The Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Indian Army) was a long and meritorious service medal awarded to Indian non-commissioned officers in the

British Indian Army The Indian Army was the force of British Raj, British India, until Indian Independence Act 1947, national independence in 1947. Formed in 1895 by uniting the three Presidency armies, it was responsible for the defence of both British India and ...

History

Established on 27 July 1888, the Indian Meritorious Service Medal could be awarded to one

Daffadar Daffadar ( Hindustani: दफ़ादार (Devanagari) ; (Nastaliq)) is the equivalent rank to sergeant in the Indian and Pakistani cavalry, as it was formerly in the British Indian Army. The rank below is lance daffadar. The equivalent in i ...

Havildar Havildar or havaldar ( Hindustani: or (Devanagari), (Perso-Arabic)) is a rank in the Indian and Pakistani armies, equivalent to sergeant. It is not used in cavalry and armoured units, where the equivalent is daffadar. Like a British sergea ...

of each of the regiments of the

Presidency armies The presidency armies were the armies of the three Presidencies of British India, presidencies of the East India Company's Company rule in India, rule in India, later the forces of the the Crown, British Crown in British Raj, India, composed pr ...

.Mayo, 480 To be awarded the medal men must have served at least 18 years and had performed in a meritorious manner, with no

courts-martial A court-martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the arme ...

, and having been entered in the defaulters book fewer than five times. He must also have been recommended by his commanding officer.Mayo, 481 Recipients of the Indian Meritorious Service Medal had to surrender any previously awarded Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.Steward, 845

Appearance

The Indian Meritorious Service Medal is a circular silver medal 1.4 inches in diameter, designed by L.C. Wyon. The obverse depicts the effigy of the reigning sovereign. Around the edge is the inscription of the sovereign's

regnal name A regnal name, regnant name, or reign name is the name used by monarchs and popes during their reigns and subsequently, historically. Since ancient times, some monarchs have chosen to use a different name from their original name when they accede ...

and the title '' KAISAR-I-HIND''. The reverse depicts an outer wreath of lotus flowers and leaves surrounding an inner wreath of palm leaves. Between the two wreaths is the inscription ''FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE''. Inside the inner wreath is the word ''INDIA''.

References

Works cited

* * {{Efficiency and long service decorations and medals Orders, decorations, and medals of British India Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth