The British Military General Service Medal (MGSM)
The Military General Service Medal (MGSM), AKA the Peninsular Medal*, was authorized on June 1, 1847 and issued in 1848. This was a campaign medal for issue to officers and men of the British Army covering military actions from 1793-1814. This period encompassed the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Anglo-American War of 1812. For each battle or action, a clasp was attached to the ribbon, with twenty-nine clasps authorized. The most awarded to any one recipient was fifteen and only in the case of two recipients. The clasps are fixed in multiples of three, where applicable. They commemorate the actions of the Peninsular War, but also include various campaigns across the globe such as the West Indies, Egypt, and Java, and the War of 1812 in the United States of America.
Members of the King's German Legion, 1803-1816, (Brunswick Oels Jager and Brunswick Oels Hussar Regiments) were also qualified for the MGSM, but many had long returned to their native Germany and remained unaware of their eligibility.
The medal was only awarded to surviving claimants; one had to have both survived until 1847 and then to actively have applied for it. A combination of factors, from general illiteracy to limited publicity for the new medal meant that many never received it. There are substantially fewer MGSM medals issued compared with the number of men who served during this period.
The Medal
The Military General Service Medal with Five Clasps
The obverse of the 36mm silver medal features the diademed head of Queen Victoria, with the legend VICTORIA REGINA and 1848 in the exergue. The reverse depicts Queen Victoria standing on a plinth, crowning the Duke of Wellington with a laurel wreath. The inscription TO THE BRITISH ARMY is inscribed around the circumference and the dates 1793-1814 are in exergue.
Clasps
Clasps are single-faced metal bars carried on a ribbon attached to the medal, indicating service in a particular campaign or battle. The clasps carry side flanges to enable them to be attached to the medal and riveted to each other, so that new ones can be attached as earned. Usually the first earned clasp is borne nearest to the planchet, so that the latest earned should be at the top. The 29 clasps** authorized for the MGSM include:
*The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was a military conflict between Napoleon's empire and the allied powers of the Spanish Empire, Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Portugal, for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars.
**Although the medal bears the dates 1793 to 1814, the earliest clasp at the time of issue was MAIDA covering the period 1806. The Egypt clasp (1801) was not authorized until 1850. Army Field or General Officers, who received the Army Gold Medal or Cross (1808-1814), were not awarded a clasp for the MGSM covering the same actions (French Revolution, Napoleonic War, and the War of 1812). A small number of medals were awarded to Royal Navy and Marine personnel on duty with the Army.
***Awarded to participants of both actions.
The Military General Service Medal (MGSM), AKA the Peninsular Medal*, was authorized on June 1, 1847 and issued in 1848. This was a campaign medal for issue to officers and men of the British Army covering military actions from 1793-1814. This period encompassed the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Anglo-American War of 1812. For each battle or action, a clasp was attached to the ribbon, with twenty-nine clasps authorized. The most awarded to any one recipient was fifteen and only in the case of two recipients. The clasps are fixed in multiples of three, where applicable. They commemorate the actions of the Peninsular War, but also include various campaigns across the globe such as the West Indies, Egypt, and Java, and the War of 1812 in the United States of America.
Members of the King's German Legion, 1803-1816, (Brunswick Oels Jager and Brunswick Oels Hussar Regiments) were also qualified for the MGSM, but many had long returned to their native Germany and remained unaware of their eligibility.
The medal was only awarded to surviving claimants; one had to have both survived until 1847 and then to actively have applied for it. A combination of factors, from general illiteracy to limited publicity for the new medal meant that many never received it. There are substantially fewer MGSM medals issued compared with the number of men who served during this period.
The Medal
The Military General Service Medal with Five Clasps
Clasps
Clasps are single-faced metal bars carried on a ribbon attached to the medal, indicating service in a particular campaign or battle. The clasps carry side flanges to enable them to be attached to the medal and riveted to each other, so that new ones can be attached as earned. Usually the first earned clasp is borne nearest to the planchet, so that the latest earned should be at the top. The 29 clasps** authorized for the MGSM include:
| EGYPT | JAVA |
| MAIDA | CIUDAD RODRIGO |
| ROLEIA | BADAJOZ |
| VIMIERA | SALAMANCA |
| SAHAGUN | FORT DETROIT |
| BENEVENTE | CHATEAUGUAY |
| SAHAGUN AND BENEVENTE*** | CHRYSLER'S FARM |
| CORUNNA | VITTORIA |
| MARTINIQUE | PYRENEES |
| TALAVERA | ST. SEBASTIAN |
| GUADALOUPE | NIVELLE |
| BUSACO | NIVE |
| BARROSA | ORTHES |
| FUENTES D'ONOR | TOULOUSE |
| ALBUHUERA |
*The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was a military conflict between Napoleon's empire and the allied powers of the Spanish Empire, Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Portugal, for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars.
**Although the medal bears the dates 1793 to 1814, the earliest clasp at the time of issue was MAIDA covering the period 1806. The Egypt clasp (1801) was not authorized until 1850. Army Field or General Officers, who received the Army Gold Medal or Cross (1808-1814), were not awarded a clasp for the MGSM covering the same actions (French Revolution, Napoleonic War, and the War of 1812). A small number of medals were awarded to Royal Navy and Marine personnel on duty with the Army.
***Awarded to participants of both actions.
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