Re: 'mentioned in dispatches'

Posted by Ward on September 07, 2004

In Reply to: Re: 'mentioned in dispatches' posted by David FG on September 06, 2004

: : A British friend uses this term when he meets someone who has been talked about positively in the press or more generally. He says that they were 'mentioned in dispatches'. He claims the phrase goes back to the British occupation of India, where positive behavior on the part of an officer would be mentioned in the regular military mail that came back to the UK.
: : Have any of our UK friends clarification or otherwise?

:
: A mention in despatches is very much as your friend describes. It is when a soldier (not necessarily an officer, by the way) has distinguished him (or her) self has that bravery (it has to be considerably more than 'positive behaviour) described in the official military report (the 'despatch') I don't know whether it originated in India, but it still happens. A soldier who has been so honoured is entitled to wear a specially designed clasp above any medals he/she might have.

David--- thank you for the response.