Yvorbiggun Posted 17 September , 2009 Share Posted 17 September , 2009 An ancestor of mine Sidney Douglas Kent served with the Royal Field artillery, Service number 46419. He appears to have 2 medal index cards both showing his service number correctly. On one it notes that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. This card reads Date of Gazette...Peace Gazette, Reference paper...0137/5653 The other (The more normal card) shows a 2nd service number (1021442) as well and shows that he was awarded The British Medal and below there is this: #IND.GS.AFGN.NWFF.1919.(rOLL 16687-56) IV 308.D 28.7.22 Can anyone please advise me what the Meritorious Service medal was and what it might have been awarded for. Also sdoes anyone know what the detail #.IND ect might stand for. Thanks in anticipation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 17 September , 2009 Share Posted 17 September , 2009 Yvor To get you going, IND.GS must be the Indian General Service Medal,, which would carry bars for various campaigns, in this case 'Afghanistan N[orth] W[est] F[rontier] 1919-21', but there are others. The extra symbols refer to the medal rolls, available only at the National Archives at Kew and not online. The MSM is a little more complex which I will leave to the experts, but is basically for good or exceptional conduct over a long period, or as cynics would say, undetected crime! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yvorbiggun Posted 17 September , 2009 Author Share Posted 17 September , 2009 Hi Daggers, Thank you for your response and explanation. I particularly like the "Undetected crime" comment in relationship to the MSM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavoT Posted 17 September , 2009 Share Posted 17 September , 2009 I believe that the 7 digit service number refers to post WW1 service too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 18 September , 2009 Share Posted 18 September , 2009 7010 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON*GAZETTE, 3 JUNE, 1019. His Majesty the KING- has 'been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to the undermentioned Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men in recognition of valuable services-rendered in connection with the War: — 46419 Bomdr.- Kent, S. D., 77th By. (Lichfield). (INDIA)' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yvorbiggun Posted 18 September , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 September , 2009 Thank you Auchonvillerssomme, That is definately my man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 18 September , 2009 Share Posted 18 September , 2009 The MSM is a little more complex which I will leave to the experts, but is basically for good or exceptional conduct over a long period, or as cynics would say, undetected crime! The MSM for the most part in WW1 was an immediate award for valuable service/devotion to duty etc;often in non frontline activities,eg QMS,Mechanics,Fitters,Clerks Cooks,& other non fighting personnel {& "gallantry in the performance of military duty";ie;Not in the face of the enemy,to a lesser extent only around 500 + awarded in this catergory}rather than the prewar,few wartime, & post war MSM with or without gratuity awarded when there was a space in the ranks for a long serving NCO.The LSGC Medal was more for the 18/24 years of undetected crime!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 18 September , 2009 Share Posted 18 September , 2009 The Warrant for the MSM runs into several pages when all the changes are taken into consideration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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