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In May 1895 Queen Victoria authorised Colonial governments to adopt various British military medals and to award them to their local permanent military forces. The Cape of Good Hope and Colony of Natal instituted their own territorial versions of the Meritorious Service Medal in terms of this authority. These two medals remained in use in the respective territories until after the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910.〔(South African Medal Website – Colonial Military Forces ) (Accessed 6 May 2015)〕 In 1914 the Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa) was instituted for the Union of South Africa, for award to selected senior non-commissioned officers of the Permanent Force of the newly established Union Defence Forces who had completed twenty-one years of meritorious service.〔(South African Medal Website – Union Defence Forces (1913–1939) ) (Accessed 9 May 2015)〕 ==Origin== The United Kingdom's Meritorious Service Medal was instituted by Queen Victoria on 19 December 1845 to recognise meritorious service by non-commissioned officers of the British Army. Recipients were also granted an annuity, the amount of which was based on rank. After Queen Victoria authorised Dominion and Colonial governments on 31 May 1895 to adopt the Meritorious Service Medal, as well as the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and to award them to their local military forces, the Cape of Good Hope and Natal instituted their own versions of the Meritorious Service Medal.〔〔(Stephen Stratford Medals site - British Military & Criminal History - 1900 to 1999 - Army MSM ) (Accessed 20 June 2015)〕 Other territories that took advantage of the authorisation include Canada, India, New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and, from 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia.〔(New Zealand Defence Force – New Zealand Long Service and Good Conduct Medals - The New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal ) (Access date 21 June 2015)〕〔(Australian Government - It's an Honour - Imperial Awards - Meritorious Service Medal (1902-1975) ) (Access date 21 June 2015)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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