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Territorial Decoration

{{for|the later honour also commonly known as the Territorial Decoration|Efficiency Decoration}}

{{Infobox Military Award

|name= Territorial Decoration

|image= Territorial Decoration.jpg

|image_size= 300px

|caption= King Edward VII (left) and King George V (right) versions

| presenter = the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India

| type = Military long service 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.

|campaign=

|status= This award:

|description= as follows:

  • Ribbons
  • Regular: 38mm dark green with a central yellow stripe.
  • Honourable Artillery Company: Half blue, half scarlet with yellow edges.
  • Metal = Silver and silver-gilt
  • Size = Height 46mm; max.width 35mm
  • Shape = Skeletal with crowned monogram of sovereign, surrounded by oak wreath with a ring suspension.

|clasps=

|established= 1908 (29 September)

|firstawarded=

|lastawarded=

|total_awarded=

|total_awarded_posthumously=

|total_recipients= 4,783

|individual=

|higher=

|same=

|lower=

|related=

|image2=x29px x29px

|caption2= Regular and HAC ribbon bars

}}

__NOTOC__

The Territorial Decoration (TD) was a military 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This award superseded the Volunteer Officer's Decoration when the Territorial Force was formed on 1 April 1908, following the enactment of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907, (7 Edw.7, c.9) which was a large reorganisation of the old Volunteer Army and the remaining units of militia and Yeomanry. However, the Militia were transferred to the Special Reserve rather than becoming part of the Territorial Force. Recipients of this award are entitled to use the letters "TD" after their name (post-nominal).[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28181/page/7013 The London Gazette no. 28181, Tuesday, September 29, 1908] (Accessed on 25 July 2015)

Criteria

The original criterion was for a minimum of 20 years service (subsequently reduced to 12 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 or ‘ED’ was introduced to be awarded to all three services. When the ED was awarded to a Territorial Army officer it was officially known as Efficiency Decoration (Territorial), but it continued to be known informally as the Territorial Decoration and the recipient officially used the letters TD after their name.{{London Gazette |issue= 33653 |date= 17 October 1930 |page= 6310 }}"New Decoration and Medals", The Times, 18 October 1930

The Efficiency Decoration was itself replaced in 1999 by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal, awarded to all ranks in all services.

Honourable Artillery Company

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. {{cite web|url=http://www.hac.org.uk/html/about-the-hac/unique-features-of-the-hac/?PHPSESSID=9ed42c54191317cd20|title=Honourable Artillery Company - Welcome to the HAC website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006095019/http://www.hac.org.uk/html/about-the-hac/unique-features-of-the-hac/?PHPSESSID=9ed42c54191317cd20|archive-date=2007-10-06}}

Other details

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).

References

Further reading

J M A Tamplin, The Territorial Decoration, 1908-1930, (1983), (Spink: London)

External links

  • [http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/militia_vol_territorials/mvt28_1.shtml Queens Royal Surrey regiment - Territorial Decorations and Medals]
  • [http://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/archives/churchill_papers/biography/churchill_chronology.php On Churchill being awarded a TD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912233836/http://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/archives/churchill_papers/biography/churchill_chronology.php |date=2008-09-12 }}

{{Efficiency and long service decorations and medals}}

Category:Decorations of the British Army

Category:Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth