44-706: Captain Henry Arthur Richard Biziou , DFC (18 September 1894 – 14 July 1919) was a British flying ace of the First World War , credited with eight aerial victories. After serving successively in the Royal Navy and the British Army , he transferred to the Royal Air Force . After service as an observer, he trained as a fighter pilot and subsequently won his victories. He survived the war, only to die in
88-603: A ceremony locally, presided over by their Lord-Lieutenant . Major ended appointments to the Imperial Service Order (ISO), which had a low public profile and was awarded mainly to civil servants. Candidates who would previously have been recommended for this order would instead be nominated to appointment as officers of the Order of the British Empire. This move did not affect the associated Imperial Service Medal which
132-423: A knight or dame grand cross of the Order of the British Empire ceased. Major permitted only one exception: High Court judges continued to be appointed knights bachelor or dames commander of the Order of the British Empire upon appointment. Major decided that the honours system should allow for more candidates from the voluntary sector and be more diverse. He considered that minorities were under-represented on
176-535: A midair collision. Biziou was born on 18 September 1894. He would become known as "Weegee" in later life. Biziou joined the Royal Navy as a mechanic on 29 October 1914. He was later commissioned and transferred to the infantry; Petty Officer Biziou, formerly of the Royal Naval Armoured Car Division , was promoted to temporary second lieutenant in the Infantry on 24 February 1916. Biziou served in
220-632: A number of Fokker biplanes. In addition he has driven down a hostile balloon. Biziou remained in the Royal Air Force after the war, and was stationed at RAF Farnborough . He was killed on 14 July 1919 in a flying accident at Farnborough, when his S.E.5 collided in mid-air with an Avro 504 killing him and the pilot and mechanic of the other aircraft. He is buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery . Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) 1918-1919: horizontal alternate white and purple stripes The Distinguished Flying Cross ( DFC )
264-462: Is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers, and since 1993 to other ranks, of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services , and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy". The award was established on 3 June 1918, shortly after the formation of
308-766: The Air Force Cross ) while the other ranks received medals (for example the Air Force Medal ). The only gallantry medal without distinction to rank was the highest, the Victoria Cross . This carried across to the civilian awards with other ranks generally not entitled to appointment to orders such as the Order of the British Empire , instead receiving the associated, but separate and lower ranking, British Empire Medal (BEM). Major's review, which reported in March 1993, focussed on
352-723: The Falklands and the wars in the Gulf , Iraq and Afghanistan . Additionally, two second-award, and one third-award bars have been awarded. The above figures include awards to the Dominions : In all, 4,460 DFCs have gone to Canadians, including 256 first bars and six second bars. Of these, 193 crosses and nine first bars were for service with the RAF in World War I. For World War II, 4,018 DFCs with 213 first bars and six second bars were earned by members of
396-460: The Ministry of Defence . Major's review abolished the minimum rank requirements for certain civilian awards when made to military personnel and ended the practice of making awards purely on the basis of the recipient holding a certain appointment in the public or private sector (with the exception of High Court judges who were still to automatically become knights or dames). Major's review also ended
440-629: The Queen's Commendation for Bravery to match the new aerial gallantry award. Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (when awarded for gallantry) Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air The Victoria Cross, the only pre-1993 medal to be awarded to all ranks for gallantry, and the top level award was retained unchanged. A new medal, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross ,
484-978: The Royal Canadian Air Force , with a further 247 crosses and 34 first bars to Canadians serving with the RAF. From 1918 to 1972 the DFC was awarded to 2,391 Australians, along with 144 first Bars and five second Bars. Over 1,000 DFCs were awarded to New Zealanders during the World War II, with the most recent awards for service in Vietnam. In 1999 the DFC was replaced by the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration . A total of 1,022 honorary awards have been made to members of allied foreign forces. This comprises 46 crosses and one bar for World War I and 927, along with 34 first and three second bars, for World War II. Eight crosses and two bars were awarded to members of
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#1732859423603528-714: The US Air Force for the Korean War , and one cross to the US Marine Corps during the Iraq War . 1993 reviews of the British honours system In 1993 two separate reviews reported on the British honours system . The first, under prime minister John Major , reported in March and focused on civilian awards. The second was started in March, at Major's suggestion, and carried out by
572-543: The change of government in 1997 , which brought into power people much more attuned to pop and rock music, the numbers of people from these fields being honoured steadily increased and, although no members of Oasis have yet been honoured, this trend has accelerated over time, with MBEs eventually being given to grime pioneers Wiley and Dizzee Rascal . In the British military some awards are made for gallantry and others for meritorious service. British gallantry awards are divided into operational and non-operational awards,
616-556: The 1990s most, including Canada , Australia and New Zealand , had established their own honours systems and no longer recommended British honours. The DFC now serves as the third-level award for all ranks of the British Armed Forces for exemplary gallantry in active operations against the enemy in the air, not to the standard required to receive the Victoria Cross or the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross . Apart from honorary awards to those serving with allied forces, all awards of
