Military Division:
This medal was awarded to subordinate Personnel ONLY: Petty Officers and men, who were
eligible for the military divisions of this order.
Civil Division:
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.
Medal:
A thin, circular, silver medal, 1.42 inches in
diameter
Obverse:
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
Reverse:
The Royal Cypher surmounted by a crown with the words, INSTITUTED BY KING GEORGE
at the bottom within a border
four heraldic lions.
Bars:
Awarded for additional acts of gallantry (silver
laurelled bar)
Mounting:
The laurel leaves on the underside of a straight
bar attached to the medal by a single-toe claw
Ribbon:
Originally: The civil ribbon was purple (1 ¼ inches wide).
Current (after 1937): The civil ribbon is rose-pink with pearl-grey edges (1¼ inches wide).
The military ribbon had a narrow central red stripe added.
Current(after 1937): The military ribbon has a narrow, pearl-grey central stripe added.
Awarded to:
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.
©Crown Copyright/MOD 2008