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 British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...

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 i ...

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

of each of the regiments of the

Presidency armies The presidency armies were the armies of the three presidencies of the East India Company's rule in India, later the forces of the British Crown in India, composed primarily of Indian sepoys. The presidency armies were named after the presiden ...

.Mayo, 480 To be awarded the medal men must have served at least 18 years and had performed in a meritorious manner, with no court-martials, 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 Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

.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, or 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 ...

and the title ''

KAISAR-I-HIND Emperor or Empress of India was a title used by British monarchs from 1 May 1876 (with the Royal Titles Act 1876) to 22 June 1948, that was used to signify their rule over British India, as its imperial head of state. Royal Proclamation of 2 ...

''. 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 Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth