british empire medal

SOE in the Low Countries
SOE in the Low Countries
By M.R.D. Foot
3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade
By Ewen Southby-Tailyour
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 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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  2. 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

  3. SOE Allen, Frank Derek

    SURNAME Allen FORENAME Frank Derek UNIT Force 136 RANK Sergeant NUMBER 6288287 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE SE Asia 1945 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION parent unit Royal Corps of Signals born 23.9.1920 West Ham,Essex died 2000 Canterbury,Kent

  4. RANCDT Bingham, Harold Leslie

    SURNAME Bingham FORENAME Harold Leslie UNIT Clearance Diver (RAN) RANK Able Seaman Clearance Diver NUMBER R50749 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Queens Birthday 1961 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  5. RANCDT Asher, Frederick Kevin

    SURNAME Asher FORENAME Frederick Kevin UNIT Clearance Diver (RAN) RANK Acting Leading Seaman Clearance Diver NUMBER R51110 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Queens Birthday 1961 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 10.06.1961 page 4181

  6. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS Dolby, Robert William (Bill)

    SURNAME Dolby FORENAME Robert William (Bill) UNIT M Special Unit RANK Sergeant NUMBER NX 65557 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE New Guinea 1943 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 26.9.1905 Casino, New South Wales next of kin William Dolby (1873-1953) occupation Blacksmith single...

  7. AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS 2 Blacker, Edward Charles

    SURNAME Blacker FORENAME Edward Charles UNIT 126 Signal Squadron (Special Forces) RANK Sergeant NUMBER 13695 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Borneo 1960s ADDITIONAL INFORMATION later with 547 Signal Troop in Vietnam

  8. EOD Fellows, Michael George (Mick)

    SURNAME Fellows FORENAME Michael George (Mick) UNIT Fleet Clearance Diving Team 1 + Scotland and Northern Ireland Clearance Diving Team + S. of D.,Royal Navy RANK Petty Officer (Diver) (BEM) + Chief Petty Officer (Diver) (MBE) + Fleet Chief Petty Officer (Diver) (DSC) NUMBER J944234N...
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  9. RANCDT Rashleigh, Albert Victor

    SURNAME Rashleigh FORENAME Albert Victor (Vic) UNIT CDT 3 (RAN) RANK Chief Petty Officer Clearance Diver NUMBER R51758 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE South Vietnam 1969 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 23.11.1938 Chinchilla, Queensland CDT 3,Vietnam 10.2.1969 - 3.9.1969 died...

  10. PARAS 2 Inglis, John Andrew

    SURNAME Inglis FORENAME John Andrew UNIT 4 (V) Para RANK Private NUMBER 24219567 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Salisbury Plain, England (London Gazette 20.2.1973) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 45917, 26th February 1973, Page 2677

  11. PARAS 2 Grieve, Donald

    SURNAME Grieve FORENAME Donald UNIT 2 Para (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers,attached) RANK Corporal NUMBER 22961638 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Brunei 1966 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 44126, 29th September 1966, Page 10599
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  12. 3 CDO BDE Blyth, Eric Joseph

    SURNAME Blyth FORENAME Eric Joseph UNIT R.M. 45 Commando RANK Sergeant (MiD), Colour Sergeant (BEM) NUMBER PLY/X 5332 AWARD Mention in Despatches, British Empire Medal PLACE Aden 13th April- 15th October 1964 (MiD), 1968 (BEM) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 43636, 27th...
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  13. PARAS 2 Bird, Stephen Alun

    SURNAME Bird FORENAME Stephen Alun UNIT Parachute Regiment RANK Sergeant NUMBER 24791460 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Northern Ireland 1990 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION holder QGM London Gazette 52324, 5th November 1990, Page 17200 (BEM)

  14. PARAS 2 Brown, Alexander

    SURNAME Brown FORENAME Alexander UNIT Parachute Regiment RANK Corporal (A/Sergeant) (MM) + Staff Sergeant (BEM), Sergeant (QGM) + Warrant Officer Second Class (MBE) NUMBER 24279969 AWARD Military Medal, British Empire Medal, Queen's Gallantry Medal, Member of the Order of the British...
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  15. CHINDITS 1943 Chivers, Pat Randell

    SURNAME Chivers FORENAME Pat Randell UNIT Royal Engineers (3 Column) RANK Corporal (A/Sergeant) NUMBER 2037597 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Burma 1943 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  16. EOD Vaughan, William Y.

    SURNAME Vaughan FORENAME William Y. UNIT 4 Bomb Disposal Company,Royal Engineers RANK Corporal NUMBER 1903909 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE England ADDITIONAL INFORMATION KOAS 1945 - see Roll of Honour

  17. EOD Violet, Frank Albert

    SURNAME Violet FORENAME Frank Albert UNIT 4 Bomb Disposal Company,Royal Engineers RANK Corporal NUMBER 14625456 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE England ADDITIONAL INFORMATION KOAS 1945 - see Roll of Honour

  18. EOD Evans, Horace

    SURNAME Evans FORENAME Horace UNIT 43 Bomb Disposal Section,Royal Engineers RANK Sergeant NUMBER 2198817 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Italy 1943-44 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION killed - see Roll of Honour

  19. EOD Anfield, Alan

    SURNAME Anfield FORENAME Alan UNIT 321 EOD Unit,Royal Army Ordnance Corps RANK Staff Sergeant NUMBER 23919662 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Northern Ireland 1973 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 46080, 18th September 1973, Page 11116

  20. EOD Anderson, Peter

    SURNAME Anderson FORENAME Peter UNIT Royal Army Ordnance Corps RANK Staff Sergeant NUMBER 22450458 AWARD British Empire Medal PLACE Hong Kong 1954 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION London Gazette 40422, 1st March 1955, Page 1315
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