Not sure I catch your meaning. Hand-to-hand bayonet action with 2000 fatalities sounds like serious action, and like any medals would have been well-earned. I don't think the Kerry band-aid medals--especially the first one--are in the same league.
What I meant was that there were other, lesser British medals, more equivalent to Silver/Bronze Stars, say. The Victoria Cross was the highest, and reserved only for cases of truly exceptional bravery. Purple Hearts are in no way comparable.