WW2 BRITISH TERRITORIAL ARMY EFFICIENCY DECORATION 1943 DATED MEDAL

54mm high oval silver and silver-gilt skeletal badge in the form of an oak wreath with a Tudor crown above with loop for ribbon suspension, the initials ‘GRI’ (King George VI) centrally; the reverse plain; with engraved date (of award) 1943; on worn original, unmounted ribbon with ‘TERRITORIAL’ bar, being sewn to the top of the ribbon. A very good wartime example.

The Decoration was instituted on 17 October 1930 and replaced the Territorial Decoration, being awarded to the same criteria, namely 20 years’ commissioned service, time in the ranks counting half and service in wartime counting double. The qualifying period was reduced to 12 years in 1949 and in 1969, with the establishment of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, the ribbon was changed to blue, yellow and green and the ‘Territorial’ bar was changed to ‘T&AVR’. In 1982, the title ‘Territorial Army’ having been restored, the ‘Territorial’ bar was restored. The Decoration was superseded by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal in 1999.