The Territorial Force War Medal was a campaign medal awarded to members of the British Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service who served overseas in World War I. It is the rarest of the five British Great War medals.[1]
Territorial Force War Medal | |
---|---|
Type | Campaign medal |
Awarded for | Campaign service |
Description | Bronze disk, 36mm diameter. |
Country | United Kingdom |
Presented by | the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India |
Eligibility | British forces |
Campaign(s) | First World War |
Clasps | None |
Established | April 1920 |
Total | 33,944 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Victory Medal (United Kingdom) Victory Medal (South Africa) |
The medal was established in April 1920 for award to members of the Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service who volunteered for service overseas on or before 30 September 1914, and served overseas. They had to:[2]
In addition provided they:
A total of 33,944 Territorial Force War Medals were awarded.[3] This includes 227 to nurses[1] of the Territorial Force Nursing Service, the only women to receive the medal. The numbers given to each regiment varied widely.[4] For example, 63 were awarded to Seaforth Highlanders, where all three Territorial Force battalions were in France by 1915,[5] compared with 824 to the East Surrey Regiment, where both Territorial battalions undertook garrison duty in India until 1917,[6] and therefore did not qualify for the 1914 or 1914-15 Star.
The order of wear of medals awarded for service during the First World War is as follows:[7]
The book includes: – Campaign Medals. Full history of each medal, including Army Orders, Army Council Instructions & award criteria.