Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal Explained

Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal
Presenter:the United Kingdom
Type:Long service and good conduct medal
Eligibility:Members of the Imperial Yeomanry serving on or after 9 November 1904.
Awarded For:Awarded for 10 years service and attending 10 annual camps.
Established:1904
Lastawarded:1908
Total Awarded:1,674
Precedence Label:Order of Wear
Higher:Militia Long Service Medal
Lower:Territorial Decoration
Image2 Size:110px

The Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal was a long service medal awarded by the United Kingdom. It is no longer awarded.

Eligibility

Authorised by King Edward VII under Army Order No. 211 of 1904, the medal was awarded to troopers and non-commissioned officers in the Imperial Yeomanry for 10 years service and attending 10 annual camps.[1] [2] Any previous full time service in the Regular Army did not count towards this medal, although service in other volunteer and auxiliary forces could be counted, provided that five years immediately preceding the award were served in the Yeomanry.[3]

In 1908, the Imperial Yeomanry along with the Volunteer Force were transferred to the newly created Territorial Force. The medal was then superseded by the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal.[4]

Awards were published in Army Orders, with a total of 1,674 medals awarded, to men in over fifty different Yeomanry regiments, including 951 awards when the medal was first established.[5]

Among the recipients was the military artist Harry Payne, who served with the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry.[6]

Appearance

The Imperial Yeomanry Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is an oval shaped silver medal with a fixed ring suspender at the top. The obverse depicts the bust of King Edward VII in uniform facing left. Around the top edge is the legend, EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR. The reverse bears the words IMPERIAL YEOMANRY FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT. The medal hangs from a 32 mm light yellow ribbon threaded through the top ring suspender.[2] [7]

The medal was issued with the recipient's name, rank and unit impressed on the rim.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin, Issues 593-604. 1968. B. A. Seaby. 423.
  2. Book: Ribbons, Medals and Regimental Badges . Dorling, H.T. . Dorling, E.E.. 1918 . G. Philip & Son . 68.
  3. Book: Tamplin, J.M.A. . Imperial Yeomanry LS&GC Medal.. 8. Published by Spink & Son, London. 1978.
  4. Book: Mussell . John W.. Medal Yearbook 2015.. 238. Published Token Publishing Limited, Honiton, Devon. 2015.
  5. The 951 names appear in Army Order 27, February 1905. See The Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal. An award for very long service indeed by Will Bennett. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, Vol 51 No 3, page 174, September 2012.
  6. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, Vol 33 No 3, Autumn 1994, page 263.
  7. Book: Duckers. Peter. British Military Medals: A Guide for the Collector and Family Historian Second Edition . 16 September 2013. Pen and Sword . 9781473829831. 24 June 2015.
  8. Book: Collett . D. W.. Medal Year Book 1981.. 181. Published by Medals Yearbook, London E4.