british empire medal

The Cretan Runner
The Cretan Runner
By George Psychoundakis
SOE in the Low Countries
SOE in the Low Countries
By M.R.D. Foot
The British Empire Medal is granted in recognition of meritorious civil or military service. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "BEM".

The honour is divided into civil and military medals in a similar way to the Order of the British Empire itself. Like the ribbons used for other classes of the Order of the British Empire, the ribbon of the British Empire Medal is rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with the addition of a pearl-grey central stripe for the military division. While recipients are not technically counted as members of the Order, these medals are nevertheless affiliated with it.

Between 1993 and 2012, the British Empire Medal was not awarded to subjects of the United Kingdom, although it continued to be awarded in some Commonwealth realms during that time. The practice of awarding the British Empire Medal to subjects of the United Kingdom was resumed in June 2012, to coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, although only in the civil division.
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  1. PARAS 2 Parry, Robert

    SURNAME Parry FORENAME Robert UNIT Parachute Regiment RANK Sergeant NUMBER LS23501108 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1990 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 52382, 28th December 1990, Page 19

  2. PARAS 2 Lowes, Ronald

    SURNAME Lowes FORENAME Ronald UNIT Parachute Regiment RANK Staff Sergeant NUMBER 23854706 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1990 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 52382, 28th December 1990, Page 19

  3. PARAS 2 Kersey, Clive George

    SURNAME Kersey FORENAME Clive George UNIT Parachute Regiment RANK Sergeant NUMBER 24175892 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1990 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 52382, 28th December 1990, Page 19

  4. 3 CDO BDE Sidney, Robert William

    SURNAME Sidney FORENAME Robert William UNIT Royal Marines RANK Colour Sergeant NUMBER P026724C AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1990 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 52382, 28th December 1990, Page 19

  5. 3 CDO BDE Gillingham, Colin Graham

    SURNAME Gillingham FORENAME Colin Graham UNIT Royal Marines RANK Colour Sergeant NUMBER P035594N AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1990 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 52382, 28th December 1990, Page 19

  6. 3 CDO BDE Fordy, Keith

    SURNAME Fordy FORENAME Keith UNIT Royal Marines RANK Colour Sergeant NUMBER P021610D AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1990 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 52382, 28th December 1990, Page 19

  7. PARAS 2 Widdowson, Peter Raymond

    SURNAME Widdowson FORENAME Peter Raymond UNIT Parachute Regiment RANK Staff Sergeant NUMBER 23352945 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1981 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 48837, 30th December 1981, Page 22

  8. 3 CDO BDE Thompson, Alexander Dale

    SURNAME Thompson FORENAME Alexander Dale UNIT Royal Marines RANK Sergeant NUMBER P020034X AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1981 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 48837, 30th December 1981, Page 21

  9. 3 CDO BDE Rees, Arwyn

    SURNAME Rees FORENAME Arwyn UNIT Royal Marines RANK Colour Sergeant NUMBER P017118N AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1981 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 48837, 30th December 1981, Page 21

  10. 3 CDO BDE Darch, Brian John

    SURNAME Darch FORENAME Brian John UNIT Royal Marines RANK Colour Sergeant NUMBER P018152E AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1981 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 48837, 30th December 1981, Page 21

  11. 3 CDO BDE Bowman, Neil Richard

    SURNAME Bowman FORENAME Neil Richard UNIT Royal Marines RANK Corporal NUMBER P025859K AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE 1987 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 51171, 30th December 1987, Page 18

  12. 22 SAS Playford, David John

    SURNAME Playford FORENAME David John UNIT Parachute Regiment RANK Sergeant (BEM), Warrant Officer Class 2 (MBE) NUMBER 24169608 AWARD British Empire Medal, Member of the Order of the British Empire PLACE British Empire Medal 1987, Northern Ireland 1993 (MBE) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...
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  13. 3 CDO BDE Thompson, Graham Michael

    SURNAME Thompson FORENAME Graham Michael UNIT Royal Marines RANK Sergeant NUMBER P034193D AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Northern Ireland ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 54028, 5th May 1995, Page 6613

  14. PARAS 2 Bull, Derek Francis John

    SURNAME Bull FORENAME Derek John Francis UNIT Parachute Regiment RANK Sergeant (BEM), Warrant Officer Class 2 (MBE) NUMBER 24146804 AWARD British Empire Medal, Member of the Order of the British Empire PLACE Northern Ireland (BEM), 1993 (MBE) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette...
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  15. 3 CDO BDE Down, Michael Ernest James

    SURNAME Down FORENAME Michael Ernest James UNIT Royal Marines RANK Sergeant NUMBER P036198Y AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Northern Ireland ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 52137, 14th May 1990, Page 9154

  16. 3 CDO BDE Bowden, Arthur Alan

    SURNAME Bowden FORENAME Arthur Alan UNIT Royal Marines RANK Sergeant NUMBER P024018C AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Northern Ireland, 1980 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 48583, 13th April 1981, Page 5527

  17. 3 CDO BDE Balment, Robert Ernest

    SURNAME Balment FORENAME Robert Ernest UNIT Royal Marines RANK Colour Sergeant NUMBER P022095H AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Northern Ireland, 1980 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 48583, 13th April 1981, Page 5527

  18. 3 CDO BDE Hannah, Kenneth William

    SURNAME Hannah FORENAME Kenneth William UNIT Royal Marines RANK Corporal NUMBER P036166P AWARD Mention in Despatches, British Empire Medal, Member of the Order of the British Empire PLACE Northern Ireland, 1983 (MiD) Northern Ireland (BEM, MBE) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London...
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  19. PARAS 2 Ryan, Kevin Francis

    SURNAME Ryan FORENAME Kevin Francis UNIT Parachute Regiment RANK Corporal (BEM), Sergeant (QGM), Warrant Officer Class 2 (MBE) NUMBER 24351750 AWARD British Empire Medal, Queen's Gallantry Medal, Member of the Order of the British Empire PLACE Northern Ireland (BEM), Northern...
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  20. 3 CDO BDE Winter, Brian

    SURNAME Winter FORENAME Brian UNIT Royal Marines RANK Sergeant NUMBER PO27405X AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Falklands ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 49134, 8th October 1982, Page 12858
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