Queen's Gallantry Medal  The Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM) is a United Kingdom decoration awarded for exemplary acts of bravery by civilians, and by members of the Armed Forces "not in the face of the enemy", where the services were not so outstanding as to merit the George Cross or the George Medal, but above the level required for the Queen's Commendation for Bravery. The Queen's Gallantry Medal was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry and the British Empire Medal for Gallantry. The QGM ended the situation where the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry was awarded for lesser acts of bravery than the George Medal but took precedence over it in the Order of Wear. The QGM is awarded for "exemplary acts of bravery" by civilians and members of the Armed Forces where purely military honours are not normally granted. The QGM has been awarded posthumously since 30 November 1977. Since then, the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry have been discontinued as posthumous awards, with the QGM, or the George Medal, being awarded instead. To the end of 2013 there have been 1,044 QGMs awarded, including 19 second award bars. The armed forces received 525 awards and civilians, including police, 519 including 120 to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, almost twice as many as any other group. Thirty eight of the awards were posthumous, and 24 were to women. The QGM is silver and circular in shape, 36 mm in diameter, with the following design: Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters "Q.G.M.". Among the more notable recipients are: