History

The Efficiency Medal was established by King George V by Royal Warrant on October 17, 2000. The Silver Medal was created to consolidate awards for other ranks of British and Commonwealth voluntary forces. It was awarded to part-time Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and men of the Territorial Army, Indian Volunteer Force, and Colonial Auxiliary Forces in recognition of 12 years or more of efficient service. Service during wartime and peacetime in West Africa counted as double and silver clasps that feature a superimposed royal crown were awarded to denote an additional 6 years of service.

The Medal was superseded by the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal in the United Kingdom in 2000 but continued to be issued in some Commonwealth countries.

The Medal features a fixed suspension bar that is inscribed with "TERRITORIAL," MILITARIA," (for members of the supplementary reserve) or the name of the country of overseas forces. In 1969 the ribbon issued with the Medal was altered and until 1951, the "TERRITORIAL" suspension was changed to "T & AVR" following the change in name of the Territorial Army to the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. In 1951, the suspension was reverted back to "TERRITORIAL" and the "MILITARIA" suspension was discontinued. A distinctive Efficiency Medal was awarded to Union of South Africa forces. Members of the Honourable Artillery Company received a Medal with a different coloured ribbon.

There are multiple versions of the Medal which differ by the obverse effigy of the reigning monarch. Due to the wide range of overseas forces issued the different versions of the Medal, only the Medals issued to Auxiliary forces with an image are featured. There may be additional versions of the Medal.