The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)

The Meritorious Service Medal was introduced on 19th December 1845, and was typically awarded by British military authorities as a means of formally recognising long military service or given acts of merit.

The MSM (as it was known) was awarded to warrant officers and senior NCOs. Such servicemen were eligible for the award once they had received their army discharge after a period of at least 21 years.

With the vastly increased demand for medals generated by the First World War the MSM was, from 1916, also awarded for acts of gallantry or meritorious conduct when not in the face of the enemy (in which event other medals such as the V.C. and M.M. were available).

The MSM is made of silver, 36 millimetre diameter and has the profile of the sovereign on the obverse and the reverse side has a crown and wreath around the words "For Meritorious Service". The recipient's details are shown on the medal's rim.

The ribbon has undergone 3 designs since the medal introduction. From 1845 to 1916 it was Crimson only, from 1916 to 1917 it was Crimson with white edges, and 1917 onwards it was Crimson with white edges and centre stripe.

The medal was introduced, with an annual annuity (£20 per year), to recognise meritorious service by Sergeants and other senior NCOs. From 1956, recipients must have completed a minimum of 27 years service. The number of awards that could be made in a particular year was therefore limited by the amount of annuity. However, from 1951 the MSM could be awarded as required with the annuity paid when funds became available.

The gallantry portion was cancelled on 7th September 1928 because the British Empire Medal now served this purpose. The King's Regulations and Order's of 1939 listed the MSM and stated that it could be awarded to a soldier of the active militia who is recommended on account of gallant conduct in the performance of military duty (not necessarily on active service) or in saving or attempting to save the life of an officer or soldier, or for devotion to duty in a theatre of war.

 

Worcestershire Regiment men who were awarded the MSM (Meritorious Service Medal)

The rank show in the table below is that which was held at the time the Order was awarded.

 

Worcestershire Regiment men who were awarded the MSM in World War 1

Surname

Forename/s

Number

Rank

Gazette (date)

Abrahams

Albert George

200917

S.M.

04/06/1917

Adams

John Henry

40323

Sgt.

03/06/1919

Allen

Alfred

240037

C.Q.M.S.

01/01/1919

Andrews

Frank

10712

Pte.

03/06/1919

Bell

Arthur E.

40941

L/Cpl.

17/06/1918

Bickley

William

7310

R.Q.M.S.

17/06/1918

Bills

Thomas

5622

R.S.M.

22/02/1919

Blackford

Harry Edwin

241271

Pte.

03/06/1918

Blond

Phillip Townsend

5929

C.S.M.

17/06/1918

Bootle

William Alfred

9114

Q.M.S.

18/01/1919

Branson

Charles Edward

240617

C.Q.M.S.

18/01/1919

Buffey

Joseph Henry

200683

L/Sgt.

03/06/1919

Carpenter

George

11774

Sgt.

17/06/1918

Carpenter

George W.

17984

Cpl.

03/06/1918

Charman

James

6151

C.Q.M.S.

03/06/1919

Chittenden

Ambrose

42974

Cpl.

18/01/1919

Clark

Charles W.

4927

R.S.M.

20/10/1920

Clarke

Henry

9367

C.S.M.

03/06/1918

Copson

Joseph W.

48548

C.S.M.

03/06/1919

Corke

George Ernest

200069

Sgt.

03/06/1918

Darters

William Christopher

25207

L/Cpl.

17/01/1918

Davis

Albert George

7887

C.S.M.

17/06/1918

Deamon

Henry William

10624

Sgt.

18/01/1919

Dearn

John Thomas V.

10149

L/Cpl.

29/08/1917

Dyke

George Henry

9734

R.S.M.

18/06/1917

Eames

Thomas H.

240763

C.S.M.

17/06/1918

Eccles

Frederick Charles

9293

C.S.M.

01/01/1917

Edey

Josiah K.

10053

Sgt.

17/06/1918

Evans

James Edward

7877

Q.M.S.

18/01/1919

Featherstone

Albert Edward

64884

C.Q.M.S.

18/01/1919

Garner

Harry

240772

R.Q.M.S.

17/06/1918

Garratt

Henry

8357

Sgt.

18/01/1919

Gibbs

Charles S.

11852

Sgt.

17/06/1918

Gibbons

James H.

240018

C.Q.M.S.

17/06/1918

Gould

Albert

25086

R.S.M.

03/06/1919

Greedy

William Henry

30603

Cpl.

