New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal
1891 the statutes of the award were amended to include Volunteer officers upon completion of 20 years broken service 1917 further amendment made to cover Territorial officers who were permanently appointed to the New Zealand Staff Corps or Permanent Staff 1920 extended to all members of the New Zealand Military Forces. • Awarded For — "Long and Efficient Service" • Status — Rendered obsolete 23 September 1931 • Description — Silver disk, 37mm in diameter • Clasps — none • Established — 1 January 1887 • Firstawarded — to a member of the 1st Westland Rifle Volunteers and was recorded on 8 September 1887 • Lastawarded — to Sgt Gordon Bremner, NZAOC on 12 May 1955 • Total Awarded — 2384 285 awarded to volunteers The New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal was the earliest medal awarded in New Zealand for long and efficient services, being issued between 1 January 1887 to 22 September 1931. Eligibility for the medal changed over time (see infobox) and, from 1920, could be issued to all members of the New Zealand Military Forces for 16 or 20 years of service (active service between 5 August 1914 and 28 January 1919 counted as double qualifying time).
New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal
George Thomas White · Auckland Museum · API data Catalogue record Photo · CC BY 4.0
- Name
- New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal
- Period
- 1887
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Documentary summary
1891 the statutes of the award were amended to include Volunteer officers upon completion of 20 years broken service 1917 further amendment made to cover Territorial officers who were permanently appointed to the New Zealand Staff Corps or Permanent Staff 1920 extended to all members of the New Zealand Military Forces. • Awarded For — "Long and Efficient Service" • Status — Rendered obsolete 23 September 1931 • Description — Silver disk, 37mm in diameter • Clasps — none • Established — 1 January 1887 • Firstawarded — to a member of the 1st Westland Rifle Volunteers and was recorded on 8 September 1887 • Lastawarded — to Sgt Gordon Bremner, NZAOC on 12 May 1955 • Total Awarded — 2384 285 awarded to volunteers The New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal was the earliest medal awarded in New Zealand for long and efficient services, being issued between 1 January 1887 to 22 September 1931. Eligibility for the medal changed over time (see infobox) and, from 1920, could be issued to all members of the New Zealand Military Forces for 16 or 20 years of service (active service between 5 August 1914 and 28 January 1919 counted as double qualifying time).
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal • Caption2 — Ribbon of the medal • Presenter — New Zealand • Type — Long Service Award • Eligibility — 1887–1891 non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the New Zealand Volunteers upon completion of 16 years continuous service
Varieties
Varieties
There are three varieties: • The first variety was manufactured by S. Kohn, Wellington, and marked S. KOHN between the ends of the ribbon bow. • The second variety was manufactured by G.T. White, Christchurch and Wellington, and is found either unmarked, or marked with G.T. WHITE between the ends of the ribbon bow. • The third variety was manufactured by William Dibble, Gerrards, London in the early 1950s. These medals were cast frosted silver second type medals, with very small suspension rings, sterling silver hallmarks and WJD on the bottom of the reverse. Intended primarily as replacement medals, most were sold to collectors with SPECIMEN impressed on the rim.
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
Explore 1887
The full dated record · 3 entries
1887
New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal first recorded.
1887
New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal is recorded from 1887.
1887
New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal was established or created on 1 January 1887.
Description
The medal is round, 37 mm in diameter, and made of silver. The obverse of the medal depicts a Royal Crown superimposed over a crossed sword and Taiaha (Maori long club) and surrounded by fern fronds. The reverse bears the inscription FOR LONG AND EFFICIENT SERVICE. The medal's suspension is a 14 mm diameter ring, which passes through a loop fixed to the top of the piece. The ring will move forwards and backwards. The medal is suspended from a ribbon 38 mm wide, crimson in colour with two central white stripes, which were added in 1917.
Context
Primary material
Context
The circumstances in which New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal stands. Established or created on 1 January 1887. Recorded as military decoration.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q7015482: New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal
General reference · Wikidata
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.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
“New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further readingWikipedia
Secondary witnessauthority record
Wikidata, structured authority record Q7015482: New Zealand Long and Efficient Service MedalWikidata
General reference
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.
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