Established by King George VI in 1939, the award was discontinued in 1994 on the institution of the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

It represented the lowest level of bravery award in the British honours system, alongside a mention in despatches.

No Royal Warrant or other public statement was issued which specified the title, precedence and eligibility of the award, suggesting it was a prompt wartime solution to a gap in the awards available to reward gallantry by non-combatants, particularly those involved in Civil Defence and the Merchant Navy.

[1] During World War I it was recognised that there was no suitable reward for acts of bravery by civilians, such as the seamen of the British Mercantile Marine (later known as the Merchant Navy), which did not merit a specific gallantry medal.

That led to the formal introduction of 'Commendations', a system reintroduced in 1939 by King George VI, later officially titled the 'King's Commendation for Brave Conduct'.