| Territorial Efficiency Medal | |
| Presenter: | The United Kingdom |
| Type: | Long service medal |
| Eligibility: | Territorial Army – other ranks |
| Awarded For: | A minimum of 12 years service, with war service counting double |
| Status: | This award:
|
| Description: | Oval silver medal |
| Established: | 1921 |
| Higher: | Efficiency Decoration |
| Lower: | Efficiency Medal |
The Territorial Efficiency Medal (TEM) was a United Kingdom award for long service in the Territorial Army. It superseded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal when the Territorial Force became the Territorial Army in 1921. It was superseded by the Efficiency Medal in 1930.
The medal was awarded to non-commissioned officers and men for a minimum of 12 years service in the Territorial Army, providing they attended 12 annual training camps. Previous service in other part-time forces including the Territorial Force could count,[1] while war service counted double. Clasps for further periods of 12 years service were intended but never issued, since the medal was superseded by the Efficiency Medal after 9 years.[2]
The equivalent award for commissioned officers was the Territorial Decoration. A recipient could wear both awards together, provided they completed the full periods of qualifying service for each.
The Territorial Efficiency Medal is an oval silver medal, 38mm high and 31mm wide.
The obverse bears the effigy of King George V in Field Marshall's uniform facing left, circumscribed by the inscription "GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:". The reverse has a raised rim and bears the inscription "TERRITORIAL EFFICIENCY MEDAL" on three lines.[3]
The recipient's service number, rank, name, and unit were impressed on the edge of the medal.[4]
The medal hangs from a ring suspension, attached to the medal by a claw fixing. The 32mm wide ribbon is plain dark green with yellow edges.[5]
For members of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) the ribbon differed, being half blue, half scarlet with yellow edges, reflecting the racing colours of King Edward VII.[6] This distinction was bestowed by Edward VII for the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal and the honour was extended to long service medals under the Territorial designations.[7]
J M A Tamplin, The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, 1908–1921 and the Territorial Efficiency Medal, 1922–1930, (1985), (Spink: London)