Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)

This article is about the medal awarded in the United Kingdom. For similarly named medals, see Meritorious Service Medal.

Meritorious Service Medal
First King George V version
TypeMilitary medal
Awarded forMeritorious service by those military members who are of irreproachable character with at least 20 years of service and already hold the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal of their service
Presented byThe United Kingdom
EligibilityWarrant officers and non-commissioned officers above the rank of corporal, or equivalent, who have served in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Regular Army or Royal Air Force.
Post-nominalsNot used
StatusCurrently awarded
EstablishedArmy 1845
Marines 1849
Air Force 1918
Navy 1919

Ribbon bar of the Army, Navy, Marine and RAF (current) medal

Ribbon bar of the Air Force medal (1918–1928)
Precedence
Next (higher)Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal[1]
Next (lower)Accumulated Campaign Service Medal[1]

The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is a British medal awarded to Senior Non Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers of the British armed forces for long and meritorious service. From 1916 to 1928, eligibility was extended to cover both valuable services by selected other ranks irrespective of length of service, and for gallantry not in the face of the enemy.[2]

Eligibility was widened in December 1977, with the medal now awarded on the same basis to all arms of the British armed forces.[3]

  1. ^ a b "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3352.
  2. ^ Captain H. Taprell Dorling. (1956). Ribbons and Medals. A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. pp. 116–117.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mussell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).