Mentioned in dispatches

[1] 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.

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.

[10] Examples of soldiers who were mentioned with unusual frequency include the British First World War Victoria Cross recipient John Vereker, later Field Marshal Viscount Gort, a total of nine times, as was the Canadian general Sir Arthur Currie.

[11] The Australian general Gordon Bennett was mentioned in despatches a total of eight times during the First World War, as was Field Marshal Sir John Dill.

Below are illustrations of the device being worn on a variety of campaign medal ribbons: Australian service personnel are no longer eligible to be mentioned in dispatches.

The reformed and comprehensive system is now as follows: [14] A mention in dispatches – in French, citation à l'ordre du jour – gives recognition from a senior commander for acts of brave or meritorious service, normally in the field.

[15] Recipients receive a bronze oak leaf insignia, worn on the ribbon of the relevant mission medal.

[17] Master Corporal Graham Ragsdale's performance during Operation Anaconda in southeastern Afghanistan was mentioned in dispatches.

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.

[20] In 1920 the Minister of Defence of the Union of South Africa was empowered to award a multiple-leaved bronze oak leaf emblem to all servicemen and servicewomen mentioned in dispatches during the First World War for valuable services in action.

In the French military, mentions in dispatches – or more accurately, mention in orders (citation dans les ordres) – 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.