Imperial Service Medal

British award for civil servants

Award

Imperial Service Medal

Obverse and reverse of the medal

Awarded for| 25 years of meritorious service
Presented by|  Charles III
Eligibility| Civil Servants of the United Kingdom, the Dominions, Colonies, Protectorates, and Overseas Territories.
Post-nominals| ISM
Established| 8 August 1902[1]
Last awarded| 2024 Special Honours

Ribbon bar of the medal

Order of Wear
Next (higher)| Polar Medal[2]
Next (lower)| Indian Police Medal[2]

Original design, Gentlemen's and ladies' issues

The Imperial Service Medal is a medal affiliated with the Imperial Service Order. The medal was established under the statutes of the Imperial Service Order, on 8 August 1902, by King Edward VII,[1] with the first awards appearing in the London Gazette in May 1903.[3] Recipients of this order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters 'ISM'.

## Eligibility

[edit]

It is presented upon retirement to selected civil servants, including those belonging to the lowest support and clerical branches,[4][5] who complete at least 25 years meritorious service. It is primarily an award to manual and industrial grades, including workers in H M Dockyards and, prior to 1969 when it moved from central government control, the Post Office.[6] Prison officers were eligible prior to the establishment in 2010 of the Prison Services Long Service Medal.[7] The minimum period of service was 20½ years in India prior to independence in 1947, and 16 years in unhealthy climates in other countries.[6]

## Appearance

[edit]

When originally created the Imperial Service Medal was a seven-pointed star, or a laurel wreath for women, in the same pattern as the Imperial Service Order, but with the star or laurel in bronze.[8] In 1920 an amendment of the statutes changed the appearance of the medal to its current form: a circular silver medal, 32 mm (1.3 in) in diameter, bearing the effigy of the reigning sovereign on the obverse.[9] To date, here have been six versions:[10]

* George V, 1920-30. Inscribed GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. INDIAE. IMP.

* George V, crowned head 1931-37. Inscribed GEORGIVS VI DEI. GRA. BRITT. OMN REX. FID. DEF.

* George VI, 1937-48. Inscribed GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP:

* George VI, 1949-53. Inscribed GEORGIVS VI DEI: GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF:

* Elizabeth II, 1953-54. Inscribed ELIZABETH II D: G: BR: OMN: REGINA F.D.

* Elizabeth II, 1954-2022. Inscribed ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.

* Common reverse, all issues since 1920.

The reverse bears the image of a naked man resting from his labours[10] with the inscription "For Faithful Service".[9][11] The name of the recipient is impressed on the rim of the medal. Recipients are listed in the London Gazette.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "No. 27463". The London Gazette. 8 August 1902. p. 5171.
2. ^ a b "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3352.
3. ^ "No. 27559". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 May 1903. p. 3521.
4. ^ Recognition: Imperial Service Medal, Ministry of Defence, says "Those eligible for consideration are Skill Zone and Band E grades" so including AA and AO grades
5. ^ Damon Rogers. The workman's medal: an analysis of the award of the Imperial Service Medal during the reign of Edward VII. Orders and Medals Research Society Journal, June 2022, Vol 61 No 2. Page 131.
6. ^ a b Nick Tucker. The Imperial Service Medal: is this humble medal underrated?. Orders and Medals Research Society Journal, March 2021, Vol 60 No 1. Pages 16–22.
7. ^ "No. 59672". The London Gazette. 17 January 2011. p. 615.
8. ^ Captain H. Taprell Dorling. Ribbons and Medals. p. 38\. Published A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956.
9. ^ a b "No. 31953". The London Gazette. 25 June 1920. p. 6875.
10. ^ a b John Mussell (ed). Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 84\. Published by Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon.
11. ^ "Imperial Service Order". yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/. The National Archives. 8 April 1986. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
12. ^ For example: "No. 61990". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 11 July 2017.

* v
* t
* e

Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom

Orders|

| Current|

* Garter
* Thistle
* Bath
* Merit
* St Michael and St George
* Royal Victorian
* Distinguished Service
* British Empire
* Imperial Service
* Companions of Honour
* St John

| Royal family orders|

* George VI
* Elizabeth II
* Charles III

|

Dormant|

* St Patrick
* Crown of India
* Star of India
* Indian Empire
* Indian Merit
* British India
* Burma

Defunct|

* Royal Guelphic

| Royal family orders|

* George IV
* Victoria & Albert
* Edward VII
* George V

|

Other|

* Royal Victorian Chain
* Hereditary peerage
* Life peerage
* Privy counsellor
* Baronet
* Knight Bachelor
* Aide-de-camp

Current
decorations
and medals|

| Level 1|

* Victoria Cross
* George Cross

|

Level 2A|

* Distinguished Service Order
* Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
* Royal Red Cross (class I)

Level 2B|

* George Medal
* King's Police Medal, for Gallantry
* King's Fire Service Medal, for Gallantry

Level 3A|

* Distinguished Service Cross
* Military Cross
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Air Force Cross
* Royal Red Cross (class II)

Level 3B|

* Sea Gallantry Medal
* King's Gallantry Medal
* Royal Victorian Medal
* British Empire Medal
* King’s Police Medal, for Distinguished Service
* King's Fire Service Medal, for Distinguished Service
* King's Ambulance Service Medal
* King's Volunteer Reserves Medal
* Polar Medal
* Imperial Service Medal
* Overseas Territories Police Medal
* Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service

Level 4|

* Mentioned in Despatches
* King's Commendation for Bravery
* King's Commendation for Bravery in the Air
* King's Commendation for Valuable Service

Other|

* Badge of Honour
* Elizabeth Cross

Obsolete
decorations
and medals|

| Level 1|

* Indian Order of Merit (1st class)
* Albert Medal (1st class)
* Edward Medal (1st class)
* Empire Gallantry Medal

|

Level 2A|

* Indian Order of Merit (2nd class)
* Distinguished Conduct Medal
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)

Level 2B|

* Albert Medal (2nd class)
* Edward Medal (2nd class)
* Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold

Level 3A|

* Order of British India (1st class)
* Order of British India (2nd class)
* Indian Order of Merit (3rd class)
* Title Badge (India) (1st class)
* Title Badge (India) (2nd class)
* Title Badge (India) (3rd class)
* Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal
* King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal
* Indian Distinguished Service Medal
* Distinguished Service Medal
* Military Medal
* Distinguished Flying Medal
* Air Force Medal
* Burma Gallantry Medal

Level 3B|

* Constabulary Medal (Ireland)
* Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver
* Kaisar-i-Hind Medal (Gold, Silver, Bronze)
* Indian Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Ceylon Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Gallantry
* Mauritius Police Medal for Meritorious Service
* Colonial Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Canada Medal
* Queen's Medal for Chiefs
* Indian Police Medal, for Meritorious Service
* Ceylon Police Medal, for Merit
* Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Meritorious Service
* Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Meritorious Service

Level 4|

* Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
* Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

See also
Order of Wear
British campaign medals
Degradation (knighthood)
Revocations
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