Why Mentioned in Despatches?

The term mentioned in despatches (MiD) may crop up when you're investigating an ancestor's military life. What it means is that your armed forces forebear did something that had warranted their name to be included in an official account written by a superior officer, which had then been sent on to the War Office.

Why are people mentioned in despatches?

A soldier mentioned in dispatches (or despatches) (MID) is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.

How can I find out why my father was mentioned in despatches?

Signs that a soldier had been mentioned

Not all “mentions” appear in this way in the medal index cards or rolls. Another way is from medals or photographs of them. If they show a bronze oak leaf affixed to the ribbon of the Victory Medal, then the man had been mentioned in despatches.