Editing Mentioned in dispatches

{{short description|Military distinction of merit}}

To be '''mentioned in dispatches''' (or '''despatches''') describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described.

In some countries, a service member's name must be mentioned in dispatches as a condition for receiving certain decorations.

Being mentioned in dispatches entitles a recipient to wear a small metallic device, but does not include an entitlement to post-nominals.

== United Kingdom, British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations ==
=== United Kingdom ===
[[File:Victory Medal 1914-18 with Mention in Despatches (British) Oak Leaf Cluster.jpg|thumb|160px|right|A Victory Medal 1914–18 with Mention in Despatches device]]

Servicemen and women of the [[United Kingdom]] or the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] who are mentioned in despatches are not awarded a medal for their actions, but receive a certificate and wear an oak leaf device on the ribbon of the appropriate campaign medal. A smaller version of the oak leaf device is attached to the ribbon when worn alone.<ref name= Abbott/> 

Prior to 2014, only one device could be worn on a ribbon, irrespective of the number of times the recipient was mentioned in despatches. <ref name=JSB>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/honours-and-awards-in-the-armed-forces-jsp-761|title=Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces (JSP 761) (V5.0 Oct 16). Paras 12.02 and 12.19|work=MoD Joint Services Publication|date=4 October 2016 |access-date = 2018-02-19}}</ref><ref name=Duckers/> Where no campaign medal is awarded, the oak leaf is worn directly on the coat after any medal ribbons.<ref>{{cite web|title=British (Imperial) Mention in Despatches and Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct|url=http://www.vvaa.org.au/mid-qc.htm|publisher=Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia|access-date=2009-04-24}}</ref> In the [[British Armed Forces]], the despatch is published in the ''[[London Gazette]]''.<ref name= Abbott/>

Prior to 1914, no decoration existed to signify a mention in despatches, although sometimes a medal for gallantry could be awarded in its place.<ref name= Abbott/>

For 1914–1918 and up to 10 August 1920, the device consisted of a spray of oak leaves in bronze worn on the ribbon of the [[Victory Medal (United Kingdom)|Victory Medal]].<ref name=Duckers>{{Cite book|author=Peter Duckers.|title=British Gallantry Awards 1855 – 2000.|pages=54–55. Published by Shire Publications, Oxford, 2010}}{{ISBN|978-0-7478-0516-8}}.</ref> Those who did not receive the Victory Medal wore the device on the [[British War Medal]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin.|title=British Battles and Medals.|page=229. Published Spink, London. 1988}}</ref> Established in 1919, it was retrospective to August 1914. An example of the frequency of being mentioned in despatches is twenty-five out of 1,000 members of the [[Royal Newfoundland Regiment]] were so honored in the First World War.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rnr.therooms.ca/part3_commendations.asp |title=The Newfoundland Regiment and the Great War: Commendations |publisher=The Rooms Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador |access-date=5 Aug 2017}}</ref> In all, 141,082 mentions were recorded in the ''London Gazette'' between 1914 and 1920.<ref name= Abbott/>

From 1920 to 1993, the device consisted of a single bronze oak leaf, worn on the ribbon of the appropriate campaign medal, including the [[War Medal 1939–1945|War Medal]] for a mention during the Second World War.<ref name= Abbott>{{Cite book|author= P E Abbott & J M A Tamplin.|title=British Gallantry Awards. ''1981''|pages=296–300. Published by Nimrod Dix & Co, London, 1981}}{{ISBN|0-902633-74-0}}</ref> The [[Canadian Armed Forces]] still use the bronze oak leaf device.

Since 1993 changes have been made in respect of United Kingdom armed forces:

For awards made from September 1993, the oak leaf has been in silver.<ref name=Lgazette>{{London Gazette|issue=56878|page=3354|date=17 March 2003|supp=y}}</ref> The criteria were also made more specific, it now being defined as an operational gallantry award for acts of bravery during active operations.<ref name=MoD>{{cite web|title=Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility|url=https://www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility |publisher=Ministry of Defence Medal Office|access-date =11 June 2018}}</ref>

From 2003, in addition to British campaign medals, the device can be worn on [[United Nations]], [[NATO]] and [[EU]] medals.<ref name=Mussell>{{Cite book|author=John Mussell (ed).|title=Medal Yearbook 2015.|page=108. Published by Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon}}</ref>

[[File:Mentioned in despatches.jpg|thumb|right|Formal notice of a soldier in the [[Motor Machine Gun Service]] mentioned in despatches, by [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[John French, 1st Earl of Ypres|Sir John French]] for gallantry at the [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle]], signed by [[Secretary of State for War]] [[Winston Churchill]].]]

