Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal

Instituted:
1830

Qualification:
The Army Long Service & Good Conduct (LSGC) medal was originally awarded to infantry NCOs and men who had completed 21 years' good conduct, or cavalry NCOs and men who had completed 24 years' good conduct. In 1870 the qualifying period was reduced to 18 years for both the cavalry and the infantry.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter. The metal and the size appear to be the only characteristics of the medal that remained unchanged over the years. The following information comes from a variety of sources.

1830-1837 King William IV's reign - type 1

The medal was designed by by Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855). His most famous design was that of St George slaying the dragon, an image that first appeared on British gold sovereigns and crwons in 1817 and is still in use today. The obverse of type 1 of the Army LSGC medal depicts the royal coat of arms with a small shield of the House of Hanover, surrounded by a trophy of arms. The reverse carries the legend, FOR / LONG SERVICE / AND / GOOD CONDUCT. The small suspension ring introduced with the medal in 1830 was replaced by a larger ring in 1831.

1837-1901 Queen Victoria's reign - type 2

The House of Hanover badge was dropped (although new dies were not introduced until 1839) and replaced by Queen Victoria's Royal coat of arms. Smaller lettering replaced the large lettering on the reverse. The legend remained the same: FOR / LONG SERVICE / AND / GOOD CONDUCT. In 1855 a swivelling scroll suspension was introduced.

1901-1910 King Edward VII's reign - type 3

The third type of the Army LSGC replaced Victoria's coat of arms with the head or bust of the reigning monarch. The obverse of the King Edward VII version portrays the bust of the King (facing left) in field marshal's uniform with the legend EDWARDUS VII REX IMPERATOR. The reverse carries the legend, FOR / LONG SERVICE / AND / GOOD CONDUCT.

1910-1936 King George V's reign - type 3

The obverse depicts the bust of King George V (facing left) with the legend GEORGIUS BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: IND: IMP: (George V, omnipotent King of Great Britain and Emperor of India). The reverse carries the legend, FOR / LONG SERVICE / AND / GOOD CONDUCT. In 1920 the scroll suspender was altered to a non swivelling type.

In 1930 the name of the medal was changed to the Long Service and Good Conduct Military Medal.

Ribbon:
Originally dark crimson, this was amended to dark crimson with white edges for awards made from 1916 onwards.

Naming:
A combination of engraved and impressed.

Clasps:
No clasps were awarded for this medal.

Other
A Long Service medal was also issued to members of the Volunteer Force. This was a different medal and had a different coloured (green) ribbon.

Image:
I've borrowed the photograph on this page from the Frontier Medals website. It shows a type 2 Army LSGC medal.

Efficiency Medal

Instituted:
17th October 1930.

Qualification:
Awarded to NCOs and men who had completed twelve years’ service with the Territorial Force, with war service and service in West Africa counting double. Service did not have to be concurrent. This medal replaced the Territorial Efficiency Medal, the Militia Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and other Commonwealth equivalents.

Description:
Silver oval medal, 39mm high and 32mm wide. The obverse bears the reigning monarch's bust. The reverse carries the inscription 'FOR EFFICIENT SERVICE'. The fixed suspension is in the form of two laurel leaves and bears a scroll bar bearing the relevant title (see below).

There have been five medal types (versions) as follows:

Type 1: GV
King George V (1930-1936). A robed bust and the legend GEORGIVS V D G BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: INDIAE IMP.

Type 2: GVI 1
King George VI (1937-1948). A crowned head and the legend GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN : REX : ET INDIAE IMP.

Type 3: GVI 2
King George VI (1949-1952). A crowned head and the legend GEORGIVS VI DEI: GRA: BRITT OMN: REX: FID: DEF.

Type 4: EIIR 1
Queen Elizabeth II (1952-1953). A crowned head and the legend ELIZABETH II D : G : BR : OMN : REGINA F. D.

Type 5: EIIR 2
Queen Elizabeth II (1953-2000). A crowned head and the legend ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF.

This medal was replaced in 2000 by the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal.

Ribbon:
Three different ribbons have been used throughout this medal's seventy year history. The first ribbon (1930-1969) was green with yellow edges. The second ribbon (1969-2000) maintained the yellow edges with the centre portion equally divided between blue (left) and green (right). The third version of this ribbon was issued to members of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). The yellow edges were retained with the centre portion equally divided between dark blue (left) and scarlet (right).

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals around the edge.

Clasps:
Three clasps have appeared at different times on the UK versions of this medal: "TERRITORIAL" (issued 1930-1969 and 1892-2000) " MILITIA" (issued 1930-1951) and " T & A V R " (issued 1969-1982). As indicated, the T A A V R clasp was introduced in 1969 but abandoned in 1982 and replaced with the re-introduced TERRITORIAL clasp. There are 34 differently named Commonwealth clasps.

Image:
King George V, type 1 with TERRITORIAL clasp.

Delhi Durbar Medal 1911

Instituted:
1911

Qualification:
Awarded to those present at the Durbar celebrations in Delhi, India to mark the coronation of King George V. A large contingent of British Army officers and men was in attendance for the 1911 Delhi Durbar, although only approximately one quarter of those present at the occasion actually received this medal.

