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I have a Territorial Force Efficiency Medal with the following inscription:
863 SJT:P L Aldridge
4/OXFORD
4/OXF. & BUCKS: L.I.

I have tried to find a medal or war record through national archives, but with no luck.

I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me where I could get any more information.

The medal belonged to my step grandfather Percival Loe Aldridge born 1877 at St Giles, Oxford.

Thank you.
Carole

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal
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Territorial Force Efficiency Medal
Awarded by The United Kingdom
Type Medal
Eligibility Territorial Force - Ranks
Awarded for Granted for a minimum of 12 years service in the Territorial Force with war service counting double.
Status This award:
Superseded the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal
Superseded by the Territorial Efficiency Medal in 1921.

Description as follows:
Ribbon = 32mm plain dark green with a central yellow stripe.
Members of the Honourable Artillery Company wore a half blue, half scarlet ribbon, with yellow edges.
Metal = Silver
Size = Height 38mm; max.width 31mm
Shape = Oval, with claw and ring suspension.
Obverse = Sovereign's effigy (Edward VII and George V)
Reverse = Inscription: Territorial Efficiency Medal on three lines.

Clasps Bars awarded for further periods of 12 years service.
Statistics
Established 1908
Distinct
recipients 49526 (899 with bar, 64 with second bar)
The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force. This award superseded the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal when the Territorial Force was formed in 1908 following the enactment of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907, (7 Edw.7, c.9) which was a huge re-organisation of the old Volunteer Army and the remaining units of militia and Yeomanry. The TF was formed on April 1, 1908. It should be noted that the Militia were transferred to the Special Reserve rather than becoming part of the Territorial Force.

Contents [hide]
1 Criteria
2 Honourable Artillery Company
3 Other details
4 References
5 Further reading



[edit] Criteria
The criteria were for a minimum of 12 years service in the Territorial Force with war service counting double. Bars were awarded for further periods of 12 years. This medal was superseded by the Territorial Efficiency Medal when the Territorial Force was elevated to become the Territorial Army.[1]


[edit] Honourable Artillery Company

HAC TD ribbonFor members of the Honourable Artillery Company the ribbon differed, being a half blue, half scarlet ribbon, with yellow edges. This distinction was bestowed by King Edward VII for the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal and the honour extended to the same medals under the Territorial designations. The HAC ribbon colours were the household colours of King Edward VII. [2]

[edit] Other details
Note that this medal is separate from the Territorial Force Imperial Service Badge.

The equivalent award for commissioned officers was the Territorial Decoration.

The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal was awarded for long service i think you had to have 12 years service

Roy

I notice that Sergeant is spelt with a J which is usually the American way of spelling it

1881 census - this appears to be him

Thomas ALDRIDGE Head M Male 46 Oxford, England Printers Overseer (Printer)
Elizabeth ALDRIDGE Wife M Female 45 Oxford, England
Arthur A. ALDRIDGE Son U Male 15 Oxford, England Scholar
Algenon E. ALDRIDGE Son U Male 7 Oxford, England Scholar
Percival L. ALDRIDGE Son U Male 3 Oxford, England Scholar
George W. LAWSON Boarder U Male 15 Aylesbury Scholar
Charles P. LEWIS Lodger U Male 21 Exeter, Devon, England Student Unattached


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Dwelling 67 Observatory St
Census Place Oxford St Giles, Oxford, England
Family History Library Film 1341362
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1499 / 67
Page Number 50

Thank you Ann and Roy for your replies. Interesting reading.

Have you any idea why a medal record wouldn't be available at National Archives, or have I not looked properly??? I have found them before for other family members. Or do they not have them for this type of medal?

I think he was posted in the middle east at some time.

Regards, Carole

Ann of Green Gables, In the british army The light division eg, Light infantry, and Green jasckets are light div,
spell Sergeant with a J, (Serjeant)

Roy

Yes Ann, that is his correct family.
Carole

On my father-in-law's British medals serjeant is spelt with a J. We were just looking at them yesterday and commented on this.

Kath. x

Carole, Just a guess but probably because the medal card index on the national archives is war years related, your rellie probably got the medal before the war as he was born 1877 he was abt 37 years old when war broke out, so could have already served for upto abt 20 years

Roy

Perhaps he didn't serve overseas in WW1 which would mean he would have had no WW1 medal entitlement and therefore there would not be a medal card for him.

You can find other medal cards on DocumentsOnline. Some of the information on these cards will lead you to other records while others will not. The catalogue reference of the document will indicate whether you have located one of these cards:

The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal (TFEM) and Territorial Efficiency Medal (TEM) cards: catalogue reference WO 372/24.

From http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp#other

Roy

Thank you Roy and Annielaurie.
Another aspect to think about.
I thought his number was small compared to ones I have for other family members.
I am sure he spent time in the middle east (same time as Lawrence of Arabia) but I will look into the timing of that. He has a living relative in UK who might be able to confirm the timing of his posting. I can only contact by snail mail though (and from Aus).
Thank you all for your help.
Regards, Carole

Roy, I have just had another check in documents online as per your web link. No luck again, so I guess he isn't there for some reason. I am now assuming he probably got the medal before WW!.

was plain ann now annielaurie,

That's not always the case?

even if he never served overseas in the war but did take part he would still have a medal card

The Silver War Badge, sometimes erroneously called the Silver Wound Badge, was authorised in September 1916 and takes the form of a circular badge with the legend "For King and Empire-Services Rendered" surrounding the George V cypher. The badge was awarded to all of those military personnel who were discharged as a result of sickness or wounds contracted or received during the war, either at home or overseas

They still have a medal card but the card is a different format

Roy

here is his medal card

Description Medal card of Aldridge, P L
Corps Regiment No Rank
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 863 Serjeant

Date 1914-1920
Catalogue reference WO 372/24
Dept Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies
Series War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War
Piece Mentions in Despatches, Meritorious Service Medals and Territorial Force Efficiency Medals
Image contains 1 medal card of many for this collection



Number of image files: 1


Image Reference Format and Version Part Number Size (KB) Number of Pages Price (£)
113022 / 7719 PDF 1.2 1 278 1 2.00
Total Price (£) 2.00



http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=6557746&queryType=1&resultcount=1

Roy

Thank you so much Roy.
Why couldn't I find that?
It is nice to know there is a card for him. I like to add all the supporting pieces of paperwork to my research to leave for the future generations!
Your time and help is much appreciated.
Regards, Carole

Roy

Sorry, yes, if there was entitlement to a SWB there would be a card.

annielaurie, thats ok we all get a bit carried away and forget sometimes

Carole, the card will be well worth downloading at £2 its a bargan

Roy

Thanks Roy. Yes I would download it if I could locate it. (I have done others before). I have tried again but still haven't located it. I do feel a bit of a dill that I can't find it. Can't think what I am doing wrong, but I will persevere.
Thanks again for your help, Carole

Carole, use this link

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=6557746&queryType=1&resultcount=1

it will take you direct to the page, then just clickon Add to shoping basket and follow the instructions


Roy