660-466: The 1993 Birthday Honours, but this was still described as "surreal" in Q magazine. After Tony Blair became Labour leader, a number of pop and rock musicians were honoured in 1995 and 1996 including, in the 1997 New Year Honours , a knighthood for Paul McCartney , although this was dismissed as "sentimental populism" by The Guardian in an editorial which suggested that "the real test of daring would have been to award honours to Oasis ". After
704-645: The 1993 review of the honours system as part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in bravery awards, all ranks of all arms of the Armed Forces have been eligible, and the Distinguished Flying Medal , which had until then been awarded to other ranks , was discontinued. While remaining a reward for "flying in active operations against the enemy", the requirement was changed from "valour, courage or devotion to duty" to "exemplary gallantry". The DFC had also been awarded by Commonwealth countries but by
748-507: The 6th (Service) Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment at Gallipoli , Egypt and France. He was still with the regiment when, on 31 May 1916, he was posted to the army's General List as a temporary second lieutenant to meet wartime needs. Biziou began duty as an aerial observer , probably with No. 42 Squadron, on 6 October 1916, and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps General List on 23 November 1916. On 1 April 1917, he
792-517: The DFC are announced in the London Gazette . A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DFC who received a further award, with a silver rosette worn on the ribbon when worn alone to denote the award of each bar. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DFC". The decoration, designed by Edward Carter Preston , is a cross flory , 2.125 inches (54.0 mm) wide. The horizontal and bottom bars are terminated with bumps,
836-762: The Royal Air Force (RAF), with the Royal Warrant published on 5 December 1919. It was originally awarded to RAF commissioned and warrant officers , including officers in Commonwealth and allied forces. In March 1941 eligibility was extended to Naval Officers of the Fleet Air Arm , and in November 1942 to Army officers, including Royal Artillery officers serving on attachment to the RAF as pilots-cum- artillery observers . Posthumous awards were permitted from 1979. Since
880-559: The award of the British Empire Medal (BEM) and Imperial Service Order (ISO), compensated for by increasing the number of awards made to the Order of the British Empire . As a means of increasing the proportion of awards made to community figures and the voluntary sector he introduced direct nominations from the general public. The outcome of the military review was reported by Minister of Defence Malcolm Rifkind in October 1993. It
924-473: The basis for the modern system, a mix of nominations made by government departments, public bodies and the general public. The withdrawal of the BEM was criticised by some deputy lieutenants as disenfranchising part of the community, who might not be eligible for higher honours. Nominations for the civilian medal were resumed by prime minister David Cameron in 2011, though the rank distinction for military awards
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#1732859423603968-402: The civilian honours and ended the rank requirements there. He made a recommendation that a similar review be completed into military awards with a view to making them "rankless". The Ministry of Defence started a joint services (army, navy and air force) review in March 1993. This reported later that year and Secretary of State for Defence Malcolm Rifkind announced, on 17 October 1993, that
1012-403: The distinction between officers and other ranks in the issuing of gallantry awards would be abolished. Major's review led to several significant changes in honours awarded. He abolished the rank requirement for military personnel to receive appointments to the Order of the British Empire . The requirements were retained by some Commonwealth realms which use the British honours system, though
1056-467: The distinction between services, with the formerly officers-only Military Cross (army), Distinguished Service Cross (navy) and Distinguished Flying Cross (air force) being opened to all ranks. The Military Medal (army), Distinguished Service Medal (navy) and Distinguished Flying Medal (air force) previously awarded to other ranks, ceased to be awarded. The Mention in Dispatches commendation
1100-556: The honours lists, which were drawn up by government departments. Major hoped to rebalance them by introducing direct nomination by members of the public. Under the old system numbers of awards were determined every five years. Major brought forwards the next review to summer 1993 and requested that it consider increasing awards for the voluntary sector and the general public and adjust the proportion of awards made to civil servants, diplomats and military personnel to reflect their changed role and size in recent years. Major intended that
1144-434: The latter being awarded for actions "not in the face of the enemy". There had been calls, as early as the 1930s, for separate gallantry awards for officers and other ranks to be abolished but these had not progressed. The Ministry of Defence's 1993 review, which was implemented between 1993 and 1995, largely focussed on these awards. It retained the basic structure of the awards, being divided into four tiers, but removed
1188-435: The majority of appointments now made should be as members of the Order of the British Empire. The first effects of the reform were made in time for the 1993 Birthday Honours . Major's reforms successfully increased the number and proportion of candidates from community, voluntary and local services who now form a majority of appointments to the Order of the British Empire. The nomination system implemented by Major remains
1232-471: The midst of this string of victories, Biziou was promoted to temporary captain on 2 July. The Distinguished Flying Cross he had won for his exploits was gazetted on 3 December 1918, reading: Lieutenant (Acting-Captain) Henry Arthur Richard Biziou. A most successful leader of marked gallantry. During recent operations he has destroyed four enemy aeroplanes and driven down one out of control; two of these he accounted for in one engagement on 15 September with
1276-406: The number of MBE appointments to make up for the abolition of the medal. Recipients of the BEM, unlike those of the order, did not receive an investiture from a member of the royal family. To allow for the increased number of appointments to the order to retain the option of an investiture Elizabeth II agreed to increase the number of ceremonies. Appointees were also given the option of attending
