Time Period: The Great War
The Territorial Force War Medal is a campaign medal awarded to members of the British Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service who volunteered or served overseas on or before 30 September 1914 and is the rarest of the five British Great War medals.
Those who received the award had to have been serving with the Force on 4 August 1914 or have completed four years service with the Force before 4 August 1914 and rejoined on or before 30 September 1914. They also had to not have qualified for the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star.
A total of 33,944 Territorial Force War Medals were awarded, including 227 to nurses of the Territorial Force Nursing Service (the only women to receive the medal).
The Territorial Force War Medal Design
The medal is a circular, made of bronze and measures 36mm (1.42 in) in diameter.
The obverse shows a King George V bareheaded effigy, facing left, with the legend: “GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN : REX ET IND : IMP :“. The reverse displays a wreath with the text “FOR / VOLUNTARY / SERVICE / OVERSEAS / 1914-19′ in the center, and ‘TERRITORIAL WAR MEDAL” around the upper outer edge.
The ribbon is yellow with two green stripes and measures 32 mm (1.25 in) wide. The suspender is a straight bar.
