Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Encyclopedia
The Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (LS&GCM) is a medal awarded by the British Government to members of the British Armed Forces
who have completed 15 years of reckonable service.
issue had the Royal Coat of Arms with the badge of Hanover
on the obverse and a small suspension ring with a plain crimson ribbon. The small ring was replaced by a larger version in 1831. When Queen Victoria
succeeded to the throne in 1837 the Hanover emblem was removed from the medal's obverse. In 1855, during the Crimean War
, a swivelling scroll suspension was introduced similar to that on the Crimea Medal
, followed in 1874 by small lettering replacing the original large lettering on the reverse side.
On the succession of King Edward VII
to the throne in 1901, the effigy of the reigning sovereign was placed on the medal's obverse. The reverse side remained unchanged, while in 1920 the swivelling scroll suspension was replaced by a fixed suspender.
In 1930 the title of the medal was changed to the Long Service and Good Conduct (Military) Medal. It was also decided to add a fixed suspension bar bearing the text "Regular Army" or the name of a dominion country: Australia
, New Zealand
, Canada
, India
or South Africa
.
The medal was originally awarded to soldiers of good conduct who had completed 21 years service in the infantry or 24 years in the cavalry. In 1870, this qualifying period was reduced to 18 years for both the infantry and cavalry. During World War II
officers could also be awarded this medal if they had completed at least 12 of their 18 years service in the ranks.
Today, the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Army) is awarded to members of the British Army
who have completed 15 years of reckonable service. A soldier who completes 15 years of reckonable service from the date of attestation or age 17½, whichever is later, shall be eligible to receive the medal. However, there are a number of offences which would normally preclude award of the LS&GCM. Awards are only made after a thorough check of a soldier's record of service.
A Clasp to the medal was introduced in 1940. This can be awarded for an additional fifteen year's service. The Clasp bears an image of the Army Crest. When the ribbon alone is worn on a uniform a silver rosette denotes the award of the Clasp. The medal's ribbon was plain crimson from 1830 until 1917 when white stripes were added to both edges.
An officer can be considered eligible for the award of the LS&GCM if 12 or more of the 15 years of his or her service have been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements for the award of the medal have been met. An Officer shall be eligible for the award of the Clasp if 22 or more of the 30 years of his or her service has been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements have again been met.
Before 1 December 1977 18 years of service was required for consideration for the LS&GCM (Army). The vast majority of LS&GC medals are issued named to the recipient, with the name on the rim around the medal.
The silver medal has changed dimensions and ribbon colour twice during its period of issue. The original medal of 1831 was 34mm in diameter and was suspended from a ring by a dark blue ribbon. In 1848 the medal became 36mm in diameter with a dark blue ribbon with white edges. A narrow suspender was introduced in 1874.
Today, the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Navy) is based on the pattern of 1848. The obverse of the medal shows the effigy of the reigning monarch, while the reverse shows the image of a three-masted man-of-war surrounded by a rope tied at the foot with a reef knot with the words 'For Long service and Good Conduct' around the circumference. An Other Rank who completes 15 years of reckonable service from the date of attestation or age 17½, whichever is later, and who holds all three good conduct badges, shall be eligible to receive the medal. However, there are a number of offences which would normally preclude award of the LS&GCM. Awards are only made after a thorough check of a sailor's record of service.
A Clasp to the medal was introduced during the reign of King George V
and can be awarded for an additional fifteen year's service. The Clasp bears a laurel leaf design. When the ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette denotes award of the Clasp. The medals' ribbon is dark blue flanked at the edges by narrow stripes of white.
Since March 1981 officers have become eligible for the award of the LS&GCM if 12 or more of the 15 years of his or her service have been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements for the award of the medal have been met. An officer shall be eligible for the award of the clasp if 22 or more of the 30 years of his or her service have been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements have again been met.
Before 1 December 1977 18 years of service was required for consideration for the LS&GCM (Navy). In 2006 this was also changed and those who had their career cut short due to injury was also awarded the medal and the Royal Navy issued it to anyone who have served in the Royal Navy between 1939 and 2006.
eagle with outstretched wings surmounted by a Crown with the words 'For Long service and Good Conduct' around the circumference.
