Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
The Long Service & Good Conduct (LSGC) medal was instituted in 1830. The medal is made from silver and is 36 millimetres in diameter. Originally the medal's ribbon was plain crimson 1” wide. However in 1917 due to its similarity to the Victoria Cross it was replaced to a 1.25” crimson ribbon with white stripe at both edges. The medal was originally awarded to infantry NCOs and men who had completed 21 years' good conduct, or cavalry NCOs and men who had completed 24 years' good conduct. In 1870, this qualifying period was reduced to 18 years for both the infantry and cavalry. During the Second World War, officers could also be awarded this medal if they had completed at least 12 of the 18 years in the ranks. In 1940 clasps for further periods of service were introduced. In 1977 this qualification period was reduced further to 15 years. The vast majority of LS&GC medals are issued named to the recipient, with the name on the rim around the medal either engraved and impressed. A Long Service medal was also issued to members of the Volunteer Force. This was a different medal and had a different coloured (green) ribbon. The metal and the size of the medal appear to be the only characteristics that remained unchanged over the years. Originally dark crimson, this was amended to dark crimson with white edges for awards made from 1916 onwards. |
RSM W. Vann |
Type 1 - 1830-1837 during the reign of King William IV.
The medal was designed by by Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855). His most famous design was that of St. George slaying the dragon, an image that first appeared on British gold sovereigns and crowns in 1817. The obverse of Type 1 of the Army LSGC medal depicts the royal coat of arms with a small shield of the House of Hanover, surrounded by a trophy of arms and a small suspension ring and steel clip suspender with a plain crimson ribbon. The reverse carries the legend, FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT. The small suspension ring which was introduced with the first medal in 1830 was replaced by a larger ring in 1831.
Type 2 - 1837-1901 during the reign of Queen Victoria.
On this version the House of Hanover badge was dropped (although new dies were not introduced until 1839) and replaced by Queen Victoria's Royal coat of arms. Smaller lettering replaced the large lettering on the reverse. The legend remained the same: FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT. In 1855 a swivelling scroll suspension was introduced, followed in 1874 by small lettering replacing the original large lettering on the reverse side.
King William IV |
Queen Victoria |
Queen Victoria |
King Edward VII |
Type 3 - 1901-1910 during the reign of King Edward VII.
The third type of the Army LSGC replaced Victoria's coat of arms with the head or bust of the reigning monarch. The obverse of the King Edward VII version portrays the bust of the King (facing left) in field marshal's uniform with the legend EDWARDUS VII REX IMPERATOR. The reverse side remained unchanged and carries the legend, FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT.
Type 3 - 1910-1936 during the reign of King George V.
The obverse depicts the bust of King George V (facing left) with the legend GEORGIUS BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: IND: IMP: (George V, omnipotent King of Great Britain and Emperor of India). The reverse carries the legend, FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT. In 1920 the scroll suspender was altered to a non swivelling type.
In 1930 the title of the medals was changed to the Long Service and Good Conduct (Military) Medal. This medal which started with the King George V second issue medal, had a suspender bar on which various titles appear. The British issue had “Regular Army”, other bars such as “India” , “Canada” , “Australia”, “New Zealand” and “South Africa” are also found. This standardised all awards to regular forces of the British Empire and replaced the Permanent Forces of the Empire Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Reverse side |
King George V |
King George VI |
Queen Elizabeth II |
Worcestershire Regiment
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Sgt. J. J. Crowe |
Summary of the different variants of the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
William IV 1830-1831 - First issue of this medal depicts the royal coat of arms with a small shield of the House of Hanover, surrounded by a trophy of arms and a small suspension ring and steel clip suspender with a plain crimson ribbon.
William IV 1831-1837 - Similar to the first medal but it had a large ring or rectangular suspender.
Victoria 1837 – 1855 - Large letters on reverse and ring or rectangular suspender, Queen Victoria's Royal coat of arms surrounded by a trophy of arms .
Victoria 1855 – 1874 - Large letters on reverse and a scroll suspender, Queen Victoria's Royal coat of arms surrounded by a trophy of arms.
Victoria 1874 – 1901 - Small letters on reverse and a scroll suspender, Queen Victoria's Royal coat of arms surrounded by a trophy of arms.
Edward VII 1902 - 1910 - Bareheaded bust in Field Marshal's uniform.
George V 1911 - 1920 - Bareheaded bust in Field Marshal's uniform.
George V 1920 - 1930 - Bareheaded bust in Field Marshal's uniform with fixed suspender bearing the words REGULAR ARMY or the name of the dominion (India, Canada etc).
George V 1930 - 1936 - Crowned bust in Coronation robe.
George VI 1937 -1948 - Coinage profile INDIAE: IMP 1937-48
George VI 1949 - 1952 - Coinage profile FID: DEF 1949-52
Elizabeth II 1953 - Tudor Crown BR:OMN 1953-54 or with BR: OMN omitted.
Elizabeth II 1953 – 1954 - Coinage bust BRITT:OMN 1953-54
Elizabeth II 1955 - - Coinage bust BRITT:OMN omitted 1955 -