Awards

One definition of an award is that it is a tangible recognition of achievement. If this definition is applied to awards made to members of Australiathen Awards may be regarded as being classified into five groups. It should be noted that all of the following are individual Awards and do not include any campaign medals which are issued to groups, or group citations. 

1. For bravery/gallantry. Examples are Military Cross (MC), Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM), Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). In 1991 several new Awards were introduced. Examples are the Star of Gallantry (SG), the Bravery Medal (BM) and the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). Note this latter is different from the previous DSC. 

2. For leadership. Examples are Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) and Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).

3. For service. Examples are The Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), The Public Service Medal, The Australian Fire Service Medal.

4. For achievement. Examples are Life Saving Medals, Long and Meritorious Service medals, Naval Good Shooting Medal.

5. Foreign. Examples are USA Army Commendation Medal. USA Korea Officer of the Legion of Merit. USA South Vietnam Army Bronze Star.

What does this mean for the Bravo Zulu project? Essentially it requires the researchers to have a clear definition of the types of Awards and related circumstances being addressed. To illustrate by hypothetical example, is a M.I.D. (Bravery) more or less deserving of inclusion than an MBE (Service) for Services to R.A.N. Shore Wireless? As well, the brief Help Wanted (1) specifies . Is it the intention to limit this treatise to war time only?

A brief examination of The Navy List 1973 indicates that there will likely be hundreds, perhaps even thousands of Awards to be catalogued and researched. Thus a strategy of how best to achieve this will be essential to avoid duplication of work by the researchers to be involved.

Another essential will be the design of the data base such that enquiries can be easily facilitated. As well, the finished product should be presented in a manner acceptable to the intended audience. For statistical analysis, data can be grouped in different ways such as alphabetically by recipient surname, or chronologically by award date or by order of precedence or by combinations of the foregoing.

The text of the citations will probably best be presented simply by surname alphabetically, regardless of other factors.

As well as the information tables and the citations, the finished product could be made more attractive by including some/all of the following appendices

1. List of Awards in order of precedence
2. History of each Award
3. Achievement criteria for each Award
4. Illustrations, preferably in colour of each Award and its associated ribband.
5. Pricing. Identify factors influencing what amount a collector will pay for an Award, and provide some examples of current day auction results.


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