An airman who completes 15 years of reckonable service from the date of attestation or age 17½, whichever is later, shall be eligible to receive the medal. However, there are a number of offences which would normally preclude award of the LS&GCM. Awards are only made after a thorough check of an airman's record of service.
From 1944 Clasps to the medal were issued for successfully completed additional periods of either 18 or 15 years. Prior to 1945, conduct considered to be below the required standard could still count towards the required total if the airman had performed excellent conduct or gallantry before an enemy or some other crisis. Prior to 1944 up to 4 years of the required total could have been earned in either the Royal Navy or Army before the serviceman had transferred to the Royal Air Force. The Clasp bears the image of an eagle with outstretched wings surmounted by the Crown. When the ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette denotes the award of the Clasp. The medal's ribbon is composed of equally sized central stripes of maroon and dark blue flanked at the edges by narrow stripes of white.
Since 1947 RAF Officers could be awarded this medal if 12 or more of the 15 years of his or her service have been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements for the award of the medal have been met. An officer shall be eligible for the award of the Clasp if 22 or more of the 30 years of his or her service has been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements have again been met.
Before 1 December 1977 18 years of service was required for consideration for the LS&GCM (RAF).
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
who have completed 15 years of reckonable service.
British Army
The Army Long Service and Good Conduct medal was instituted in 1830. The medal is made from silver and is 36 millimetres in diameter. Until 1901 the medal's obverse contained an image of a trophy of arms with the Royal Arms in an oval shield in the centre while the reverse side contained the inscription "For Long Service and Good Conduct". The King William IVWilliam IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
issue had the Royal Coat of Arms with the badge of Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
on the obverse and a small suspension ring with a plain crimson ribbon. The small ring was replaced by a larger version in 1831. When Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
succeeded to the throne in 1837 the Hanover emblem was removed from the medal's obverse. In 1855, during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, a swivelling scroll suspension was introduced similar to that on the Crimea Medal
Crimea Medal
The Crimea Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1854, for issue to officers and men of British units which fought in the Crimean War of 1854-56 against Russia....
, followed in 1874 by small lettering replacing the original large lettering on the reverse side.
On the succession of King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
to the throne in 1901, the effigy of the reigning sovereign was placed on the medal's obverse. The reverse side remained unchanged, while in 1920 the swivelling scroll suspension was replaced by a fixed suspender.
In 1930 the title of the medal was changed to the Long Service and Good Conduct (Military) Medal. It was also decided to add a fixed suspension bar bearing the text "Regular Army" or the name of a dominion country: Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
or South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The medal was originally awarded to soldiers of good conduct who had completed 21 years service in the infantry or 24 years in the cavalry. In 1870, this qualifying period was reduced to 18 years for both the infantry and cavalry. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
officers could also be awarded this medal if they had completed at least 12 of their 18 years service in the ranks.
Today, the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Army) is awarded to members of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
who have completed 15 years of reckonable service. A soldier who completes 15 years of reckonable service from the date of attestation or age 17½, whichever is later, shall be eligible to receive the medal. However, there are a number of offences which would normally preclude award of the LS&GCM. Awards are only made after a thorough check of a soldier's record of service.
A Clasp to the medal was introduced in 1940. This can be awarded for an additional fifteen year's service. The Clasp bears an image of the Army Crest. When the ribbon alone is worn on a uniform a silver rosette denotes the award of the Clasp. The medal's ribbon was plain crimson from 1830 until 1917 when white stripes were added to both edges.
An officer can be considered eligible for the award of the LS&GCM if 12 or more of the 15 years of his or her service have been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements for the award of the medal have been met. An Officer shall be eligible for the award of the Clasp if 22 or more of the 30 years of his or her service has been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements have again been met.
