Territorial Force Efficiency Medal

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

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal
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 byThe United Kingdom
EligibilityTerritorial Force – other ranks
ClaspsBars awarded for further periods of 12 years service
StatusThis award:
Established1908
Total recipients49,526 (899 with bar, 64 with second bar)
Regular and HAC ribbon bars
Obverse, Edward VII, 1908–11

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Established in 1908, the medal superseded the Volunteer Long Service Medal and the Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal when the Territorial Force was formed on 1 April 1908.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The medal was superseded by the Territorial Efficiency Medal when the Territorial Force was elevated to become the Territorial Army in 1921.[3]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]

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. 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. "Territorial Force Efficiency Medal". Medal Encyclopaedia (Online Medals). Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  7. 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.ukArchived 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)

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