The institution of the Long Service and Good Conduct medal is due to an order of King William IV., who notified his intention to establish it in an Order to the Secretary of War on July 30th, 1830. In it His Majesty states that "discharged soldiers receiving a gratuity for meritorious conduct shall be entitled to wear a medal having on one side the words FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT, and on the other in relief the King's Arms, with the name and rank of the soldier, and the year, inscribed on the medal." Those entitled to the medal "must have completed twenty-one years of actual service in the Infantry, or twenty years in the Cavalry, never have been convicted by Court Martial, and must have borne an irreproachable character, or have particularly distinguished themselves in the service." The medal, designed by Pistrucci, was suspended from a dark-crimson ribbon by means of a steel bar attached to a steel clip which gripped the medal as on the Waterloo medal. This medal is sometimes found, however, with a ring through which the ribbon is passed. The name, rank, and regiment and the year of discharge were impressed in large capital Roman letters round the edge of the medal. On the accession of Queen Victoria the Arms of Hanover were omitted. About 1851 a silver scroll suspender replaced the steel clip, and in the new die the lettering on the reverse was cut smaller and the date was omitted. By a warrant dated January 16th, 1860, the grant of the medal was extended to non-commissioned officers on the permanent staff of the Militia. Since 1874 the names and rank of the recipients have been engraved on the edge of the medal. The earlier medals realise from 10_s._ to £1, and the later ones from 5_s._ to 7_s._ 6_d._ each, according to rank and condition. [Illustration: (Reverse.) (Obverse.) FRENCH MEDAL FOR MEXICO, 1862-3.] [Illustration: (Obverse.) (Reverse.) FRENCH MEDAL FOR TONKIN, 1883-5.] =King Edward Long Service Medal.=--On the accession of King Edward VII., the obverse of the Military Long Service and Good Conduct medal was altered, and the effigy of King Edward, with the legend EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR substituted for the trophy of arms with the shield of Great Britain in the centre. =King George's Long Service Medal.=--The same alteration has been made in this latest issue; the bust of H.M. King George V., takes the place of King Edward, and the legend being slightly altered so far as the name is concerned. NAVAL LONG SERVICE MEDALS