Ross Mallett on Tuesday, 11 February 2003 quoted Val Harris: >When talking of the VC in the period of the Boer War, it is well to keep in >mind that it was the only award available to junior officers and "other >ranks" for bravery. It had not yet assumed the degree of importance or >status that it now commands. Now, of course, there is the DCM, MC, MSM, MM, >MID and a dozen other methods of recognising gallantry and or superior >service. > >That was not so in 1899/1902. Ross commented. The DCM was available during the Boer War and was awarded to Australians. It dates back to the Crimean War, being instituted in 1854. Being mentioned in Dispatches (MID) was also possible. I endorse the comments of Ross and add that as well as 62 DCM awards to Australians the same number of DSOs, the award having being instituted in 1886, were also awarded to Australians. The MID of WWI and later actually originated in the Boer War when an Interdepartmental Committee gave the award its present definition although there was no emblem on the QSA and/or KSA. More gallantry decorations were awarded per head to Australians troops in South Africa than in Vietnam. I also believe that by the Boer War the VC had assumed the degree of importance and status that it now commands. However, despite how difficult it was to win in the Boer War it became much more difficult in WWI and later. Anthony Staunton