Prior to 1979, a mention in despatches was one of three awards that could be made [[posthumous recognition|posthumous]]ly, the others being the [[Victoria Cross]] and [[George Cross]]. The 1979 reform allowed all gallantry decorations to be awarded posthumously.<ref>{{cite web|title=Recommendations for Honours and Awards 1935 – 1990|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wo373.asp|publisher=The National Archives|access-date=2009-04-24}}</ref>

Examples of soldiers who were mentioned with unusual frequency include the British First World War Victoria Cross recipient [[John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort|John Vereker]], later Field Marshal Viscount Gort, a total of nine times, as was the Canadian general [[Arthur Currie|Sir Arthur Currie]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Obituary of General Sir Arthur Currie, The (London) Times, Friday, December 01, 1933|url = http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/transcripts/transcriptDisplay.asp?Type=N&transNo=303 | access-date = 2008-09-15}}</ref> The Australian general [[Gordon Bennett (general)|Gordon Bennett]] was mentioned in despatches a total of eight times during the First World War, as was Field Marshal [[John Dill|Sir John Dill]].

Below are illustrations of the device being worn on a variety of campaign medal ribbons:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Victory Medal MID ribbon bar.svg|80px]] || [[Victory Medal (United Kingdom)|Victory Medal]] || First World War
|-
|[[File:Naval General Service Medal 1915 BAR MID.svg|80px]] || [[Naval General Service Medal (1915)|Naval General Service Medal]] ||  Campaign Service<br>(1920–1962)
|-
|[[File:General Service Medal 1918 BAR MID.svg|80px]] || Army & RAF<br>[[General Service Medal (1918)|General Service Medal]] || Campaign Service<br>(1920–1962)
|-
|[[File:War Medal 39-45 w MID BAR.svg|80px]] || [[War Medal 1939–1945]] || Second World War
|-
|[[File:Korea Medal BAR MID.svg|80px]] || [[Korea Medal]] || Korean War
|-
|[[File:General Service Medal 1962 BAR MID.svg|80px]] || [[General Service Medal (1962)|General Service Medal]] ||  Campaign Service<br>(1962–1993)
|-
|[[File:Vietnam Medal BAR MID.svg|80px]] || [[Vietnam Medal]] || Vietnam War
|-
|[[File:Gulf Medal BAR MID.svg|80px]] || [[Gulf Medal]] || Gulf War
|-
|align=center|[[File:Mention in despatches silver ribbon device.png|60px]] || Silver oak leaf device || Awards since 1993
|}

=== Australia ===
Australian service personnel are no longer eligible to be mentioned in dispatches. Since 15 January 1991, when the [[Australian Honours System]] was established, the MiD has been replaced by the Australian decorations: the Commendation for Gallantry and the Commendation for Distinguished Service. Similarly, the equivalents of the MiD for acts of bravery by civilians and by soldiers not engaged with the enemy have also been reformed. The reformed and comprehensive system is now as follows:
* The [[Commendation for Gallantry]] is now the fourth level decoration for gallantry.
* The [[Commendation for Brave Conduct]] recognises acts of bravery carried out by soldiers not directly fighting the enemy and by civilians in war or peace.
* The [[Commendation for Distinguished Service]], a third level distinguished service decoration, recognises distinguished general service, for exemplary performance in fields such as training, maintenance and administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/commendation_distinguished_service.cfm|title=Commendation for Distinguished Service|work=It's an Honour.gov.au|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=2009-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/commendation_gallantry.cfm|title=Commendation for Gallantry|work=It's an Honour.gov.au|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=2009-05-27}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Commendation for Gallantry (Australia) ribbon.png|80px]] || [[Commendation for Gallantry]]
|-
|[[File:Commendation for Brave Conduct (Australia) ribbon.png|80px]] || [[Commendation for Brave Conduct]]
|-
|[[File:Commendation for Distinguished Service (Aust) ribbon.png|80px]] || [[Commendation for Distinguished Service]]
|}

<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Boyle|first1=James|title=Sgt.|journal=La Presse|date=1918}}</ref>

