| Military Division: |
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| This medal was
awarded to subordinate Personnel ONLY: Petty Officers and men, who were
eligible for the military divisions of this order. |
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| Civil Division: |
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The medal was not awarded to members of,
or persons eligible for appointment to, any of the five levels of the Order of the
British Empire.
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| Medal: |
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| A thin, circular, silver
medal, 1.42 inches in diameter |
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| Obverse: |
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Britannia is shown seated, the sun to her
right and the legend around the edge FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE and in
exergue below: FOR METITORIOUS SERVICE |
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| Reverse: |
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The Royal Cypher surmounted by a crown with the words,
INSTITUTED BY KING GEORGE at the bottom within a border four heraldic
lions. |
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| Bars: |
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| Awarded for
additional acts of gallantry (silver laurelled bar) |
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| Mounting: |
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| The laurel leaves on the underside of a
straight bar attached to the medal by a single-toe claw |
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| Ribbon: |
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| Originally: The civil ribbon was purple
(1.25" wide). The military ribbon had a narrow central red stripe added. |
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| Current (after 1937): The civil ribbon is
rose-pink with pearl-grey edges (1.25" wide). The military ribbon has a
narrow, pearl-grey central stripe added. |
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| Awarded to: |
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| Awarded for meritorious service which
warranted such a mark of royal appreciation. Military awards have the
service number, full name and unit or service engraved and civil awards
usually have the names in full engraved around the rim. |