Territorial Decoration
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Territorial Decoration | |
---|---|
Awarded by The United Kingdom | |
Type | Medal (Decoration) |
Eligibility | Territorial Force, and later the Territorial Army - Commissioned Officers |
Awarded for | Granted for a minimum of 20 years commissioned service, with service in the ranks counting half and war service counting double. |
Status | This award:
|
Description | as follows:
|
Statistics | |
Established | 1908 (29 September) |
Distinct recipients |
4,783 |
The Territorial Decoration (TD) was a 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 This award superseded the Volunteer Officer's Decoration when the Territorial Force was formed in 1908 following the enactment of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907, (7 Edw.7, c.9) which was a huge re-organisation of the old Volunteer Army and the remaining units of militia and Yeomanry. The TF was formed on 1 April 1908. It should be noted that the Militia were transferred to the Special Reserve rather than becoming part of the Territorial Force. Recipients of this award were entitled to the post-nominal letters "TD" after their name.
The criteria were for a minimum of 20 years service in the Territorial Force and Territorial Army, with war service counting double and service in the ranks counting half. In 1930 the new Efficiency Decoration was introduced to be awarded to all three services, but when the ED was awarded to a Territorial Army officer it continued to be known as the Territorial Decoration and the recipient still used the letters TD after their name.[1] It was finally replaced by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal, awarded to all ranks in all services, in 1999.
For members of the Honourable Artillery Company the ribbon differed, being a half blue, half scarlet ribbon, with yellow edges. This distinction was bestowed by King Edward VII for the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal and the honour extended to the same medals under the Territorial designations. The HAC ribbon colours were the household colours of King Edward VII. [2]
Note that this medal is separate from the Territorial Force Imperial Service Badge.
The equivalent award for the ranks was the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal (1908–1921), the Territorial Efficiency Medal (1921–1930), and the Efficiency Medal (1930–1999).
[edit] References
- ^ "New Decoration and Medals", The Times, 18 October 1930
- ^ www.hac.org.uk
[edit] Further Reading
J M A Tamplin, The Territorial Decoration, 1908-1930, (1983), (Spink: London)