Summary

Meritorious Service Medal - King George V awarded to Staff. Sgt. William Edward Green, service number 12, Australian Postal Corps.

Green first served as a Corporal in the 1st Light Horse Regiment, A.I.F., during World War I.
He was born in Marong, near Bendigo, Victoria and was a clerk before enlisting in the army on 18 August 1914, aged 21 years and 1 month. In May of 1915 whilst in Gallipoli, Green suffered from diarrhoea and was hospital in Alexandria. He rejoined his unit in Gallipoli in November 1915. In Egypt during 1916-18 he was still a Corporal before being promoted to Staff Sargeant. In March 1916 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2. In May 1918, Green was in the Postal Corps, Anzac Mounted Division HQ.

Green was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal - mentioned in dispatches by General Sir A. Murray on 28 June 1917 (published in Gazette 30391, London 20 Nov 1917) for work in Australian Headquarters. He was discharged 2 May 1919.

Instituted on 19 December 1845 for army warrant officers and sergeants for long and meritorious service (no more than 100 living recipients permitted this being controlled by the sum set aside for the annuity of 20 pounds). The award was extended to marines in 1849. In 1916 it was changed to an award 'for valuable and meritorious service' and was varied again in 1917 to being an award 'for gallant conduct in the performance of military duty otherwise than in action with the enemy, or in saving or attempting to save the life of an officer or soldiers, or for devotion to duty in a theatre of war'.

Physical Description

A silver medal (36 mm diameter) with mount and ribbon. The obverse features a head of George V with bare head, facing left; around, GEORGVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:; the artist's initials B.M. (Bertram MacKennal) on the neck truncation. The reverse has, within a crowned laurel wreath, the legend FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. The edge is impressed: 12 S.SJT: W.E. GREEN. AUST: P.C.

Obverse Description

Head of George V with bare head, facing left; around, GEORGVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:; the artist's initials B.M. (Bertram MacKennal) on the neck truncation.

Reverse Description

Within a crowned laurel wreath, the legend FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE.

Edge Description

12 S.SJT: W.E. GREEN. AUST: P.C.

Significance

The award was instituted on 19 December 1845 for army warrent officers and sergeants for long and meritoriouis service (no more than 100 living recipients permitted). It was accompanied by an annuity of 20 pounds. The award was extended to marines in 1849. In 1916 it was changed to an award 'for valuable and meritorious service' and was varied again in 1917 to being an award 'for gallant conduct in the performance of military duty otherwise than in action with the enemy, or in saving or attempting to save the life of an officer or soldiers, or for devotion to duty in a theatre of war'.

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