Recommend someone for a gallantry award

Civilian gallantry awards recognise the bravery of people who’ve put themselves in danger to save (or attempt to save) someone’s life. Recommendations are judged on:

  • degree of risk
  • how aware the nominee was of the danger
  • persistence

The incident must have taken place in the last 5 years. You can recommend someone after they’ve died – they’ll get a posthumous award. They do not have to be British (except for the George Cross award).

Types of gallantry awards

You can recommend someone for the:

  • George Cross (a first-level civilian medal for bravery, for acts of great heroism and courage in extreme danger)
  • George Medal (a second-level civilian medal for bravery, for acts of great bravery)
  • Queen’s Gallantry Medal (a third-level civilian medal for bravery, for inspiring acts of bravery)
  • Queen’s Commendation for Bravery/Bravery in the Air (a fourth-level civilian medal for bravery, for acts which involve risk to life)

How to recommend someone for a gallantry award

Email the Honours and Appointments Secretariat.

You’ll need to write a detailed description explaining why you’re recommending them. Include the person’s:

  • name
  • date of birth
  • address

Give as many details as possible about what happened. This will make your application more likely to be considered. Include:

  • location
  • date
  • any emergency or official services that were there

Honours and Appointments Secretariat
honours@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

After you recommend someone for a gallantry award

All recommendations will be assessed by the George Cross Committee, which makes recommendations to the King, who awards the honour.