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.

It was not a common honour with, for example, only twenty-five (out of 1,000) members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in the First World War mentioned in despatches.

[8] In a change introduced in 2014, up to three devices may be worn on a single campaign medal and ribbon bar for those with multiple mentions, backdated to 1962.

The British First World War Victoria Cross recipient John Vereker, later Field Marshal Viscount Gort, was mentioned in despatches 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.