The decoration was made in three patterns, each of which was one and a half inches in diameter. The shape was an eight-rayed star. The centre of the award consisted of two crossed swords, around which was written "Reward for Valour," on a background of blue enamel. The first-class decoration was made in gold and bore a gold wreath; the second-class was silver with a gold wreath; and the third-class, silver with a silver wreath. All were to be worn on the left breast. A money grant formed part of the award, and it is worth noting that the widow of a recipient drew the annuity for three years after her husband's death. A third decoration for bravery is the "Distinguished Conduct in the Field" award. This was instituted by Royal Warrant on June 4, 1853, for sergeants, and by a later warrant (December 4, 1854) for all non-commissioned officers and privates. The decoration was given to mark "the Sovereign's sense of the distinguished service and gallant conduct in the field of the army then serving in the Crimea" and since. By an amending warrant of February 7, 1881, a bar could be earned by performing a subsequent act of gallantry. The methods of selecting recipients was as follows:-- The commanding officer of each cavalry regiment could, if he thought fit, select one sergeant, two corporals, and four privates for decoration, whilst an officer of an infantry regiment could select one sergeant, four corporals, and ten privates. The award originally carried with it a grant of £15 in the case of sergeants, £10 in the case of corporals, and £5 in the case of privates--sums which were banked until the time when the soldiers took their discharge. The medal was fashioned in silver; the obverse bore a military trophy of arms in the centre of which was the shield of the reigning sovereign, whilst the reverse was lettered "For Distinguished Conduct in the Field." The ribbon was red, blue, and red in equal strips. It was worn on the left breast. The medal, as now awarded, bears a profile of the reigning monarch instead of the trophy of arms, and recipients are offered either a gratuity of £20 on discharge, or an increase of sixpence per day on their pension allowance. In 1886, the "Distinguished Service Order" was instituted. The initial Royal Warrant affecting this order, under date of September 6, 1886, said: "Whereas we have taken into our royal consideration that the means of adequately rewarding the distinguished service of officers in our naval and military services who have been honourably mentioned in dispatches are limited. Now, for the purpose of attaining an end so desirable as that of rewarding individual instances of meritorious or distinguished service in war, we have instituted a new naval and military order of distinction which we are desirous should be highly prized by the officers of our naval and military services." [Illustration: THE QUEEN AND KING'S SOUTH AFRICAN MEDALS, 1899-1902.