Imperial Service Order

Award to British Empire civil servants on retirement

Imperial Service Order

Decoration as worn by gentlemen.

Awarded by Charles III
Type| Order
Established| August 1902
Awarded for| Nationally important service
Status| Currently constituted
(only in Papua New Guinea)
Sovereign| Charles III
Grades| Companion
Post-nominals| ISO

Ribbon bar of the order

The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service.[1] Normally a person must have served for 25 years to become eligible, but this might be shortened to 16 years for those serving in unhealthy climates abroad. There is one class: Companion. Both men and women are eligible, and recipients of this order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters 'ISO'.[2][3]

## History

[edit]

The new order was announced in the 1902 Coronation Honours list published on 26 June 1902, on the day scheduled for the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.[4] The coronation was postponed due to the King's illness, however, and the statutes of the order were published on 8 August 1902, to coincide with the actual coronation on the following day.[5] The first list of recipients was included in the Birthday Honours list published on the King′s birthday 9 November 1902.[6]

## Insignia

[edit]

The insignia of the order for men was an eight-pointed silver star, with the top ray obscured by a crown; the golden central medallion bore the cipher of the reigning monarch surrounded by the legend 'For Faithful Service'. This was suspended on a ribbon of crimson with a blue central stripe.

The insignia of the order for women had the same medallion as for men, surrounded by a silver laurel wreath and topped by a crown. This was suspended on a bow of crimson with a blue central stripe.

## Imperial Service Medal

[edit]

Imperial Service Medal

Obverse

Reverse

Main article: Imperial Service Medal

ISO as worn by gentlemen (above) and ladies (below)

Civil servants who complete 25 years' service are eligible for the Imperial Service Medal (ISM) upon retirement. The medal is a silver circular medal bearing the effigy of the reigning monarch on the obverse, and the motif of a man resting after work with the legend 'For Faithful Service' on the reverse. The ribbon or bow pattern is the same as the Imperial Service Order.

## 1993 reforms

[edit]

During the 1993 reform of the British honours system the British Government decided to make no new appointments to the Imperial Service Order. The Imperial Service Medal, however, continues to be awarded in recognition of certain individuals who make positive contributions.

## Statutes

[edit]

The Order is governed by statutes.[7]

## See also

[edit]

* Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Archives". Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
2. ^ Duckers, Peter (2004). British Orders and Decorations. Shire Books. pp. 48–51.
3. ^ Honours and Titles (second ed.). HMSO. 1996. p. 101.
4. ^ "The Coronation Honours". The Times. No. 36804\. London. 26 June 1902. p. 5.
5. ^ Statutes can be read here "No. 27463". The London Gazette. 8 August 1902. p. 5171.
6. ^ "Birthday Honours". The Times. No. 36921\. London. 10 November 1902. p. 10.
7. ^ "Statutes of the Imperial Service Order - a Freedom of Information request to Cabinet Office" (PDF). 9 April 2023.

* 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

* v
* t
* e

Former decorations of Australia

Australian Honours Order of Precedence prior to 6 October 1992

Orders of chivalry|

| Most Honourable
Order of the Bath|

* Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)
* Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB)
* Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)

|

Most Distinguished
Order of St Michael
and St George|

* Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
* Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG/DCMG)
* Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Most Excellent Order
of the British Empire|

* / Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
* / Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)
* / Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
* / Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
* / Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Imperial Service Order|

* Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)

Order of the
Companions of Honour|

* Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)

Miscellaneous|

* Hereditary peer
* Life peer
* Baronet
* Knight Bachelor

Military
gallantry/bravery
decorations|

| In the face
of the enemy|

* Victoria Cross (VC)
* Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
* Military Cross (MC)
* Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM)
* Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) (CGM)
* Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
* Military Medal (MM)
* Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
* Mentioned in despatches

|

Not the face
of the enemy|

* Air Force Cross (AFC)
* Air Force Medal (AFM)
* Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Distinguished
service
decorations|

| In the face
of the enemy|

* Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

|

Not the face
of the enemy|

* King's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (KPM)
* King's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service (KFSM)

Civil bravery
decorations|

* George Cross (GC)
* Albert Medal, First Class (AM)
* Albert Medal, First Class (Sea) (AM)
* Albert Medal, Second Class (AM)
* Albert Medal, Second Class (Sea) (AM)
* George Medal (GM)
* King's Police Medal for Gallantry (KPM)
* King's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry (KFSM)
* Sea Gallantry Medal (SGM)
* Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM)
* Edward Medal (EM)
* Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Nursing service|

* Member of the Royal Red Cross (RRC)
* Associate of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC)

Meritorious service|

* / British Empire Medal (BEM)
* King's Commendation for Valuable Service

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