King's Fire Service Medal
King's Police Medal, for Distinguished Service (KFSM for service) • Lower — Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal (KFSM for gallantry) King's Ambulance Service Medal (KFSM for service) The King's Fire Service Medal, introduced in 1954, is awarded to members of the fire services in the United Kingdom for distinguished service or gallantry. Originally also awarded by Commonwealth countries, most have now established their own awards, including Australia in 1988 (with the Australian Fire Service Medal) and New Zealand in 1996 (covered by the King's Service Medal). Members of recognised fire brigades were eligible for the King's Police Medal from its creation in July 1909, with the award renamed the King's Police and Fire Services Medal in September 1940.
Also recorded as QFSM · KFSM · Queen's Fire Service Medal
King's Fire Service Medal
- Name
- King's Fire Service Medal
- Period
- 1954
- Region
- United Kingdom
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
King's Police Medal, for Distinguished Service (KFSM for service) • Lower — Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal (KFSM for gallantry) King's Ambulance Service Medal (KFSM for service) The King's Fire Service Medal, introduced in 1954, is awarded to members of the fire services in the United Kingdom for distinguished service or gallantry. Originally also awarded by Commonwealth countries, most have now established their own awards, including Australia in 1988 (with the Australian Fire Service Medal) and New Zealand in 1996 (covered by the King's Service Medal). Members of recognised fire brigades were eligible for the King's Police Medal from its creation in July 1909, with the award renamed the King's Police and Fire Services Medal in September 1940.
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In this article
Overview
Overview
In 1954 separate medals were established for the police and the Fire Service, with the Queen's Police Medal and the Queen's Fire Service Medal both instituted on 19 May 1954. Recipients from 1969 to 8 September 2022 may use the post-nominal letters “QFSM”. Recipients from 8 September 2022 may use the post-nominal letters "KFSM". The award has two categories. The most common is the King's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service, predominantly awarded to senior officers (station officer and above). The equivalent medal for gallantry, the King's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry, can only be awarded posthumously and has, up to 2025, never been awarded, with members of the fire service also eligible for the George Cross, George Medal and the King's Gallantry Medal. There is provision for the forfeiture of the award in the event of a recipient later being convicted of a criminal offence.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — King's Fire Service Medal • Presenter — United Kingdom and Commonwealth • Type — Medal • Eligibility — Members of the Fire Services • Awarded For — 'acts of exceptional courage and skill at the cost of their lives' or for the 'exhibition of conspicuous devotion to duty'. • Post Nominals — KFSM (2022–present) QFSM (1954–2022) • Established — 19 May 1954 • Precedence Label — Order of Wear • Higher — King's Police Medal, for Gallantry (KFSM for gallantry)
Design
Design
• The medal is silver and 36 millimetres in diameter, with the ribbon suspended from a ring. • The obverse bears the profile of the reigning monarch, Elizabeth II to 2023, then Charles III. • The reverse shows a standing figure with a sword and shield, with an inscription of "For Distinguished Fire Service" around the medal's edge. The gallantry version has the words "For Gallantry" in the exergue. • The name of the recipient is inscribed on the rim of the medal. • The 1.38 in wide ribbon is of red with three yellow stripes. The King's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry has a single thin dark blue stripe running through the centre of each yellow stripe.
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
The full dated record · 2 entries
1954
King's Fire Service Medal first recorded.
1954
King's Fire Service Medal is recorded from 1954.
Places
Named by the record
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- United Kingdom
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2707693: King's Fire Service Medal
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “King's Fire Service Medal”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.It's An Honour has a new home. Itsanhonour.gov.au.
- 2.56878. 3352. 17 March 2003.
- 3.The Stationery Office. The Queen's Ambulance Service Medal Royal Warrant. official-documents.gov.uk.
- 4.Abbott, PE. British Gallantry Awards. Nimrod Dix & Co. 186–191. 1981. 0902633740.
- 5.Abbott, PE. British Gallantry Awards. Nimrod Dix & Co. 252–254. 1981. 0902633740.
- 6.Farrell, Tony. Queen's Fire Service Medal - overseas awards 1954–2023. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal. 64. 2. 106-7. June 2025. 1474-3353.
- 7.Mussell, John (ed). Medal Yearbook 2020. Token Publishing. 94. 2019. 978-1908828484.
- 8.The Gazette. King's Fire Service Medal (1133).
References
Citations
References
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authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Medals
1,069 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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- King Haakon VII Commemorative MedalTerminology
- King Haakon VII Freedom CrossTerminology
- King's African Rifles Long Service and Good Conduct MedalTerminology
- King's Gallantry MedalTerminology
- King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of FreedomTerminology
- King's Police MedalTerminology
- King's South Africa MedalTerminology
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