Garry, while I agree with you to the extent that each case should be considered on its' own merit I present two incidents below where an MID would hardly have befitted the bravery that was displayed. In the first instance Pte. Bray died of his wounds four days after the awarding of his DCM was published. Had he died five days earlier than he did he would probably received an MID.
In the second case Lt. Snively led his platoon in an attack that wiped out two anti-tank guns, killed eight of the enemy and knocked out numerous machine guns. He was so far ahead of the rest of the battalion and cut off without even radio communication that his exploits were not known of until after he was killed in action. He was awarded an MID.
Lt. Sterlin of the RCR was in a similar action and held on to a stone house that became known as "Sterlins Castle" on the battle maps. He was recommended for an MC but was killed in action before the award could be published. He didn't even get an MID.




AWARD of

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL
Private Joseph Albert BRAY
Canadian Infantry Corps

ON THE MORNING OF 16 DECEMBER 1944, "C" COMPANY OF THE 48th HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA ATTACKED A GROUP OF BUILDINGS KNOWN AS CASA BOSCHI. PRIVATE BRAY WAS A
BREN GUNNER OF 14 PLATOON IN "C" COMPANY. THE POSITION WAS STRONGLY HELD, AND THE ENEMY MACHINE GUN AND RIFLE FIRE FROM THE POSITION WAS INTENSE. IN SPITE OF THIS FIRE, PRIVATE BRAY'S SECTION ADVANCED STEADILY TOWARDS A BRICK SHED, FROM WHICH THE FINAL ASSAULT ON THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO BE MADE. BEFORE THE SHED WAS REACHED, HOWEVER, THE SECTION CAME UNDER SMALL ARMS FIRE FROM THE RIGHT FLANK. THE SECTION LEADER WAS WOUNDED IN THE NECK AND PRIVATE BRAY HIMSELF WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN THE STOMACH BY FIRE FROM A SCHMEISSER, DESPITE HIS WOUNDS HOWEVER PRIVATE BRAY IMMEDIATELY TOOK CHARGE, RALLIED AND ORGANIZED THE SECTION IN A FIRE POSITION, AND HIMSELF ATTACKED THE ENEMY FIRING ON HIM. (HE ENGAGED AND KILLED WITH HIS BREN GUN TWO ENEMY ARMED WITH SCHMEISSERS.) HAVING DISPERSED THIS POST, HE RETURNED TO THE SECTION NEAR THE SHED, HE HAD HARDLY REACHED THIS SPOT WHEN AN ENEMY PARTY, ABOUT 12 IN NUMBER.. MADE AN IMMEDIATE COUNTER ATTACK. WITHOUT HESITATION PRIVATE BRAY MOVED BACK INTO THE OPEN AND KILLED TWO OF THE ADVANCING GERMANS AND DISPERSED THE REMAINDER. THE ENEMY, HAVING REORGANIZED, AGAIN COUNTER ATTACKED AND AGAIN PRIVATE BRAY, ALTHOUGH WOUNDED A SECOND TIME BY A BULLET THAT BROKE HIS LEG, CONTINUED HIS FIRE UNTIL THE ENEMY HAD ONCE MORE BEEN DRIVEN OFF. THIS SOLDIER'S ACTIONS ARE WORTHY OF THE HIGHEST PRAISE. AT GREAT RISK TO HIS OWN LIFE AND DESPITE SERIOUS WOUNDS AND WEAKNESS FROM LOSS OF BLOOD, PRIVATE BRAY SHOWED SUPREME COURAGE IN THE FACE OF GREAT ODDS. ALMOST ENTIRELY DUE TO HIS RESOLUTION AND FORTITUDE, AN ENEMY COUNTER ATTACK IN VASTLY SUPERIOR STRENGTH WAS BROKEN, AND THE PLATOON POSITION SAVED.

Extracted from Dileas by Kim Beattie

Lt. Doug Snively had also done very courageous work. The details
were not learned until after his death less than a week later. The
only posthumous award is the V.C., and Lt. Snively's name could
only later appear with those Mentioned in Despatches.