Description:
36mm diameter. The obverse portrays the two crowned busts of King George V and Queen Mary facing left, within a floral wreath. The king and queen wear robes of state. The reverse contains Persian script which translates (in the centre) as "Dehli 1911" and around the perimeter, "The Durbar of George V, Emperor of India, Master of the British Lands".

The majority of the medals were issued in silver although a limited quantity were also struck in gold for rulers of the Princely Indian states, and high ranking government officials.

Ribbon:
Blue with two vertical red bands.

Naming:
Issued un-named although occasionally unofficially named.

Clasps:
No clasps were awarded for this medal.

Other:
Around 28,600 1911 Delhi Durbar Medals were awarded. One of the recipients was George A J Welch, commemorated on this site.

Image:
The photograph on this page shows the medal group of Lt Colonel Frederick Charles Laing and comes from the King Emperor website. His medal group comprises (from left to right), the 1895 India General Service medal (with three clasps), 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Inter-Allied Victory Medal, and Delhi Durbar Medal 1911.

British Army Medals - Index

This index of medals awarded to soldiers serving with the British Army will be regularly updated. Medals are indexed in date order. Click on the medal to go to the relevant page on this site.

18th Century

Army of India Medal [1799-1826]

19th Century

Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal [1830]

Jellalabad Medals [1841-1842]

Punjab Campaign Medal [1848-1849]

Indian Mutiny Medal [1857-1858]

Canada General Service Medal [1866-1870]

Ashantee Medal [1873-1874]

Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal [1880-1897]

Afghanistan Medal [1878-1880]
Kabul to Kandahar Star [1880]

Egypt Medal [1882-1889]

Queen's Sudan Medal [1896-1898]

1900 - 1913

Queen's South Africa Medal [1899-1902]
King's South Africa Medal [1901-1902]

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal [1908]
Delhi Durbar Medal 1911 [1911]

1914-1920

1914 Star [1914]
1914-15 Star [1914-1915]
British War Medal [1914-1920]
Inter-Allied Victory Medal [1914-1918]
Territorial Force War Medal [1914-1919]

Inter-war

Efficiency Medal [1930]

Post WW2

The Elizabeth Cross [2009]

King's South Africa Medal (KSA)

Instituted:
1902

Qualification:
Boer War. Issued to all those who were in a theatre of war on or after 1st January 1902 and who had completed 18 months’ service in the conflict before 1st June 1902.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter, with the same swivelling suspension as that on the Queen’s South Africa Medal (QSA). The obverse portrays the bust of King Edward VII (facing left) in field marshal's uniform with the legend EDWARDUS VII REX IMPERATOR. The reverse is the same as the reverse of the 3rd version QSA, namely Britannia, her trident and shield on the ground behind her, holding a standard in her left hand and offering a wreath (pointing to the letter F of AFRICA) with her right. A column of soldiers advances towards and past her whilst at her back, battleships can be seen offshore. The words SOUTH AFRICA are written above.

Ribbon:
From the left, equal widths of green, white and orange.

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals. There are some known examples of officers’ medals which have been engraved.

Clasps:
Two clasps were awarded: South Africa 1901 (awarded to all those who served in South Africa between 1st January 1901 and the 31st December 1901 inclusive)and South Africa 1902 (awarded to all those who served in South Africa between 1st January 1902 and the 31st May 1902 inclusive).

Other:
The KSA was never issued on its own and was always paired with the Queen’s South Africa Medal (QSA). Nurses received the KSA without clasps.

Alexander Burns and George A J Welch, commemorated on this site, both served during the Second Boer War and received the QSA and KSA.

Queen's South Africa Medal (QSA)

Authorised:
1900.

Qualification:
Second Boer War 1899-1902. Awarded to military personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines who served during the Second Boer War in South Africa between 11th October 1899 and 31st May 1902. The medal was also awarded to members of colonial forces who took part in the conflict, “non-enlisted men of whatever nationality who drew military pay”, and war correspondents. Additionally, the QSA without bar was awarded to troops guarding Boer prisoners of war on the island of St Helena.

Description:
The majority of the medals were silver, although bronze versions were issued to some Indian troops and the “non-enlisted men” above.

36mm in diameter. The obverse portrays the veiled head of Queen Victoria facing left, and the legend, VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX (which translates as VICTORIA, QUEEN AND EMPRESS). The reverse depicts Britannia, her trident and shield on the ground behind her, holding a standard in her left hand and offering a wreath with her right. A column of soldiers advances towards and past her whilst at her back, battleships can be seen offshore. The words SOUTH AFRICA are written above.

Variants:
So confident were the authorities that the campaign against the Boers would be a swift one, that the QSA was struck with the dates 1899-1900 which appeared at approximately the 3 o’clock position on the medal, above the heads of the advancing column. When it was realised that the war was going to last beyond 1900, the dates were machined off, but not before around 50 had been issued. Subsequent releases of the medal were issued without the dates and with Britannia’s wreath pointing to the letter F in AFRICA and not the letter R where it had pointed on the first, dated version of the medal. Dated versions of the QSA are rare. Undated versions and versions of the medal with “ghosting” or “ghosted dates” are common.

