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Gallantry and Citations Method
A gallantry award is a published fact with a citation behind it, and the two are not the same record. The published award notice gives the fact and the date, while the citation, where it survives, gives the action in words, and both need checking against the service record.
11 guides in this section, all published 31 October 2026.
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Supporting guides
- Where Is a Gallantry Award Published?
Gallantry awards are published in The Gazette, the official public record, which gives the fact of the award, the person and the date. Start from the Gazette entry, then look for the citation and the service record behind it. - What Is a Citation?
A citation is the written account of the action for which an award was made, sometimes short and sometimes detailed. Not every award has a surviving published citation, so absence of a citation is not evidence against the award. - How Do I Find a Citation?
Find a citation from the Gazette entry and the award date, then check service and unit records for the same dates. Citations were filed and published unevenly, so the search may end at the Gazette entry itself. - Gallantry Award or Campaign Medal: What Is the Difference?
A campaign medal marks qualifying service in a campaign, while a gallantry award marks a particular act or service singled out for recognition. The records differ too: campaign medals sit on rolls, gallantry awards sit in Gazette notices and citations. - What Does Mentioned in Despatches Mean?
Mentioned in Despatches means a person's name was brought to notice in an official despatch for distinguished or gallant service. It is recorded in the Gazette and may be marked on the service record, but it is not itself a medal. - Why Do Citations Name Rank and Unit?
Citations name rank and unit at the date of the action, which is what lets you match a citation to one person. If the rank or unit does not match the service record for that date, the match needs re-examination. - How Do I Test a Gallantry Family Story?
Test a gallantry story by searching the Gazette for the person's name and award, then matching the date to the service record and unit diary. A story without a Gazette entry needs another explanation, such as a different award or a different person. - How Do Gallantry Award Levels Differ?
Gallantry awards differ in level and in the kind of action they recognise, from immediate bravery to sustained distinguished service. The award's own rules and the citation together explain what level means in a particular case, so do not rank awards by guesswork. - What Does a Posthumous Award Mean in Records?
A posthumous award is one made after death, and its Gazette date will fall after the date of death. That gap is normal, so do not treat a later Gazette date as a contradiction of the casualty record. - In What Order Should I Research an Award?
Work in this order: service record, then Gazette entry, then citation and unit diary for the action dates. That order keeps the award attached to the right person before the story of the action takes over.