page_title: Military Medal
section_title: Selected recipients of the Military Medal
hierarchical_section_title: Military Medal / Selected recipients of the Military Medal
caption_attribution_description: English: The Battle of the Somme, July-november 1916 French soldiers who came out of the trenches to receive British decorations (Military Medals) which they are seen wearing. Note Chauchat machine gun magazines on the belt of the soldier in the middle.
context_page_description: The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award was established in 1916, with retrospective application to 1914, and was awarded to other ranks for "acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire". The award was discontinued in 1993 when it was replaced by the Military Cross, which was extended to all ranks, while other Commonwealth nations instituted their own award systems in the post war period.
context_section_description: Nearly 140,000 people have been awarded the Military Medal. Among the more notable recipients are:
caption: French soldiers, after having been awarded the Military Medal, Battle of the Somme 1916
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