Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) |
|
|---|---|
_Victoria.jpg)
Queen Victoria version
|
|
| Country |  Colony of Natal |
| Type | Military long service medal |
| Eligibility | Permanent Force Other Ranks |
| Awarded for | 18 years service and good conduct |
| Status | Discontinued in 1910 |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1897 (Victoria) 1901 (Edward VII) |
| Order of wear | |
| Next (higher) |  Accumulated Campaign Service Medal |
| Equivalent | Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope) Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal |
| Next (lower) | Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1830) |
.png){kind=small} Ribbon Bar |
|
In May 1895, Queen Victoria allowed Colonial governments to create their own military medals. The Colony of Natal started this system in August 1895. In 1897, they created the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal). This medal was given to soldiers for serving a long time and showing good behavior.
Contents
About the Medal's History
The original British Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was started in 1830. It was for soldiers who served for many years. At first, you needed 21 years in the infantry or 24 years in the cavalry. Later, in 1870, this was changed to 18 years of service. The medal's ribbon was plain red until 1917, when white stripes were added.
Natal's Military Forces
In the late 1800s, the Colony of Natal had its own military groups. These included the Natal Police and a Volunteer Force. The Volunteer Force later became the Natal Militia in 1904. In 1908, these groups joined together to form the Natal Colonial Forces.
How the Medal Was Created
On May 31, 1895, Queen Victoria gave permission for colonies to create their own military medals. The Colony of Natal quickly used this permission in August 1895. In 1897, the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) was one of three medals Natal created. This Natal medal was considered just as important as the similar British medal.
Other places that also created their own medals included Canada, Cape of Good Hope, India, New Zealand, and Australia.
A second version of the Natal medal was made in 1901. This one had a picture of King Edward VII on the front. The back of the medal stayed the same for both versions.
Who Received the Medal
The Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) was given to non-commissioned officers (like sergeants) and other soldiers. They had to complete eighteen years of excellent service. This service was with the Natal Police or the Permanent Force of the Natal Colonial Forces. If a soldier later received a higher award, like the Meritorious Service Medal, they would stop wearing this long service medal.
Order of Medals
Medals have a special "order of wear," which is like a ranking. The Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) was considered equal to the British Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. It was worn after the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal and before the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1830).
Medals in South Africa
From April 6, 1952, South Africa started using its own new medals. However, older British medals that applied to South Africans could still be worn. They were worn in the same order, but after all the new South African medals. The Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) was placed in this order.
- It was worn after the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope).
- It was worn before the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal.
What the Medal Looked Like
The medal was made of silver. It was a round disk, about 36 millimeters wide and 3 millimeters thick. It hung from a fancy swivel attachment. The Queen Victoria version had a double claw holding the medal. The King Edward VII version had a single claw.
.jpg)
- Front (Obverse)
The Queen Victoria version of the medal had a design of weapons and a shield with the Royal Coat of Arms. It had no writing. The King Edward VII version had a picture of the King and the words "EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR" around the edge. Both versions had a raised edge.
- Back (Reverse)
The back of both medals was smooth with a raised edge. It had the word "NATAL" at the top. Below that, it said "FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT" in four straight lines. Underneath this writing were three dots between two spear blades.
- Ribbon
The ribbon for the Natal medal was 32 millimeters wide and crimson (dark red). It had a 4-millimeter-wide light yellow stripe in the middle.
When the Medal Stopped Being Awarded
The Cape of Good Hope and the Colony of Natal were two of the four colonies that formed the Union of South Africa in 1910. Both of these colonies had their own versions of the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. When the Union of South Africa was formed, these colonial medals were no longer given out. Instead, a new medal called the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal was created in 1910. This new medal was a single award for long service and good conduct across all the British Dominions and Colonies.
See Also
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
- Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal
Images for kids
-
Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
-
Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal)
-
Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal
.png){kind=small}
