- Time Period: Pre-WW1
- Year of Institution: 1 June 1847
- Country: Great Britain
The Military General Service Medal (or MGSM) is a campaign medal issued to officers and men of the British Army in 1848 and approved on 1 June 1847 as a retrospective award for various military actions from 1793–1814.
The period the medal encompasses is that of the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Anglo-American War of 1812.
Each battle or campaign covered by the medal was represented by a clasp on the ribbon, of which twenty-nine were sanctioned (although a man could awarded up to fifteen).
The MGSM was only awarded to surviving claimants. Only about 10 per cent of those who served applied for this medal, due to general illiteracy and limited publicity for it. Next of kin could not apply for it on behalf of a deceased relative.
A total of 26,091 medals were awarded.
The Military General Service Medal Design
The medal was designed by William Wyon and is made of silver. It measures 1.4 inches (36 mm) in diameter.
The obverse depicts a left facing effigy of Queen Victoria with the inscription “VICTORIA REGINA” and the date “1848”. The reverse shows Queen Victoria standing on a dais, crowning a kneeling Duke of Wellington with a laurel wreath. Above is the inscription “TO THE BRITISH ARMY”, with the dates “1793-1814” below.
The name and regiment of the recipient is impressed on the rim in block Roman capitals. The 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide ribbon was crimson, with dark blue edges.
