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.
Established| 8 August 1902[1]
Final award| 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]

## 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 HM 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

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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
* Elizabeth Emblem

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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