"HTB - I'm steering clear of the whole Scotland - England argument but I'm happy to clear up the medal - cross thing for you.
In the time when the services had medals for the ORs and crosses for officers (pre 1993), the cut off came at Warrant Officer rank, or in the case of the army, Warrant Officer class 1. An RSM (or equivalent depending of the arm of service) was a WO1 and would be awarded the Military Cross, a Squadron Sergeant Major was a WO2 rank, and as such would qualify for the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal or Military Medal. Same rules applied to the RAF, with a lot of WW2 aircrew winning the DFM as sergeants or flight sergeants and the the DFC as Warrant Officers".
Good attempt BUT the rules for award of MC do not/ did not specify the grade of army Warrant Officer, and as to whether a WO II received an MC or an MM was rather a lottery ......... the subject, particularly for the Great War, is far from straightforward.
As to English independence from Scotland, go for it. Should have happened in 1966.