regardingissue are announced after the institution of the award.

J.7407.Presentation of Insignia of Orders, Decorations and Medals

1. The insignia of the awards referred to in J.7402.1 sub para a and sub para b arepresented to the recipients at investitures held at Buckingham Palace, or by therepresentative of the Sovereign, or by a senior officer of the Forces.

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2. Arrangements for the presentation of the following awards are set out in sub para 3 to9 below:

a. Victoria CrossGeorge CrossKnights Grand CrossKnights Commanders

b. Companions and Commanders of OrdersDistinguished Service OrderOfficers and Members of the Order of the British EmpireConspicuous Gallantry CrossRoyal Red CrossDistinguished Service CrossMilitary CrossDistinguished Flying CrossAir Force CrossGeorge MedalQueen’s Gallantry MedalQueen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal

c. Mention-in-DespatchesQueen’s Commendation for BraveryQueen’s Commendation for Bravery in the AirQueen’s Commendation for Valuable ServiceQueen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal

d. Medals for meritorious service or for long service and good conduct.

3. Recipients of any of the awards referred to in 2 sub para a will be summoned to aninvestiture at Buckingham Palace provided they are in the United Kingdom and it ispracticable for them to attend. If recipients of the Victoria Cross or the George Cross areunlikely to be in the United Kingdom for a considerable time, arrangements may be madefor presentation of the awards overseas by the appropriate representative of the Sovereignor by the Sovereign on a visit overseas.

4. Recipients of any of the awards referred to in 2 sub para b who are in the UnitedKingdom will be summoned to an investiture at Buckingham Palace. Otherwise, the awardwill be presented by the appropriate representative of the Sovereign.

5. Those awards referred to in 2 sub para d for recipients who have since left the Servicewill similarly be forwarded to the Commanding Officer, who is to offer the recipient thechoice of returning to have his medal formally presented or sent through the post.

6. Medals sent to Service authorities are to be kept in safe custody pending presentation.Receipts are to be obtained from the recipients after presentation.

7. Invitations from Central Chancery to attend investitures will give precise informationabout the ceremony and will be accompanied by a form of application for guest tickets.

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8. An individual attending an investiture is to wear the ribbon of the award which is to bepresented.

9. The rules regarding subsistence and travelling expenses are laid down in BR 8587,Naval Leave and Travel Regulations, Articles 1018 and 2422.

J.7408.Wearing of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Ribbons

1. The regulations governing the manner of wearing decorations, medals and ribbonsand the order in which they are to be worn are laid down in BR 81, Royal Navy and RoyalMarines Uniform Regulations.

2. The ribbon of an order, decoration or medal is to be worn and the appropriate lettersafter the names used from the date of the official notification of the award or, in the caseof an immediate award under J.7403.sub para 7, as soon as the Commander-in-Chief orForce Commander has approved the award.

3. Only medals awarded or approved for wear by HM The Queen may be worn in uniformor civilian clothes.

J.7409.Royal Humane Society Awards

1. The Royal Humane Society considers applications for awards to personnel who havetaken part in rescues or attempted rescues from drowning or asphyxia (including the useof artificial respiration) and from dangerous cliffs or other heights and also analogouscases of gallantry displayed in the aeronautical field, e.g. in connection with aircraftcrashes. Occurrences solely involving Service personnel may be reported, as well asthose which involve Service personnel and civilians. Cases coming within the scope of theRoyal National Lifeboat Institution, the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, or local(e.g. Glasgow and Liverpool) Humane Societies, will not be considered.

2. Cases of gallantry where a recommendation for a State award has not been made or,if made, has been unsuccessful, may be referred to the Secretary, Royal Humane Society,Brettenham House, Lancaster Place, London WC2E 7EP.

3. For home units, applications should be made within two months of the date ofoccurrence; for units abroad, within 18 months. The Society may waive the time limit forapplications by home units where an initial recommendation for a State award has beenunsuccessful.

4. Recommendations are to be forwarded direct to the Society by Commanders-in-Chiefand Flag Officers in independent command or by those authorities within their commandsto whom they may delegate authority to make recommendations direct.Recommendations are to be made on the special form supplied by the Society. Awards willbe sent by the Society to Naval Secretary (Honours and Awards) for notation and onwardtransmission to the recipients.

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J.7410.Civil Awards for Gallantry

1. No restriction is placed on the acceptance of any British civil award for gallantry, butthe only insignia and ribbons of such awards which are allowed to be worn with uniformare:

a. Sovereign’s awards. These medals are worn on the left breast.

b. Other awards. The Life Saving Medal of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, themedals of the Royal Humane Society and the medal of the Royal NationalLifeboat Institution. Awards are to be reported to Naval Secretary (Honours andAwards) so that the necessary authority may be given for them to be worn. Theyare worn on the right breast and the insignia and ribbon of one award only maybe worn for one act of gallantry.

J.7411. Commonwealth and Foreign Awards

1. The regulations governing the acceptance and wearing of Commonwealth and foreignorders, decorations and medals are contained in J.Annex 74A. The restrictions referred toin Para 9. are that only one Commonwealth or foreign medal may be worn for one act ofgallantry. Service personnel may accept any Commonwealth or foreign award which is notdesigned to be worn. Naval Secretary (Honours and Awards) should be notified of anyaward made.

2. The regulations governing the manner of wearing Commonwealth and foreign orders,decorations and medals are laid down in BR 81, Royal Navy and Royal Marines UniformRegulations.

3. All applications for permission to wear Commonwealth or foreign awards of campaignor commemorative war medals are to be submitted through Commanding Officers to theNaval Secretary (Honours and Awards).

J.7412.Wearing of Civil, Commonwealth and Foreign Awards for Gallantry

1. Not more than two insignia and medal ribbons may be worn for one act of gallantry.When two insignia and medal ribbons are so worn, at least one of them must be aSovereign’s award.

