Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Indian Army)

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Indian Meritorious Service Medal

Indian MSM.png

Obverse and reverse of Victoria version of the medal
Awarded by British Raj
Type Long and meritorious service medal
Eligibility Indians in the British Indian Army
Awarded for Long and meritorious service
Status No longer awarded
Statistics
Established 1888
Last awarded 1947
Order of Wear
Next (higher) Royal West African Frontier Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal [1]
Next (lower) Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal [1]
Related Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Indian Army)
LS&GC and MSM early version ribbons.png
First version of ribbon
Meritorious Service Medal (UK).png
Later version of the ribbon

The Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Indian Army) was a long and meritorious service medal awarded to Indian non-commissioned officers in the British Indian Army.

British Indian Army 1858–1947 land warfare branch of British Indias military, distinct from the British Army in India

The Indian Army (IA), often known since 1947 as the British Indian Army to distinguish it from the current Indian Army, was the principal military of the British Indian Empire before its decommissioning in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of both the British Indian Empire and the princely states, which could also have their own armies. The Indian Army was an important part of the British Empire's forces, both in India and abroad, particularly during the First World War and the Second World War.

Contents

History

Established on 27 July 1888, the Indian Meritorious Service Medal could be awarded to one Daffadar or Havildar of each of the regiments of the Presidency armies. [2] To be awarded the medal men must have served at least 18 years and had performed in a meritorious manner, with no court-martials, and having been entered in the defaulters book fewer than five times. He must also have been recommended by his commanding officer. [3] Recipients of the Indian Meritorious Service Medal had to surrender any previously awarded Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. [4]

Daffadar is the equivalent rank to sergeant in the Indian and Pakistani cavalry, as it was formerly in the British Indian Army. The rank below is lance daffadar. The equivalent in infantry and other units is havildar. Like a British sergeant, a daffadar wears three rank chevrons.

Havildar

A havildar or havaldar is a rank in the Indian and Pakistani armies, equivalent to a sergeant. It is not used in cavalry units, where the equivalent is daffadar. Like a British sergeant, a havildar wears three rank chevrons.

Presidency armies

The presidency armies were the armies of the three presidencies of the East India Company's rule in India, later the forces of the British Crown in India, composed primarily of Indian sepoys. The presidency armies were named after the presidencies: the Bengal Army, the Madras Army and the Bombay Army. Initially, only Europeans served as commissioned or non-commissioned officers. In time, Indian Army units were garrisoned from Peshawar in the north, to Sind in the west, and to Rangoon in the east. The army was engaged in the wars to extend British control in India and beyond.

Appearance

The Indian Meritorious Service Medal is a circular silver medal 1.4 inches in diameter, designed by L.C. Wyon. The obverse depicts the effigy of the reigning sovereign. Around the edge is the inscription of the sovereign's regnal name and the title KAISAR-I-HIND . [4] The reverse depicts an outer wreath of lotus flowers and leaves surrounding an inner wreath of palm leaves. Between the two wreaths is the inscription FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. Inside the inner wreath is the word INDIA. [2]

Leonard Charles Wyon English engraver

Leonard Charles Wyon was a British engraver of the Victorian era most notable for his work on the gold and silver coinage struck for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 and the bronze coinage of 1860 with the second ("bun") head portrait, in use from 1860 to 1894.

A regnal name, or reign name, is the name used by monarchs and popes during their reigns and, subsequently, historically. Since ancient times, some monarchs have chosen to use a different name from their original name when they accede to the monarchy.

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Defense Meritorious Service Medal

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Army of India Medal

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Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

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Meritorious Service Medal (New Zealand)

The New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal is a meritorious and long service award for members of the New Zealand Defence Force. Initially established on 28 April 1898 as the Meritorious Service Medal, only members of the New Zealand Army were eligible for award. In 1985, a Royal Warrant established the current criteria for the medal making all members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force eligible for the award. Members of the defence forces above the rank of sergeant, who have at least 21 years of service, and hold their service's Long Service and Good Conduct Medal are eligible for the medal. The New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal is to be replaced by the New Zealand Defence Meritorious Service Medal, though holders of the superseded medal are still entitled to continue wearing it.

Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration

The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration, post-nominal letters VD, was established in 1899 as recognition for long and meritorious service as a part-time commissioned officer in any of the organized military forces of the British Colonies, Dependencies and Protectorates. It superseded the Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies in all these territories, but not in the Indian Empire.

Central Africa Medal

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The African Police Medal for Meritorious Service was a medal awarded to non-European police officers in British African colonies. Awarded from 1915-1938, the medal was replaced by the Colonial Police Medal and the Colonial Police Long Service Medal.

Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Europeans of Indian Army)

The Indian Meritorious Service Medal was a medal to recognize long and meritorious service by European non-commissioned officers in service of the East India Company's Army.

Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for Europeans of Indian Army)

The Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was a medal to recognize long and efficient service by Europeans in service of the East India Company's Army.

Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

The Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was a long service medal awarded to Indian other ranks in the British Indian Army.

Volunteer Long Service Medal

The Volunteer Long Service Medal was instituted in 1894 as an award for long service by other ranks and some officers of the United Kingdom's Volunteer Force. Award of the medal was discontinued when it was superseded by the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal in 1908.

The Indian Police Medal (IPM) was an award of the British Raj presented to both European and Asian police personnel. Established in 1932, the award was presented for meritorious service and gallantry that was of a lesser degree than what was required for the King's Police Medal.

Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope)

In May 1895, Queen Victoria authorised Colonial governments to adopt various British military medals and to award them to members of their local permanent military forces. The Cape of Good Hope introduced this system in September 1895 and, in 1896, instituted the Meritorious Service Medal .

Meritorious Service Medal (Natal)

In May 1895, Queen Victoria authorised Colonial governments to adopt various British military medals and to award them to members of their local permanent military forces. The Colony of Natal introduced this system in August 1895 and, in 1897, instituted the Meritorious Service Medal (Natal).

Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies

The Volunteer Long Service Medal was instituted in 1894 as an award for long service by other ranks and some officers of the United Kingdom's Volunteer Force. In 1896, the grant of the medal was extended to other ranks and officers who had served in the ranks of the Volunteer Forces throughout the British Empire. A separate new medal was instituted, the Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies. Awarding of this medal was discontinued in stages when it was superseded in most territories by the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal in 1899 and in the remainder by the Efficiency Medal in 1930.

Nepal Medal

The Nepal Medal was awarded by the Honourable East India Company (HEIC) to native Indian officers, and Indian soldiers for particularly distinguished conduct, during the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814–16.

References

  1. 1 2 "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3352.
  2. 1 2 Mayo, 480
  3. ↑ Mayo, 481
  4. 1 2 Steward, 845

Works cited

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