Before 1 December 1977 18 years of service was required for consideration for the LS&GCM (Army). The vast majority of LS&GC medals are issued named to the recipient, with the name on the rim around the medal.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal was introduced on 24 August 1831. It is silver and circular in shape. The medal of 1831 had on its obverse side an anchor surmounted by a crown and enclosed in an oak wreath. The medal's reverse side was engraved with the recipient's details.The silver medal has changed dimensions and ribbon colour twice during its period of issue. The original medal of 1831 was 34mm in diameter and was suspended from a ring by a dark blue ribbon. In 1848 the medal became 36mm in diameter with a dark blue ribbon with white edges. A narrow suspender was introduced in 1874.
Today, the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Navy) is based on the pattern of 1848. The obverse of the medal shows the effigy of the reigning monarch, while the reverse shows the image of a three-masted man-of-war surrounded by a rope tied at the foot with a reef knot with the words 'For Long service and Good Conduct' around the circumference. An Other Rank who completes 15 years of reckonable service from the date of attestation or age 17½, whichever is later, and who holds all three good conduct badges, shall be eligible to receive the medal. However, there are a number of offences which would normally preclude award of the LS&GCM. Awards are only made after a thorough check of a sailor's record of service.
A Clasp to the medal was introduced during the reign of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and can be awarded for an additional fifteen year's service. The Clasp bears a laurel leaf design. When the ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette denotes award of the Clasp. The medals' ribbon is dark blue flanked at the edges by narrow stripes of white.
Since March 1981 officers have become eligible for the award of the LS&GCM if 12 or more of the 15 years of his or her service have been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements for the award of the medal have been met. An officer shall be eligible for the award of the clasp if 22 or more of the 30 years of his or her service have been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements have again been met.
Before 1 December 1977 18 years of service was required for consideration for the LS&GCM (Navy). In 2006 this was also changed and those who had their career cut short due to injury was also awarded the medal and the Royal Navy issued it to anyone who have served in the Royal Navy between 1939 and 2006.
Royal Air Force
The Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (RAF) was introduced on 1 July 1919. The medal was originally made from silver, although later issues have been made from a silver-plated base metal. The obverse of the medal shows the effigy of the reigning monarch, while the reverse bears the image of the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
eagle with outstretched wings surmounted by a Crown with the words 'For Long service and Good Conduct' around the circumference.
An airman who completes 15 years of reckonable service from the date of attestation or age 17½, whichever is later, shall be eligible to receive the medal. However, there are a number of offences which would normally preclude award of the LS&GCM. Awards are only made after a thorough check of an airman's record of service.
From 1944 Clasps to the medal were issued for successfully completed additional periods of either 18 or 15 years. Prior to 1945, conduct considered to be below the required standard could still count towards the required total if the airman had performed excellent conduct or gallantry before an enemy or some other crisis. Prior to 1944 up to 4 years of the required total could have been earned in either the Royal Navy or Army before the serviceman had transferred to the Royal Air Force. The Clasp bears the image of an eagle with outstretched wings surmounted by the Crown. When the ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette denotes the award of the Clasp. The medal's ribbon is composed of equally sized central stripes of maroon and dark blue flanked at the edges by narrow stripes of white.
Since 1947 RAF Officers could be awarded this medal if 12 or more of the 15 years of his or her service have been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements for the award of the medal have been met. An officer shall be eligible for the award of the Clasp if 22 or more of the 30 years of his or her service has been in the ranks and provided that the other requirements have again been met.
Before 1 December 1977 18 years of service was required for consideration for the LS&GCM (RAF).
Notable recipients of the LS&GC Medal
- Moira CameronMoira Cameron-External links:*...
, the first woman Yeoman Warder at the Tower of LondonTower of LondonHer Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space... - Ian BaileyIan Bailey (British Army soldier)Ian Philip Bailey MM was a Corporal in 4 Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment who won the Military Medal for bravery during the Falklands War of 1982, one of only 12 awarded to the Parachute Regiment....
, who won the Military MedalMilitary MedalThe Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
during the Falklands WarFalklands WarThe Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
of 1982 - Claude ChoulesClaude ChoulesClaude Stanley Choules was the last World War I combat veteran, and was the last military witness to the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow. He was also the last veteran to have served in both world wars, and the last seaman from the First World War...
, the last surviving combat veteran of World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...