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
 (After 21 years Army service he joined the Worcestershire Militia 
as instructor and rose 
to rank of RSM)
  

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
(larger suspension ring)
  

Queen Victoria
(pre 1839 type)

Queen Victoria
(1839-1855)

King Edward VII
(1902-1910)

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
(1911-1920)
 

King George V
(1949-1952)
 

Queen Elizabeth II
 (clasp on ribbon is for  further periods of service)

Worcestershire Regiment
Long Service Good Conduct Medal - 1902 to 1919

During the period 1902 to 1919 there were 175 Long Service and Good Conduct Medals were awarded to men of the Worcestershire Regiment. There were a further 7 medals recommended but were not awarded after consideration.

In 1917 the medal was awarded to Quartermaster Sergeant John James Crowe. He was afterwards commissioned as an officer in the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and went on to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallant actions at Lys Valley in 1918.

CLICK HERE OR THE ADJACENT PHOTO FOR FULL DETAILED LIST
 

Sgt. J. J. Crowe
   

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