Whereas it is Our Royal Desire to reward the
long and meritorious services of Officers of proved capacity
in Our Territorial Force; Now for the purpose of attaining
this end, We have instituted, constituted and created, and
by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, do
institute, constitute and create a new Decoration which We
are desirous should be highly prized by the Officers of Our
Territorial Force; and We are graciously pleased to make,
ordain and establish the following rules and ordinances for
the government of the same, which shall from henceforth be
observed and kept:—
Firstly.—It is ordained that the Decoration shall be
styled and designated " The Territorial Decoration," and
shall consist of an Oak Wreath in silver tied with gold,
having in the centre the Royal Cipher and Crown in gold.
Secondly.—It is ordained that the Decoration shall be
suspended on the left breast from a silver Oak bar-brooch by
a green riband of one inch and a half in width with a yellow
stripe down the centre.
Thirdly.—It is ordained that the Decoration may be
worn by Us, Our Heirs and Successors, Kings and Queens
Regnant of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;
and it shall be competent for Us, Our Heirs and Successors,
to confer the Decoration upon any of the Princes of the
Royal Family of Great Britain and Ireland.
Fourthly.—It is ordained that no person-shall be
eligible for this Decoration who is in possession of the
Volunteer Officers' Decoration nor shall he be nominated
thereto unless he is or was a Commissioned Officer and has
served twenty years in Our Territorial Force, including
previous commissioned service in Our Yeomanry Cavalry,
Imperial Yeomanry, or Volunteer Force, previous service
qualifying for the Colonial Auxiliary Forces, or Royal Naval
Volunteer Reserve, Officers' Decoration, and all service as
an acting or honorary officer of a Cadet Corps, or Cadet
Battalion, after attaining the age of seventeen years—is
recommended by the Commanding Officer of the Unit in which
he has served—and is duly certified by the District Military
Authorities in which the Unit is located, as having been an
efficient and thoroughly capable Officer, in every way
deserving of such a Decoration; Provided nevertheless and We
do hereby declare that half of any time during which an
Officer of Our Territorial Force may have served in the
ranks of Our said Force, or in the ranks of Our Yeomanry
Cavalry, Imperial Yeomanry, or Volunteer Force, or of a
Cadet Corps, or Cadet Battalion, after attaining the age of
seventeen years, shall reckon as qualifying service towards
the twenty years required as aforesaid.
Fifthly.—It is ordained that the names of those upon
whom We may be pleased to confer the Decoration shall be
published in the London Gazette, and a Registry thereof kept
in the office of Our Principal Secretary of State for War.
Sixthly.—In order to make such additional provision
as shall effectually preserve pure this most honourable
Distinction, it is ordained that, if any person on whom it
shall be conferred be convicted of any act derogatory to his
honour as an Officer and gentleman, his name shall forthwith
be erased from the Registry of individuals upon whom the
said Decoration shall have been conferred, by an order from
Us under Our Royal Sign Manual; and a notification thereof
shall be duly published in the London Gazette.
Lastly.—We reserve to Ourselves, Our Heirs, and
Successors full power of annulling, altering, abrogating,
augmenting, interpreting, or dispensing with these
regulations, or any part thereof, by a notification under
Our Royal Sign Manual.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's, this 17th day of
August, 1908, in the 8th year of Our Reign.
By His Majesty's Command,
R. B. HALDANE. |