Medal for Meritorious Service

Medal for Meritorious Service
TypeMedal
Awarded forresource[clarification needed] and devotion to duty or exemplary voluntary service to the community.[1][2][3]
Country Republic of Rhodesia (1970–79)
 Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Presented byPresident of Rhodesia
EligibilityMilitary and civilians
Post-nominalsMSM
StatusDiscontinued in 1980[a]
EstablishedNovember 1970[3]
First awarded1970
Total608[2]

Ribbon bar of the Civilian Division

Ribbon bar of the Military Division
Order of Wear
Next (higher)Prison Medal for Gallantry[1]
EquivalentPolice Medal for Meritorious Service
Defence Forces' Medal for Meritorious Service
Prison Medal for Meritorious Service[1]
Next (lower)President's Medal for Chiefs[1]

The Medal for Meritorious Service was a medal awarded by the Republic of Rhodesia to civilians and military personnel.[1][2][4]

History

The Medal for Meritorious Service was awarded to civilians (who were usually government workers such as INTAF[2][4]) for "resource and devotion to duty or exemplary voluntary service to the community.", and awarded to military members (used only for territorial, volunteer and reserve forces[4]) for "resource and devotion to duty."

Description

The medal was a silver circular medal that was 36mm around, with the obverse of the medal had the national coat of arms, and the reverse had the pick from the coat of arms in the centre encircled by the words "For Meritorious Service". The recipient's name would be etched on the rim, and a silver bar would be awarded for a subsequent award.[5] The medal also had two different divisions, a civilian division that would have just a plain orange ribbon Medal for Meritorious Service MSM, and a military division that would have multi-coloured stripes in the centreMedal for Meritorious Service MSM.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ All Rhodesian medals were officially discontinued with the change in government. Some were continued under different names.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Vollaire, John. "The History of Rhodesian Honours and Awards 1890-1980". The Rhodesian Forces Web Site. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Hall, Dudley. "Medals and Decorations". Rhodesia's Intaf. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b Robertson, Megan. "Rhodesia: Medal for Meritorious Service". Medals.org. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "RHODESIAN AWARDS AND DECORATIONS DESCRIPTIONS". selousscouts.tripod.com. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  5. ^ Tonder, Gerry. "Rhodesian Medals". The Rhodesian Soldier. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  6. ^ Gaszewski, Lukasz. "Decorations and Medals of Rhodesia until 1980". Retrieved 12 June 2022.