Meritorious Service

The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) group of Lance Sergeant Walter Bradford, M.S.M. (Click image for full group) - Photo by Sgt A Majoor. (The RCR Museum Collection.)

The Royal Canadian Regiment and
The First World War - 1914-1919

Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)

The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) was originally created to recognize 21 years of army service and was granted after discharge. It was awarded to Warrant Officers and Senior N.C.Os. Between 1916 and 1928, the MSM could also be awarded to all ranks for duty "in the performance of military duty otherwise than in action against the enemy, or in saving, or attempting to save the life of an officer or soldier, or for devotion to duty in a theatre of war." (Veterans Affairs Canada)

The Meritorious Service Medal was authorized by Royal Warrant in 1895, and adopted in Canada in October 1902.

RCR Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal for War Service (1916-1919)

The following Warrant Officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of The Royal Canadian Regiment received the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) during the First World War for war service. The following list includes those names identified in the first volume of the regimental history (Fetherstonhaugh, 1933) and includes some who did not receive their awards for actions performed while serving with the Regiment.

Service No. Rank Initials Surname Date
477028Q.M.S. William TrevorBAKER LG No. 30750, dated 17 Jun 1918
477095L/Sergt WalterBRADFORD LG No. 31132, dated 18 Jan 1919
106105 Pte. JohnBRAYTON LG No. 29788, dated 18 Oct 1916
477117 Sergt. Walter ThomasBROWN LG No. 31370, dated 30 May 1919
478511 A/Cpl. Joseph WiliamDESVEAU LG No. 31370, dated 30 May 1919
479168S.M.I. (later Sergt.-Major.) Benjamin H.HAWKINS LG No. 31717, dated 3 Jan 1920
479141Coy./S.M.I. (later C.S.M.) ErnestHUBBARD LG No. 31717, dated 3 Jan 1920 (Siberia)
441552 Cpl. Frederick JohnLEWIS LG No. 31370, dated 30 May 1919 (Annotated in Gazette as Nova Scotia R.; serving with Canadian Corps HQ, formerly R.C.R.)
477748Sergt. John WilliamPULLEN LG No, 30750, dated 17 Jun 1918.
477773Pte. PhiliasRICHARD LG No, 30750, dated 17 Jun 1918.
477784 R.S.M. William ReesROBERTS LG No. 31370, dated 30 May 1919
477801 Sergt. William JamesROWBOTHAM LG No. 31370, dated 30 May 1919
477828Sergt. Charles ArthurSHAW LG No. 30450, dated 18 Jan 1919
479176S.M.I. (later Sergt.-Major.) Ernest HerbertSMITH LG No. 31717, dated 3 Jan 1920 (Siberia)
477867Sergt. HenrySNOOK LG No. 30111, dated 4 Jun 1917
479148S.M.I. (later Sergt.-Major.) FrederickWHITE LG No. 31717, dated 3 Jan 1920 (Siberia)

Pro Patria