Meritorious Service Medal (Hansard, 4 November 1958)

§ Mr. Soames

The following extracts from paragraph 1065 of the Queen's Regulations for the Army, 1955, show the conditions of award(a) The Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to not more than 100 candidates in each calendar year. A recommendation for the award of this medal and for registration for the Meritorious Service Annuity under the Pay Warrant, 1950, Article 484* may be submitted by a C.O. through the normal channels, subject to the following conditions:— That the candidate is a regular soldier who:

(i) has served 27 years with the Colours,† or has served 23 years with the Colours, and

(a) has been discharged in consequence of reduction of establishment, or
(b) being an invalid, has been discharged on account of sickness or disability attributable to military service;
(ii) has served in a regular unit in or above the rank of war substantive serjeant; non-regular commissioned service on the active list is allowed to reckon towards the qualifying period for the award of the medal and annuity, provided that such commissioned service is not rewarded by an officer's non-effective gratuity or retired pay;
(iii) is in possession of the medal for long service and good conduct;
(iv) has performed good, faithful, valuable and meritorious service and whose conduct has been irreproachable throughout the qualifying period. In this connection periods of service clear of regimental entries are not to be regarded as annulling serious sentences as is provided for on the other hand for the award of an exemplary character on discharge in para. 541.

(c) The possession of the medal awarded under these regulations will qualify for the annuity as and when a vacancy occurs, provided 46 the candidate is eligible under the terms of the Pay Warrant, 1950, Article 484.
(d) The possession of the medal and/or bars to the medal for gallant conduct or devotion to duty or meritorious service, awarded under the terms of Army Orders 352 and 400 of 1916 and 45 of 1917, does not qualify the candidate for the annuity, but those recommended and registered for the annuity will be considered as and when a vacancy occurs."

*" 484. A sum of £7,500 a year shall be distributed in annuities, not exceeding £10 each, to pensioners selected from among those who have been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. †Service under 18 years of age and previous Regular service in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Royal Air Force, if acknowledged on attestation, may be allowed to reckon as qualifying service, provided that during such service the conduct of the individual has been irreproachable.