=== Canada ===
A mention in dispatches – in French, {{lang|fr|citation à l'ordre du jour}} – gives recognition from a senior commander for acts of brave or meritorious service, normally in the field. The mention in dispatches is among the [[list of awards presented by the governor general of Canada]].<ref>[http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/admfincs/subjects/cfao/018-04_e.asp Canadian Forces Administrative Order 18-4 Recommendations for Canadian Orders, Decorations and Military Honours] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315215410/http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/admfincs/subjects/cfao/018-04_e.asp |date=2007-03-15 }}</ref>
Recipients receive a bronze oak leaf insignia, worn on the ribbon of the relevant mission medal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mention in Dispatches |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/medals/medals-chart-index/mention-dispatches.html |website=www.canada.ca |date=17 May 2021}}</ref> Historically, MID was awarded during both [[World War]]s and the [[Korean War]], later reintroduced in 1990. {{As of|2024|11}}, 283 MIDs had been awarded, each accompanied by a citation certificate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Search the Collection {{!}} Canadian War Museum |url=https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/archive/3177192 |website=www.warmuseum.ca}}</ref>
Master Corporal [[Graham Ragsdale]]'s performance during [[Operation Anaconda]] in southeastern Afghanistan was mentioned in dispatches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Master Corporal Graham Ragsdale |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/134-469 |website=The Governor General of Canada |language=en}}</ref>

=== India ===
Mention in dispatches has been used since 1947 to recognize distinguished and meritorious service in operational areas and acts of gallantry which are not of a sufficiently high order to warrant the grant of gallantry awards.<ref name=India>{{cite web|title = Mention in Dispatches|publisher = [[Indian Army]]|url = http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=bKaNf3MCcXHk7Y+tjh7A4Q==&ParentID=dmws5VbQfmdTjOOneXni7g==|access-date = 5 October 2014 }}</ref>

Eligible personnel include all [[Indian Army|Army]], [[Indian Navy|Navy]] and [[Indian Air Force|Air Force]] personnel including personnel of the [[Paramilitary forces of India|Reserve Forces]], [[Territorial Army (India)|Territorial Army]], Militia and other lawfully constituted [[Indian Armed Forces|armed forces]], members of the [[Military Nursing Service|Nursing Service]] and civilians working under or with the armed forces.<ref name=India/>

Personnel can be mentioned in dispatches posthumously and multiple awards are also possible. A recipient of a mention in a dispatch is entitled to wear an emblem, in the form of a lotus leaf on the ribbon of the relevant campaign medal. They are also issued with an official certificate from the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref name=India/>

=== Pakistan ===
Under the current Pakistani military honours system, the [[Imtiazi Sanad]] is conferred upon any member of the [[Pakistan Armed Forces]] who is mentioned in dispatches for an act of gallantry that does not qualify for a formal gallantry award.<ref name=honours>{{cite web|url=https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContentd7a2.html?pId=300|title=Honours and Awards|publisher=Pakistan Army|access-date=2009-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613134322/https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContentd7a2.html?pId=300|archive-date=2018-06-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Imtiazi Sanad.png|150px|thumb|[[Imtiazi Sanad]] of the Pakistan Armed Forces]]

=== South Africa ===

In 1920 the [[Minister of Defence and Military Veterans (South Africa)|Minister of Defence]] of the [[Union of South Africa]] was empowered to award a multiple-leaved bronze [[Oak leaf cluster|oak leaf emblem]] to all servicemen and servicewomen mentioned in dispatches during the [[First World War]] for valuable services in action. The emblem, which was regarded as a decoration, was worn on the ribbon of the [[Victory Medal (United Kingdom)|Victory Medal (Union of South Africa)]]. Only one emblem was worn, irrespective of the number of times a recipient had been mentioned.<ref name="Alexander">{{cite book|last = Alexander|first = EGM|author2=Barron, GKB|author3=Bateman, AJ|title = South African Orders, Decorations and Medals |publisher = Human and Rousseau Publishers|year = 1986|location = Cape Town|pages = 160|isbn = 0-7981-1895-4}}</ref>

The [[Afrikaans]] rendition of ''mentioned in dispatches'' is {{lang|af|Eervolle Vermelding in Berigte}}.

In 1943, the [[South African Defence Force|Union Defence Force]] confirmed the availability of the British award, the bronze oak leaf, for acts of bravery, in contact with the enemy, which fell just short of the standard required for the granting of a decoration, or for valuable services not necessarily in immediate contact with the enemy.

The mention in dispatches (MiD) was one of only four awards which could be made posthumously. The others were the [[Victoria Cross]], the [[George Cross]], and the [[Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct|King's Commendation]] (South Africa). The oak leaf emblem was worn on the ribbon of the [[War Medal 1939–1945]].

