Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) |
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Queen Victoria version
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| 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) |
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The Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) was a special award. It was given to soldiers in the Colony of Natal. This colony was a British territory in Southern Africa.
Queen Victoria allowed colonies to create their own versions of British military medals. Natal started giving out this medal in 1897. It was for soldiers who served for a long time and showed good behavior.
Contents
What is a Long Service Medal?
The idea for this medal came from a British award. The original British Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was created in 1830. It was for soldiers who served for many years.
At first, soldiers needed 21 years of service to get it. Later, this was changed to 18 years. The medal showed the King or Queen on one side. It was a way to honor loyal soldiers.
Natal's Military Forces
In the late 1800s, Natal had its own military groups. These included the Natal Police and a Volunteer Force. These groups later joined together to form the Natal Colonial Forces.
These forces helped keep peace and order in the colony. The medal was a way to recognize their dedication.
How the Medal Was Created
In 1895, Queen Victoria gave permission to colonies. They could create their own versions of British military medals. The Colony of Natal quickly used this permission.
In 1897, Natal introduced its own Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. This medal was just as important as the British one. Other places like Canada and India also created similar medals.
A second version of the Natal medal was made in 1901. This one showed King Edward VII. 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 for non-commissioned officers and soldiers. They had to serve for 18 years. Their service had to be "irreproachable," meaning they always behaved well.
These soldiers served in the Natal Police or the Permanent Force. If a soldier later received a higher award, like the Meritorious Service Medal, they would stop wearing this one.
Where Did It Rank?
Medals have an "order of wear." This means there's a specific way to wear them. The Natal medal was considered equal to the British Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
It was worn after the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal. It was worn before the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1830).
Medals in South Africa
After 1952, South Africa created its own medals. Older British medals, like the Natal one, were still worn. However, new South African medals were worn first.
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- 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 about 36 millimeters wide and 3 millimeters thick. It had a fancy hanger at the top.
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- Front Side (Obverse)
The Queen Victoria version showed a "Trophy of Arms." This was a design with weapons and a shield. The shield had the Royal Coat of Arms. The King Edward VII version showed his face. It said "EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR" around the edge.
- Back Side (Reverse)
The back of both medals was smooth. It said "NATAL" at the top. Below that, it said "FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT." This was written in four straight lines. There were also some small designs at the bottom.
- Ribbon
The ribbon for the Natal medal was 32 millimeters wide. It was crimson (a deep red color). It had a light yellow stripe in the middle, 4 millimeters wide.
When the Medal Ended
The Colony of Natal joined with other colonies in 1910. They formed the Union of South Africa. After this, the Natal medal was no longer given out.
Instead, a new medal was created for all the forces in the new Union. This was called the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal. It became the single award for long service and good conduct.
