This medal was instituted in December 1854, and was awarded to Warrant Officers, NCOs and men for "distinguished conduct in the field".  In practice, it is considered second only to the Victoria Cross in terms of prestige.  It is not awarded for service or for leadership, but individual acts of courage.  As such it is exceedingly rare.  For example, only 161 Canadians were awarded the DCM for service in the Second World War (with one second award, or Bar, also being awarded); seven of them were Calgary Highlanders.  It was not unheard of for soldiers recommended for the Victoria Cross to be awarded the DCM in lieu; this was the case with Sergeant Ken Crockett, DCM, of the Calgary Highlanders.

The Military Medal, considered a lower award for bravery, was not introduced until 1916, so the award of DCMs earlier in the war may have been slightly more generous.

A typical citation (this one for Lance Corporal George William Allan) would be as follows (as published in the London Gazette No. 29202, dated June 30, 1915)

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the night of 23rd - 24rd April 1915, when he fought first one machine gun and then a second, until both were put out of action and their teams either killed or wounded, he then continued to fire with his rifle until killed at his post."

The Distinguished Conduct Medal was replaced in 1972 when the Canadian Honours System was introduced, replacing many of the former British Empire/British Commonwealth awards currently in use by the Canadian Government and Department of National Defence.  The modern equivalent of the DCM would most likely be considered the Star of Courage.

The following awards were made to members of the Tenth Battalion, CEF, and The Calgary Highlanders.  Posthumous awards are highlighted in grey.

First World War 1914-1918

Bar to the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field

Second World War 1939-1945