03/06/1919

Green

Frank

201073

Sgt.

03/06/1919

Hackett

Harry Clifford

200114

Sgt.

03/06/1919

Hart

Albert Harry C.

7479

R.S.M.

03/06/1919

Haycock

Arthur

11535

C.Q.M.S.

22/09/1919

Hemming

Raymond

16721

Sgt.

03/06/1919

Hickling

Frederick Hugh

240703

C.Q.M.S.

03/06/1919

Hickman

Samuel Joseph

5797

R.S.M.

22/02/1919

Hogan

Lynwood Claude Victor

11675

Sgt.

03/06/1919

James

William Ernest

12804

Sgt.

15/01/1920

Johnson

Walter Reginald George

200004

Q.M.S.

01/01/1919

Jones

George Frederick

39623

Sgt.

12/03/1917

Jones

Thomas Edward

242415

Sgt.

01/01/1919

Jones

Thomas Henry

240627

Q.M.S.

03/06/1919

Jordan

E.

2131

Sgt.

01/01/1918

Lester

Frank

3513

Sgt.

01/01/1918

Little

Harold D.

7921

R.Q.M.S.

17/06/1918

Loxton

James Richard

200022

Sgt.

03/06/1919

Lugg

Ernest Stanley

8185

Sgt.

18/10/1916

Lunn

James

9160

C.S.M.

12/12/1919

Martin

John Henry

44324

Sgt.

12/12/1919

McKinnon

Peter

25294

Sgt.

01/01/1918

Naughton

John Patrick

1677

Sgt.

11/11/1916

Newth

Rupert Arthur

240477

Sgt.

03/06/1919

Oakley

John

200309

Sgt.

03/06/1918

Orgles

George Richard

11777

Sgt.

18/01/1919

Oswick

Frederick

17793

Sgt.

03/06/1919

Owen

Walter

9311

C.S.M.

17/12/1917

Parker

Frank Robert

240762

Cpl.

01/01/1919

Peacock

Edward Thomas

9282

Sgt.

30/01/1920

Pearce

Reginald Alben

31413

C.Q.M.S.

22/09/1919

Pearson

Ebenezer

4567

S.S.M.

01/01/1917

Prince

Alfred

13917

Sgt.

03/03/1919

Pritchard

Sidney

30328

Cpl.

18/01/1919

Pugh

Moses

9383

C.S.M.

22/02/1919

Quinn

James

10271

R.Q.M.S.

17/06/1918

Roberts

William

9386

Sgt.

22/09/1919

Round

William Henry

7078

C.Q.M.S.

04/06/1917

Rowley

Edmond Arthur

12662

Sgt.

03/06/1919

Royall

Harry

24121

Pte.

17/06/1918

Sanford

Frederick

5244022

Sgt.

29/03/1922

Sears

Francis John

241641

R.Q.M.S.

03/06/1919

Simkins

A. J.

202343

C.S.M.

17/06/1918

Soley

Frank

9811

Sgt.

17/06/1918

Spayne

Joseph

64889

Sgt.

18/01/1919

Stevens

Richard

203392

Pte.

17/06/1918

Talbot

Albert

200017

R.Q.M.S.

03/06/1919

Thompson

Herbert Edwin

9192

R.Q.M.S.

16/08/1917

Tyrrell

Arthur James

44883

R.S.M.

03/06/1919

Vincent

Reginald

241237

Pte.

18/01/1919

Wadley

William

40258

Pte.

18/01/1919

Walliker

Leonard George

8841

Q.M.S.

03/06/1919

Ward

Walter

15243

C.S.M.

22/09/1919

Wassall

Thomas Edward

8708

Sgt.

18/10/1916

Wayte

Richard

9465

C.S.M.

28/08/1917

Weekes

Harold

203279

Pte.

16/10/1919

Wilce

Arthur Thomas

25113

L/Sgt.

17/06/1918

Williams

Frank

39771

L/Cpl.

18/01/1919

Williams

George A.

12790

Q.M.S.

17/06/1918

Withers

Frederick Charles

32213

Sgt.

03/06/1919

Woodburn

Lionel

18484

C.Q.M.S.

17/06/1918

Yapp

Edwin B.

200231

Cpl.

01/01/1919

Young

L. A.

11326

Sgt.

12/12/1919

 

Worcestershire Regiment men who were awarded later

Surname

Forename/s

Number

Rank

Gazette (date)

Gay

E. R.

5249469

Drum Major

?

 


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