Ribbon:
Orange centre (12mm width) and then, on either side, dark blue (5mm width) and red (5mm width) width.

Naming:
Some medals were impressed in sand serif capitals around the edge, whilst others were engraved in sloping serif capitals and lower case.

Clasps:
Twenty six clasps were issued. Five of these clasps detailed South African states. Two detailed dates and 19 detailed actions or engagements. It is common to find multiple clasps issued to army personnel but the majority of QSAs issued to Royal Navy personnel were issued “bare=arsed”, only around 1500 issued with one clasp and 700 issued with two clasps.

The five South African state clasps are:
Cape Colony, Natal, Rhodesia, Transvaal, Orange Free State. (Note, a man could qualify for either the Cape Colony clasp or the Natal clasp, but not both).

The two date clasps are:
South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. These were awarded to troops who served between 1st January 1901 and 31st December 1901 inclusive and/or between 1st January 1902 and 31st May 1902 inclusive who were not entitled to receive the King’s South Africa Medal.

The 19 battle clasps (in alphabetical order) are:
Belfast, Belmont, Defence of Kimberley, Defence of Ladysmith, Defence of Mafeking, Diamond Hill, Driefontein, Elandslaagte, Johannesburg, Laing’s Nek, Modder River, Paardeberg, Relief of Kimberley, Relief of Ladysmith, Relief of Mafeking, Talana, Tugela Heights, Wepener, Wittebergen.

Other:
Alexander Burns and George A J Welch, commemorated on this site, both served during the Second Boer War and received the QSA and KSA.

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal

Authorised:
1908.

Qualification:
Awarded to NCOs and men who had completed twelve years’ service with the Territorial Force, with war service counting double. Service did not have to be concurrent.

49,526 TFEMs were awarded, 835 with a one bar and 64 with two bars (see below).

Description:
Silver oval medal, 38mm high and 31mm wide. The obverse bears the head of the reigning monarch with legend. Two monarchs appeared on this medal: King Edward VII and King George V. For King Edward VII, the legend reads: EDWARDUS VII REX IMPERATOR. For King George V, the legend reads GEORGIUS BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: IND: IMP.

The reverse carries the inscription: TERRITORIAL FORCE EFFICIENCY MEDAL. An ornate claw mount on the medal links to a metal loop through which the ribbon passes.

Ribbon:
Green with yellow stripe running vertically through the middle.

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals around the edge.

Clasps:
Bars were awarded for further periods of 12 years’ service.

Other:
This award, instituted when the Territorial Force was formed, superseded the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal. It was itself superseded in 1921 by the Territorial Efficiency Medal.

Image:
King George V TFEM image from BRITISHMEDALS.INFO

The Elizabeth Cross

Authorised:
Announced by the MoD on Wednesday 1st July 2009.

Qualification:
Awarded to the next of kin of members of the armed forces killed in action or as a result of terrorist attack since September 1945.

Description:
The Elizabeth Cross is the first award to be issued by a reigning British monarch since 1940.

Dimensions unknown. Issued in sterling silver. Cross surmounted on laurel wreath with E II R and crown in the centre of the cross. The four compass points of the cross bear the English rose (north), Scottish thistle (east), Irish shamrock (south) and Welsh daffodil (west). The medal is manufactured by Gladman and Norman. Issued in presentation box.

Ribbon:
Not known

Naming:
Not known.

Other:
Awarded with a miniature Elizabeth Cross and memorial scroll signed by HM Queen Elizabeth II. Families of personnel who lost their lives before 2000 have to apply for the award. Those who have died since 2000 will be contacted by the Ministry of Defence.

Image:
MoD Crown Copyright.

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-1919

Authorised:
1920.

Qualification:
First World War. Recipients either had to be members of the Territorial Force on 4th August 1914 or had to have completed four years or more of service prior to the 4th August 1914 and re-joined before 30th September 1914.

In addition to the above, recipients had to have volunteered - prior to 30th September 1914 - to have served outside the United Kingdom and to have actually served between 4th August 1914 and 11th November 1918. Recipients of the 1914 Star or the 1914-15 Star were inelligible to receive the Territorial Force War Medal 1914-1919.

Description:
This is the least common of the Great War campaign medals with just under 34,000 medals issued to members of the Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service.

36mm diameter bronze with fixed plain suspension. Obverse: King George V and the legend: GEORGIUS BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: IND: IMP: which is the abbreviated 1919 'txt' equivalent of "George V, omnipotent King of Great Britain and Emperor of India." (This is the same as the obverse of the British War Medal). Reverse: TERRITORIAL WAR MEDAL is inscribed around the top half perimeter. The words FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS 1914-19 are inscribed within a laurel wreath.

Ribbon:
Yellow with two green stripes.

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals around the edge.

Other:
Image borrowed from North East Medals.