Medals Database > By Country > Great Britain (19th Century Campaign Medals)

The Military General Service Medal

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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.

More British 19th Century Campaign Medals

The Crimea Medal

The Crimea Medal is a campaign medal issued to officers and men of British units who fought in the Crimean War of 1854–56 against Russia.

The British South Africa Company’s Medal

The British South Africa Company Medal was sanctioned by Queen Victoria to troops who had been engaged in the First Matabele War.

The East and West Africa Medal

The East and West Africa Medal was a campaign medal awarded for minor campaigns that took place in East and West Africa around 1887.

The Sutlej Medal

The Sutlej Medal is a campaign medal issued to officers and men of the British Army and East India Company who served in the Sutlej campaign.

The Scinde Medal

The Scinde Medal is a British medal issued to soldiers who participated in Major General Sir Charles Napier’s conquest of Scinde.

More Medals from Great Britain

Explore the rich history of British military honors through a captivating display of medals from different periods. Use the images below to learn more about the diverse array of decorations that have adorned the uniforms of British servicemen and women throughout history or use the button at the end to visit the entire UK medals database.