This Medal was first instituted by King William IV., on July 30th.,
1830, for non-commissioned officers and men who had been discharged in
receipt of gratuities, under the provisions of the Royal Warrant of
November 14th., 1829. The men recommended must have served twenty-one
years in the Infantry, Artillery, or Engineers, or twenty-four years in
the Cavalry, with irreproachable characters. A gratuity not exceeding £5
for a European soldier, or £3 for a black soldier, is given to each
recipient. On the obverse of the medal is a military trophy, with a
shield bearing the royal arms, with a smaller shield in the centre
bearing the arms of Hanover. The reverse has the inscription “For long
service and good conduct.” Ribbon: crimson, suspended by a steel loop.
The name and regiment of the recipient, with the date, were indented on
the edge of the medal. After the accession of Queen Victoria the arms of
Hanover were omitted on the medal, and some years subsequently, but
before the Crimean War, the steel suspender was replaced by a silver
clasp, similar to other medals.
By a Royal Warrant of January 16th., 1860, the medal, _without
gratuities_, was in future to be given to such soldiers as might fulfil
the conditions previously required, but who were precluded from becoming
recipients of the medal with a gratuity, in consequence of the aggregate
amount to be annually awarded having been already appropriated. No
soldier is entitled to the medal unless he has specially distinguished
himself, or has, at least, three good conduct badges. A record of the
recipients of these medals is kept in the office of the Secretary of
State for War.
[Illustration:
Meritorious Service Medal.
The Cape Medal.
]