Territorial Force Efficiency Medal

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Territorial Force Efficiency Medal
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, George V, obverse.jpg
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, reverse.jpg
Obverse (George V) and reverse of the medal
TypeLong service medal
Awarded forA minimum of 12 years service, with war service counting double
DescriptionOval silver medal
Presented by The United Kingdom
EligibilityTerritorial Force – other ranks
Clasps Bars awarded for further periods of 12 years service
StatusThis award:
Established1908
Total recipients49,526 (899 with bar, 64 with second bar)
Ribbon - Efficiency Decoration (South Africa).png Ribbon - Efficiency Decoration (HAC).png
Regular and HAC ribbon bars
Obverse, Edward VII, 1908-11 Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, Edward VII, obverse.jpg
Obverse, Edward VII, 1908–11

The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal was a United Kingdom award for long service in the Territorial Force between 1908 and 1921.

Contents

Institution

Established in 1908, the medal superseded the Volunteer Long Service Medal and the Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal when the Territorial Force was formed on 1 April 1908. This followed the enactment of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907, (7 Edw.7, c.9) which instigated a major re-organisation of the old Volunteer Force and the remaining units of Militia and Yeomanry. [1] The Militia were transferred to the Special Reserve rather than the Territorial Force, and were therefore eligible for the Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. [2]

The medal was superseded by the Territorial Efficiency Medal when the Territorial Force was elevated to become the Territorial Army in 1921. [3]

Award criteria

The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal was awarded to non-commissioned officers and men for a minimum of 12 years service in the Territorial Force, providing they attended 12 annual training camps. [4] Previous service in other part-time forces including the Volunteer Force could count, [5] while war service counted double. [6] Bars were awarded for further periods of 12 years. [7]

The equivalent award for commissioned officers was the Territorial Decoration. [7] A recipient could wear both awards together, provided they completed the full periods of qualifying service for each. [8]

Description

The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal is an oval silver medal, 38 millimetres (1.5 inches) high and 31 millimetres (1.2 inches) wide.
The obverse depicts the bust of the reigning King in Field Marshall's uniform, facing left. Originally Edward VII was shown, with the legend, EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR. In 1911 the image was changed to that of George V, the legend reading GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:.
The reverse has a raised rim and bears the inscription "TERRITORIAL FORCE EFFICIENCY MEDAL" on four lines. [6]
The recipient's service number, rank, name, and unit were impressed on the edge of the medal. [9]

The medal hangs from a ring suspension, attached to the medal by a claw fixing. The 32 millimetres (1.26 inches) wide ribbon was originally plain dark green with a central yellow stripe, but in December 1919 was changed to plain dark green with yellow edges. [7]

Honourable Artillery Company

For members of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) the ribbon differed, being half blue, half scarlet with yellow edges, reflecting the racing colours of King Edward VII. [4] This distinction was bestowed by Edward VII for the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal and the honour was extended to long service medals under the Territorial designations. [10]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Territorial Efficiency Medal</span> Award

The Territorial Efficiency Medal (TEM) was a United Kingdom award for long service in the Territorial Army. It superseded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal when the Territorial Force became the Territorial Army in 1921. It was superseded by the Efficiency Medal in 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efficiency Medal</span> Award

The Efficiency Medal was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men after twelve years of efficient service on the active list of the Militia or the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom, or of the other Auxiliary Military Forces throughout the British Empire. At the same time a clasp was instituted for award to holders of the medal upon completion of further periods of six years of efficient service.

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The Efficiency Decoration, post-nominal letters TD for recipients serving in the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom or ED for those serving in the Auxiliary Military Forces, was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time officers after twenty years of service as an efficient and thoroughly capable officer. The decoration superseded the Volunteer Officers' Decoration, the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration and the Territorial Decoration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)</span> Award

The Efficiency Decoration , post-nominal letters ED, was instituted in 1930 for award to efficient and thoroughly capable part-time officers in the Citizen Force of the Union of South Africa after twenty years of service. The decoration superseded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration.

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The Militia Long Service Medal was a long service medal awarded by the United Kingdom between 1904 and 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volunteer Long Service Medal</span> Award

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.

Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Award

The Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was a long service medal awarded by the United Kingdom. The medal was awarded for service in the Army Special Reserve, or a combination of service in the Special Reserve and other part-time military forces. Awarded between 1908 and 1930, the medal was only awarded 1,078 times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal</span> Award

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies</span> UK 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. 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.

References

  1. Ian F. W. Beckett (2011). Britain's Part-Time Soldiers: The Amateur Military Tradition: 1558–1945. Barnsley, Yorkshire: Pen & Sword. pp. 206–216. ISBN   9781848843950.
  2. John W. Mussell. Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 238. Token Publishing Ltd, Honiton, Devon. ISBN   978-1-908-828-16-3.
  3. Mackay, J., Mussell, J.W., Editorial Team of Medal News, (2005), The Medal Yearbook, page 226, (Token Publishing Limited).
  4. 1 2 Dorling, H. Taprell (1956). Ribbons and Medals. London: A.H.Baldwin & Sons. p. 122. OCLC   930416375.
  5. "No. 32792". The London Gazette . 2 February 1923. p. 802. (See section 6).
  6. 1 2 "Territorial Force Efficiency Medal". Medal Encyclopaedia (Online Medals). Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 John W. Mussell. Medal Yearbook 2015. pp. 233–4. Token Publishing Ltd, Honiton, Devon. ISBN   978-1-908-828-16-3.
  8. Edinburgh Gazette, 22 November 1920, p. 2543, retrieved 26 January 2019
  9. Collett, D. W. (ed.). Medal Year Book 1981. p. 178. Published by Medals Yearbook, London E4.
  10. Honourable Artillery Company website.www.hac.org.uk Archived 2007-10-06 at the Wayback Machine .

Further reading

J M A Tamplin, The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, 1908–1921 and the Territorial Efficiency Medal, 1922–1930, (1985), (Spink: London)