Meritorious Service Medals added to TheGenealogist's database

TheGenealogist has released the records of 29,000 individuals who were decorated with the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). 

The roll of names for those who were awarded this British honour in the First World War have been released by TheGenealogist. Researchers can now look for holders of this medal up to 1920 from within their military records collection.

• See a copy of the image of the Medal Card with the theatre of war where the medal was won
• Details the name, rank, regiment and service number
• Unique “SmartSearch” links to the military records on TheGenealogist
• These new records cover British servicemen from the First World War

The Meritious Medal

The medal was first awarded in 1845 to non-commissioned officers in the British Army who had a record of long service in the forces.

Given originally for long service of at least 20 years to servicemen who were of 'irreproachable character' and already held the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal of their service, the First World War saw it awarded to those who performed acts of non-combatant gallantry in the performance of their military duty.

In the second case the bravery was not necessarily while the serviceman was on active service and may have been in the saving or attempted saving of the life of an officer or an enlisted soldier.

Family history researchers searching for ancestors who had been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in the First World War will be able to find their forebears in this new addition to the military collection of records on TheGenealogist.