J.7413.Recording on Personal Documents

1. The grant, forfeiture and restoration of decorations and medals are to be recorded onthe individual’s personal documents by the officer in charge of those documents.

J.7414.Packages Containing Medals

1. Transit services are to be used as fully as possible for the dispatch of medals and eachpackage is to contain a receipt which is to be signed by the recipient and returned. Wheretransit services cannot be used, World War II campaign medals and stars are to bedispatched by ordinary second class post, packages containing any other non-personalized bronze or cupro-nickel medals or stars are to be sent by the recordeddelivery service and packages containing decorations, medals containing precious metalor personalized bronze or cupro-nickel medals are to be registered, the minimum fee onlybeing paid.

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J.7415.Custody

1. Decorations and medals are normally kept by the individual to whom they areawarded. Commanding Officers are responsible for ensuring that ratings, soldiers andairmen are in possession of the decorations and medals they are authorized to wear.

J.7416.Travelling on Change of Station

1. When travelling on change of station, by whatever means, decorations and medalsare to be carried in the personal effects accompanying the individual and are not in anycircumstances to be sent with unaccompanied baggage.

J.7417.Responsibility for Loss During Affixing by Tailors

1. Individuals who make private arrangements with a tailor for mounting decorations ormedals are to be personally responsible for any loss or damage which may result.

J.7418.Loss and Replacement

1. When a decoration or medal is lost, the owner is immediately to report the loss to hisCommanding Officer and all available information is to be recorded. Where the loss iscaused entirely by unavoidable circumstances arising out of the exigencies of the Service,replacement may be at the public expense, but losses caused by the circumstances andaccidents of private life will not be chargeable to the public. When replacement is at publicexpense, a certificate will be required that no compensation has been received or will beclaimed from any other source, e.g., insurance.

2. Commanding Officers are to forward applications for the replacement of:

a. The MSM, the LS and GCM, and Campaign Star and medals direct to:

(1) RN - NPP(Acs)/AFPAA(C)IF, Centurion Building.

(2) RM - RM Historical Branch, Centurion Building.

b. All British Orders of Knighthood awards, Jubilee Medal; GC; GM and QGM, wherereplacement is at the individual’s expense, direct to Central Chancery, St. James’sPalace, London SW1A 1BH. Requests for replacements from public funds shouldhowever be forwarded for prior authorization in the first instance as follows:

(1) Jubilee Medal to NPP(Acs)AFPAA(C)IF Centurion Building.

(2) All other awards listed to Naval Secretary’s Department (Honours andAwards).

c. All other medals and decorations to Naval Secretary’s Department (Honours andAwards).

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The applications are to be forwarded with all available information and the CommandingOfficer’s recommendation, made in the light of the criteria set out in sub para 1 above, onwhether replacement should be at public or the individual’s expense. If the former, thecertificate required by sub para 1 must also be forwarded. In cases where the loss isconsidered to be the result of neglect, and where more than a minor charge of neglect isappropriate, the application should include details of the charge and be copied to theappropriate administrative authority.

3. Attention is drawn to the desirability of insuring decorations and medals against lossnot arising out of the exigencies of the Service. Prices may be obtained by writing to theArmy Medal Office, Government Buildings, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire WR9 8AU.

4. Personnel no longer serving may, after taking all reasonable steps to recover lostdecorations or medals, submit an application for replacement on prepayment direct to theNaval Secretary (Honours and Awards). These applications must be accompanied byproof of loss, e.g. a police report or insurance claim.

5. If replacement of a decoration or medal bestowed by a Commonwealth or foreigngovernment or by a civil authority is desired, application should be made to the appropriaterepresentative.

J.7419.Personnel Sent to Hospital

1. The decorations and medals of personnel sent to hospital are to be dealt with asdirected in BR 1991, Instructions for the Royal Naval Medical Service.

J.7420.Personnel of Unsound Mind

1. The decorations and medals of an individual who on discharge is sent to a mentalhospital or placed in the charge of a local authority will be forwarded by the officer carryingout the discharge to the NPP(Acs)/AFPAA(C)IF, Centurion Building, with a notification ofthe date of discharge and the institution to which the man has been sent.

2. Similar notification is to be made if the individual is entitled to decorations and medalsnot yet issued.

J.7421.Deceased Personnel

1. Subject to any specific directions in the Statutes or Warrants governing the variousorders, decorations and medals, the decorations or medals of an individual dying in theServices are to be sent to the authority responsible for disposing of his estate (seeChapter 55, Section II).

J.7422.Absentees and Deserters

1. Decorations and medals of absentees without leave are to be kept in safe custodyunder unit arrangements.

2. Decorations and medals of deserters are to be forwarded to NPP(Acs)/AFPAA(C)IF,Centurion Building.

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J.7423.Forfeiture and Restoration

1. Provision is made for the forfeiture or restoration of orders, decorations and medals oforders and gallantry awards in the Statutes and Warrants respectively governing them -see BR 81, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Uniform Regulations, Annex J. 2B.

2. Mentions-in-Despatches, Queen’s Commendations for Valuable Service, Queen’sCommendations for Bravery and Queen’s Commendations for Bravery in the Air aresubject to forfeiture under conditions similar to those for other personal awards for servicein operations, for gallantry, or for distinguished non-operational service, as the case maybe.

3. The conditions under which war medals, awards granted for meritorious service andfor long service and gallantry awards are forfeited and restored are laid down in BR 11,Manual of Naval Law.

4. (Navy only.) Medals are to be recovered by Commanding Officers from servicemen aslaid down in BR 11, Manual of Naval Law.

Chapter 74

Documents

Transcript of Chapter 74