1320-413: The number of such awards is proportionally very low. Major considered that the link between the BEM and the order had become "increasingly tenuous" and halted the issue of the medal. Candidates who would have previously been recommended for the BEM would receive appointments as members or officers of the Order of the British Empire instead. Existing holders of the BEM were unaffected and Major increased
1364-513: The previous officer-level award (the Distinguished Service Order ) was to henceforth be awarded for leadership and not gallantry. The review considered creating a medal for the mention in dispatches award, but decided against this though the existing insignia, an oak leaf, was upgraded to silver (from bronze). The Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air , which had been awarded for both gallantry and meritorious conduct,
Henry Biziou - Misplaced Pages Continue
1408-527: The rank distinctions. Awards of the Air Force Cross for meritorious service ceased, being replaced by the MBE or OBE. The medal became an award purely for gallantry not in the face of the enemy and was extended to all ranks. The Air Force Medal, previously awarded to other ranks for similar conduct, ceased to be awarded. The Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air , which had previously been used to recognise both meritorious conduct and gallantry,
1452-417: The upper bar with a rose. The decoration's face features aeroplane propellers, superimposed on the vertical arms of the cross, and wings on the horizontal arms. In the centre is a laurel wreath around the RAF monogram, surmounted by a heraldic Imperial Crown . The reverse is plain, except for a central roundel bearing the reigning monarch's cypher and the date '1918'. Originally awarded unnamed, from 1939
1496-407: The year of issue was engraved on the reverse lower limb of cross, and since 1984 it has been awarded named to the recipient. The suspender is straight and decorated with laurel wreaths. The ribbon bar denoting a further award is silver, with the Royal Air Force eagle in its centre. Bars awarded during World War II have the year of award engraved on the reverse. The 1.25-inch (32 mm) ribbon
1540-439: Was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 1997. He was keen to move towards a classless society and, as part of this, carried out a review of the British honours system . Prior to Major's review the system had remained largely unchanged for 70 years. Many honours, civil and military, were restricted to recipients of certain rank. In the military officers received gallantry awards described as crosses (for example
1584-435: Was abolished and replaced with new medals: the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service which awarded meritorious conduct in all theatres and the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air for non-operational gallantry. The award of the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct was ended and replaced with the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for other non-operational gallantry. The Conservative Party leader John Major
1628-509: Was introduced as the second tier gallantry award for all ranks. It replaced the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for officers, when awarded for gallantry, and the Distinguished Conduct Medal (army), Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (navy), Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) (air force) for other ranks. The DSO continues to be awarded for leadership in combat but is now open to all ranks. The third level awards retained
1672-437: Was largely focused on gallantry awards. The basic structure of the awards was retained but all distinctions of rank were removed, with officers and other ranks to receive the same awards for the same actions. Generally the officer-level awards were retained (and opened to all ranks) and the other ranks award abolished. A new Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was created as the second-level operational gallantry award for all ranks as
1716-531: Was made by the Public Administration Select Committee 's 2005 review of the honours system . While prime minister Tony Blair 's government at the time reaffirmed its commitment to Major's principle of awards for merit they rejected the committee's recommendation for changes to the order. Major did not initially change the general policy of not honouring pop and rock musicians. Neil and Tim Finn of Crowded House were made OBE in
1760-463: Was not re-introduced and military awards of the BEM were not resumed. At the time of his review Major decided to retain the Order of the British Empire, which some considered anachronistic. He has since come to the opinion that it would be better to rename it the Order of British Excellence and renaming the positions as Member, Order and Companion retaining the current abbreviations (MBE for member, OBE for officer and CBE for commander). This proposal
1804-530: Was originally white with deep purple broad horizontal stripes, but it was changed in 1919 to the current white with purple broad diagonal stripes. From 1918 to 2017 approximately 22,322 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 1,737 bars have been awarded. The figures to 1979 are laid out in the table below, the dates reflecting the relevant entries in the London Gazette: In addition, between 1980 and 2017 approximately 80 DFCs have been earned, including awards for
Henry Biziou - Misplaced Pages Continue
1848-594: Was promoted to temporary lieutenant . Biziou then trained as a pilot, including the course at the School of Special Flying at Gosport . He was then posted to No. 87 Squadron and landed in France in April 1918. He flew a Sopwith Dolphin , and scored the squadron's first victory on 6 May. Over time, he ran off a tally of two reconnaissance planes and five fighters destroyed, and another fighter driven down out of control by 22 September. In
1892-406: Was replaced. Two new awards were introduced; the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service recognised meritorious service by military personnel in any non-operational circumstance and the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air was awarded for gallantry in the air. The Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct , awarded to military and civilians for non-operational gallantry, was replaced with
1936-471: Was retained as a long service award for civil servants. Major stated that honours should be awarded "on merit; for exceptional achievement or exceptional service over and above that which might normally be expected" and ordered the end of automatic awards to those holding particular posts in the public or private sector. Under this order, for example, the automatic appointment of the Lord Mayor of London as
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