The Territorial Efficiency Medal (TEM) was a
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
award for long service in the Territorial Army. It superseded the
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal
The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal was a United Kingdom award for long service in the Territorial Force between 1908 and 1921.
Institution
Established in 1908, the medal superseded the Volunteer Long Service Medal and the Imperial Yeomanr ...
when the
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was a part-time volunteer component of the British Army, created in 1908 to augment British land forces without resorting to conscription. The new organisation consolidated the 19th-century Volunteer Force and yeomanry i ...
became the
Territorial Army in 1921. It was superseded by the
Efficiency Medal
The Efficiency Medal was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men after twelve years of efficient service on the active list of the Militia or the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom, or ...
in 1930.
Award criteria
The medal was awarded to
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
s and men for a minimum of 12 years service in the Territorial Army, providing they attended 12 annual training camps.
[ Previous service in other part-time forces including the Territorial Force could count, while war service counted double.][ Clasps for further periods of 12 years service were intended but never issued, since the medal was superseded by the ]Efficiency Medal
The Efficiency Medal was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men after twelve years of efficient service on the active list of the Militia or the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom, or ...
after 9 years.
The equivalent award for commissioned officers
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...
was the Territorial Decoration
__NOTOC__
The Territorial Decoration (TD) was a military medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army. This award superseded the Volunteer Officer's Decoration when the Te ...
.[ A recipient could wear both awards together, provided they completed the full periods of qualifying service for each.
]
Description
The Territorial Efficiency Medal is an oval silver medal, high and wide.
The obverse bears the effigy of King George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936.
Born duri ...
in Field Marshall's uniform facing left, circumscribed by the inscription "GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:". The reverse has a raised rim and bears the inscription "TERRITORIAL EFFICIENCY MEDAL" on three lines.
The recipient's service number, rank, name, and unit were impressed on the edge of the medal.
The medal hangs from a ring suspension, attached to the medal by a claw fixing. The wide ribbon is plain dark green with yellow edges.[ .]
Honourable Artillery Company
For members of the Honourable Artillery Company
The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is a reserve regiment in the British Army. Incorporated by royal charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII, it is the oldest regiment in the British Army and is considered the second-oldest military unit in the w ...
(HAC) the ribbon differed, being half blue, half scarlet with yellow edges, reflecting the racing colours of 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 ...
.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 ...
for the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal
The Volunteer Long Service Medal was instituted in 1894 as an award for long service by other ranks and some officers of the United Kingdom's Volunteer Force. Award of the medal was discontinued when it was superseded by the Territorial Force ...
and the honour was extended to long service medals under the Territorial designations.[Honourable Artillery Company websit]
www.hac.org.uk
.
References
Further reading
J M A Tamplin, ''The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, 1908–1921 and the Territorial Efficiency Medal, 1922–1930'', (1985), (Spink: London)
External links
Search cards recording the award of the TEM on The UK National Archives' website.Territorial Efficiency Medal, Medal Encyclopaedia. Online Medals.
Decorations of the British Army
Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom
Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth
{{Efficiency and long service decorations and medals