Date
Instituted: 1845.
Description: The obverse of this medal bears the effigy of the reigning
monarch while the reverse has the inscription 'FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE'
within a wreath surmounted by a crown. The suspender is of the
scroll type with an ornate claw mount.
Metal: Silver.
Size: 36mm.
Bars: Authorised for subsequent awards.
| Ribbon: |
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Naming: Impressed
or engraved capital letters.
Comments: Awarded to senior NCOs of the Army for distinguished or
meritorious service who received up to £20 a year for life.
Some £2,000 was set aside each year to pay recipients thus
the number of awards made were limited by this fund with new issues
only made when an existing recipient died. Recipients of this medal
were not granted permission to wear the Army Long Service and Good
Conduct Medal until 1902. Since 1951 this medal has been awarded
without the annuity and in larger numbers but payments have still
been made as funds permitted. In 1956 to be eligible to recieve
this medal recipients need to have completed at least 27 years service.
A
second type of MSM was effectively introduced in 1916 which could
be awarded without annuity and immediately (i.e without 27 years
service) for acts of gallantry or meritorious service. This was
extended again in 1917 to cover such acts though not in the face
of the enemy. |
