Far more people perform
brave or meritorious acts in war than ever receive medals.
Many of these acts were mentioned in the reports, or Despatches,
which Commanders sent back from the front line to the
High Command. But, unless the deed was thought to merit
an award of some kind, nothing further was done.
WW1 Victory Medal with oak leaf.
It was not until World War One
that British soldiers who were Mentioned in Despatches
received recognition for their deeds.
This took the form of a bronze oak leaf worn
on the ribbon of the WWI Victory Medal.
The medals shown left belonged to Capt G
Cockell and are on display at the Museum.
In World
War Two the oak leaf was worn on the 1939-45
War Medal.
The Medal shown right belonged to Staff Sergeant
Major Lobb and is on display in the Museum.
The 1939-45 Medal
with oak leaf.
Close up of the oaf leaves
The award is still issued today but is now silver and
worn on the appropriate campaign medal.
If no medal is issued the oak leaf is worn on its own.
Regardless of how many times an individual
is Mentioned in Despatches only one oak leaf is
ever issued.
There is also no citation to accompany the award
which makes it very difficult to find out how
it was earned.
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![[image] WW1 Victory Medal with oak leaf.](images/new-images/ww1oakleaf.jpg)
![[image] The 1939-45 Medal with oak leaf.](images/new-images/ww2oakleaf.jpg)
![[image] Close up of the oaf leaves](images/new-images/oakleaves.jpg)
