The Imperial Service Medal (ISM) is a medal affiliated with the Imperial Service Order. The medal was established under the statutes of the Imperial Service Order, on 8 August 1902, by King

Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria an ...

, with the first awards appearing in the London Gazette in May 1903.

Eligibility

It is presented upon retirement to selected

civil servants The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil servants hired on professional merit rather than appointed or elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leaders ...

, not belonging to the administrative or clerical branches, who complete at least 25 years meritorious service. It is primarily an award to manual and industrial grades, including workers in H M Dockyards and, prior to 1969 when it moved from central government control, the

Post Office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...

.Nick Tucker. ''The Imperial Service Medal: is this humble medal underrated?''. Orders and Medals Research Society Journal, March 2021, Vol 60 No 1. Pages 16–22. Prison officers were eligible prior to the establishment in 2010 of the Prison Services Long Service Medal. The minimum period of service was 20½ years in India prior to independence in 1947, and 16 years in unhealthy climates in other countries.

Appearance

When originally created the Imperial Service Medal was a seven-pointed star, or a laurel wreath for women, in the same pattern as the Imperial Service Order, but with the star or laurel in bronze. In 1920 an amendment of the statutes changed the appearance of the medal to its current form: a circular silver medal, in diameter, bearing the effigy of the reigning sovereign on the obverse. To date, here have been six versions: File:Imperial Service Medal, obverse George V.png , George V, 1920-30. Inscribed GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. INDIAE. IMP. File:Imperial Service Medal, obverse George V, post 1935.jpg , George V, crowned head 1931-37. Inscribed GEORGIVS VI DEI. GRA. BRITT. OMN REX. FID. DEF. File:George Medal, King George VI, first obverse.png, George VI, 1937-48. Inscribed GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP: File:George Medal, King George VI, second obverse.jpg, George VI, 1949-53. Inscribed GEORGIVS VI DEI: GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: File:George Medal, Queen Elizabeth, first obverse.png, Elizabeth II, 1953-54. Inscribed ELIZABETH II D: G: BR: OMN: REGINA F.D. File:George Medal, Queen Elizabeth, second obverse.png, Elizabeth II, 1954-2022. Inscribed ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D. File:Imperial Service Medal, common reverse.jpg, Common reverse, all issues since 1920. The reverse bears the image of a naked man resting from his labours with the inscription "For Faithful Service". The name of the recipient is impressed on the rim of the medal. Recipients are listed in the '' London Gazette''.For example:

References

{{Decorations of the United Kingdom Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom Long service medals Awards established in 1902 1902 establishments in the United Kingdom