The [[King's Commendation (South Africa) (1939–45)]] was denoted by a bronze [[Protea cynaroides|King Protea]] flower emblem worn on the ribbon of the [[Africa Service Medal]], for valuable services in connection with the [[Second World War]]. It could be awarded posthumously and was the equivalent of a mention in dispatches for services rendered away from the battlefield.<ref name="Alexander"/>

The MiD and the King's Commendation (SA) were the only decorations that could be approved by the South African Minister of Defence without reference to the King.<ref name="Alexander" />

==France==
[[File:Croix de guerre 1914-1918 française.jpg|160px|thumb|upright|A {{Lang|fr|Croix de Guerre}} (awarded to [[Théophile Marie Brébant|Col. Brébant]]) with four acknowledgments:<br />1 bronze palm<br />1 silver gilt star<br />1 silver star<br />1 bronze star]]
Since the French Revolution, France has had the custom of declaring deserving citizens or groups to have {{lang|fr|[[bien mérité de la Patrie]]}} ("well deserved the recognition of the Country"). This sentiment is continued to this day in the formulation of the citations that accompany medals.

In the French military, mentions in dispatches&nbsp;– or more accurately, mention in orders ({{lang|fr|citation dans les ordres}})&nbsp;– are made by senior commanders, from the level of a Regimental commanding officer to the Commander-in-Chief, in the orders they give to their unit, recognizing the gallantry of an action performed some time before. There are two kinds of mentions: mentions with cross, for bravery in presence of the enemy, and mentions without cross, for bravery not in presence of the enemy.

===Mentions with cross===
The citations are given for acts of gallantry by any member of the French military or its allies and are, depending on the degree, roughly the equivalent of the US [[Bronze Star Medal]] or [[Silver Star]] and the UK Mention in Dispatches or [[Military Cross]] and, formerly, the [[Military Medal]].

Mentions made during the two World Wars or colonial conflicts were accompanied with awards of a {{Lang|fr|[[Croix de Guerre]]}} or a {{lang|fr|[[Croix de la Valeur Militaire]]}}, with attachments on the ribbon depending on the mention's degree : the lowest degree is represented by a bronze star while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm.
* a bronze star for those who had been mentioned at the [[regiment]] or [[brigade]] level.
* a silver star for those who had been mentioned at the [[Division (military)|division]] level.
* a silver gilt star for those who had been mentioned at the [[army Corps|corps]] level.
* a bronze palm for those who had been mentioned at the [[army]] level.
* a silver palm represents five bronze ones.
* a silver gilt palm for those who had been mentioned at the [[Free French Forces]] level (World War II only).

A unit can also be mentioned in dispatches. The unit standard is then decorated with the corresponding Croix. After two mentions, the men of the unit are entitled to wear a [[fourragère]].

{| class="wikitable centre"
! First World War
! Colonial Wars 1920–1926
! Second World War
! [[First Indochina War|Indochina]], [[Malagasy Uprising|Madagascar]], [[Korean War|Korea]], [[Suez Crisis]], [[Gulf War|Gulf]] and [[Kosovo War|Kosovo]]
! [[Tunisian independence|Tunisia]], [[Algerian War|Algeria]], every military operation where TOE Cross is not awarded
|- valign=top
![[File:Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 ribbon.svg|100 px]]<br />[[Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)|1914–1918 War Cross]]
![[File:Croix de Guerre des Theatres d'Operations Exterieurs ribbon.svg|100 px]]<br />[[Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures|TOE War Cross]]
![[File:Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 ribbon.svg|100 px]]<br />[[Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)|1939–1945 War Cross]]
![[File:Croix de Guerre des Theatres d'Operations Exterieurs ribbon.svg|100 px]]<br />[[Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures|TOE War Cross]]
![[File:Croix de la Valeur Militaire ribbon.svg|100 px]]<br />[[Cross for Military Valour]]
|-
|}

===Mentions without cross===
Since 2004, mentions for bravery not involving actual combat with the enemy are awarded with a gold {{lang|fr|Médaille de la Défense nationale}} (National Defence Medal) and with the same attachments as the {{lang|fr|Croix de guerre}}. Before 2004, these mentions were recorded in the service member record, but not recognized with any decoration.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* [http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/haig_despatches.htm Primary Documents: Sir Douglas Haig's Despatches as British Commander-in-Chief, 1916–19]
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp Search 'mentioned in despatches' cards on The UK National Archives' website.]

{{Former Australian Honours}}

[[Category:Military awards and decorations]]
[[Category:Military slang and jargon]]