History

The Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal was instituted by King George V on January 14, 1919. The Silver Medal was originally awarded to Warrant and Petty Officers of the Royal Navy in recognition of specific acts of gallantry not in the presence of an enemy or for demonstrations of meritorious service in the face on an enemy. A clasp was issued for subsequent awards. In 1928, the Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal was superseded by the British Empire Medal for Gallantry or Meritorious Service. However, Queen Elizabeth II reinstated the Medal on December 1, 1977. The later version of the Medal was awarded to Warrant, Petty Officers and Non-commissioned Officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, or to personnel of equivalent ranks in the Women's Royal Naval Service and the Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service. Only recipients of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whose service has been recognized with 3 good conduct badges and who also have provided 20 years of service are eligible for the award.

The Medal has an annual contingent of 49 recipients.

There are 3 versions of the Medal which differ in obverse effigy of the reigning Monarch. The first version depicts an uncrowned effigy of King George V, the second features a crowned effigy of King George V, and the third features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.