New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal

The New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal was the earliest medal awarded in New Zealand for long and efficient services, being issued between 1 January 1887 to 22 September 1931. Eligibility for the medal changed over time (see infobox) and, from 1920, could be issued to all members of the New Zealand Military Forces for 16 or 20 years of service (active service between 5 August 1914 and 28 January 1919 counted as double qualifying time).[3][4]

New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal
Ribbon of the medal
TypeLong Service Award
Awarded for"Long and Efficient Service"
DescriptionSilver disk, 37mm in diameter
Presented byNew Zealand
Eligibility1887–1891 non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the New Zealand Volunteers upon completion of 16 years continuous service
1891 the statutes of the award were amended to include Volunteer officers upon completion of 20 years broken service
1917 further amendment made to cover Territorial officers who were permanently appointed to the New Zealand Staff Corps or Permanent Staff
1920 extended to all members of the New Zealand Military Forces. [1][2]
Claspsnone
StatusRendered obsolete 23 September 1931[2]
Established1 January 1887
First awardedto a member of the 1st Westland Rifle Volunteers and was recorded on 8 September 1887 [3]
Last awardedto Sgt Gordon Bremner, NZAOC on 12 May 1955 [4]
Total2384[1]
285 awarded to volunteers [3]

Description

The medal is round, 37 mm in diameter, and made of silver. The obverse of the medal depicts a Royal Crown superimposed over a crossed sword and Taiaha (Maori long club) and surrounded by fern fronds. The reverse bears the inscription FOR LONG AND EFFICIENT SERVICE. The medal's suspension is a 14 mm diameter ring, which passes through a loop fixed to the top of the piece. The ring will move forwards and backwards. The medal is suspended from a ribbon 38 mm wide, crimson in colour with two central white stripes, which were added in 1917.[1]

Varieties

There are three varieties:[2]

  • The first variety was manufactured by S. Kohn, Wellington, and marked S. KOHN between the ends of the ribbon bow.
  • The second variety was manufactured by G.T. White, Christchurch and Wellington, and is found either unmarked, or marked with G.T. WHITE between the ends of the ribbon bow.
  • The third variety was manufactured by William Dibble, Gerrards, London in the early 1950s. These medals were cast frosted silver second type medals, with very small suspension rings, sterling silver hallmarks and WJD on the bottom of the reverse. Intended primarily as replacement medals, most were sold to collectors with SPECIMEN impressed on the rim.

See also

Notes
  1. "The New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal". Birkenhead RSA. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  2. New Zealand Medals and Awards – Long Service
  3. CNMWC Regimental History Centre
  4. "Gordon Cummin Bremner". To the Warrior his Arms: The History of the RNZAOC and its predecessors. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
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