Honours and awards

Chinese Anzacs such as Caleb Shang, Leslie Kew, George Sam, William Sing, and William Loo Long were awarded medals for gallantry.

1. Select on of the case studies above to explore further.

a. Investigate what medal was received, and what it was awarded for.

b. Locate their service record held by the National Archives of Australia. What information can you find relating to medals?

c. Search the Memorial’s Honours and Awards database, to find the recommendations for the awards.

d. What does it mean if you have a bar added to your medal?

e. Do you think these medals had a significant impact on the life of this person or their family after the war? Why or why not?

2. Post-nominal letters are found after a person’s name to indicate a title, qualification, or honour. If military personnel have been awarded medals, they can use these letters after their name. For example, William Sing DCM, or William Loo Long MM. Find out what awards the following post-nominal letters refer to:

a. VC

b. GC

c. DFC

d. MC

e. RRC

3. Servicemen and servicewomen often choose choose to wear their medals on special days such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. Find out what side they wear their medals on, and why.

4. Design your own medal relating the Australian Defence Force.

a. What would it be awarded for?

b. Who could receive the medal? You might like to consider gender, rank, role, years of service, prisoners of war, or the role of families who support service personnel.

c. Would you include the image of a king or queen like other medals? Why or why not?

d. What colours would you choose for the ribbon, and what would they represent?