Meritorious service Medal
The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is a silver medal for distinguished service, or for gallantry, principally by non-commissioned officers of all of the British armed forces and of Queen Alexandra`s Royal Navel Nursing Service.
The Meritorious Service Medal was instituted on 19 December 1845 for the British Army, to recognise meritorious service by non-commissioned officers. Recipients were also granted an annuity, the amount of which was based on rank.During 1916–1919, army NCOs could be awarded the medal immediately for meritorious service in the field. They could also be awarded the medal for acts of non-combat gallantry. Awards for gallantry ceased after 7 September 1928, as they were honoured by the Empire Gallantry Medal.
The medal for Royal Marines was instituted in 1849, for gallantry or for distinguished service. As a gallantry medal, it was superseded by the Naval Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. As with the Army, during 1916–1919 NCOs of the Royal Marines could be awarded the medal in the field. Since 1977, the Royal Marines’ medal is only awarded for long service and is identical to the Royal Navy’s.
The Royal Air Forceversion of the medal was instituted in 1918, for meritorious service not involving flight.It was superseded in 1928 by the Empire Gallantry Medal. Awards of the medal began again in 1977 using the same criteria as the Army.
The Royal Navy’s medal was instituted in 1919, for gallantry not in the face of the enemy and for meritorious service by petty officersand senior navel ratings. As a gallantry award, it was superseded by the Empire Gallantry Medal in 1928, but resumed in 1977. It is now awarded to senior NCOs in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Woman`s Royal Navel Serviceand Queen Alexandra`s Royal Navel Nursing Service.
The first woman to be awarded the medal was Warrant Officer Marion Dickson Mackay in 1966.
Following historic variations between the medals awarded in each of the armed forces, including slight differences in design and in the criteria for the award, the same medal is now issued for all of the services.To be awarded the MSM, an individual must have “good, faithful, valuable and meritorious service, with conduct judged to be irreproachable throughout”. Other ranks must have at least twenty years service, must already hold Long Service and Good Conduct Medals, and for the Army and the Royal Air Force must have reached the equivalent rank of sergeant. Officers of any service can also be considered for the medal immediately after being commissioned, provided they meet the other criteria, but not later.
The number of MSMs awarded is limited: no more than forty-nine a year may be awarded in the Royal Navy, three in the Royal Marines, eighty-nine in the Army and sixty in the Royal Air Force, and in practice these numbers are not reached.
Regimental Awards
WO2 C Pollard
WO2 P Young
WO2 AS Watson
WO2 MA Lamble
Csjt EP Goodwin (Band of the RIFLES)
Sourced from Wikipedia and the RGJRA http://www.rgjassociation.info
original source from www.thegazette.co.uk