T A Efficiency Medal WW2.

Discussion in 'WW2 Militaria' started by redtop, Sep 8, 2020.

  1. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    On being called up my Fathers Documentation states.
    Enlisted in the Territorial Army for the duration of Emergency.
    So I guess that made him a member of the TA
    His service dates were 22.10.40 until 22.10 46 exactly 6 years.
    Under the double time for wartime service should he have been awarded the TA Efficiency Medal?
     
  2. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    This should have qualified him if he remained a member of the TA for the whole of these six years, and was not transfered out to the regular army or Navy, RAF etc.

    I am unaware if the medal had to be claimed by the recipient, as with the WW2 campaign stars and medals, or was issued automaticaly (I hope it was automatic).

    Travers
     
  3. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    He was posted to 5 RHA a regular unit so I guess that rules him out.
     
  4. mark abbott

    mark abbott Junior Member

    Fold3 have lists of those entitled to the Efficiency Medal bar "Territorial".

    Send me you father's name and number and I will have a look for you.

    best

    Mark
     
  5. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the Offer Mark.
    1088581 Gnr. Albert Burnikell. G Battery (Mercers troop) 5. Royal Horse Artillery. 1940/46
    Bryan
     
  6. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    I think mention of “being called up” in the first line of your opening post is most relevant as all men called up under the 1939 National Service Act were deemed to have been enrolled into the Territorial Army “for the duration” and applying your interpretation all conscripts called up before circa summer 1940 and demobilized 6 years or more later would be eligible for the TE medal - several million men would likely be eligible.

    My understanding is that wartime conscripts weren’t eligible for TE medal and it was only men who had enlisted into TA pre war and continued into war time embodied service - even if subsequently transferred out of their original TA unit - who were eligible for the award.

    I understand voluntary enlistments into TA units was suspended in 1939 until the post war TA was reconstituted in 1947.

    Steve
     
    PackRat, travers1940, redtop and 2 others like this.
  7. ceolredmonger

    ceolredmonger Member

    Backing Steve's point. Wartime TA service for the TE medal was for those already enrolled who were mobilised in 1939. As the TA units were now part of the serving forces, not the voluntary reserve, the terms changed. Reinstated in 1947.
     
  8. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Thanks Steve
    That would make sense.
    Bryan
     
  9. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    This Hansard record from a House of Lords debate of 15 November 1945 confirms this.

    TERRITORIAL EFFICIENCY MEDAL. (Hansard, 15 November 1945)

    To quote Viscount Long, “…all other ranks of the pre-war Territorial Army, who served a full six years, have qualified for the Territorial Efficiency Medal…”
    [My bold letters]

    Richard
     
  10. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Mark what`s this collection titled as I cannot seem to find it on Fold3 ?

    Thanks

    Kyle
     
  11. mark abbott

    mark abbott Junior Member

    Kyle,

    My apologies.

    They are listed in [website name now deleted]
    Mark
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 11, 2020
  12. mark abbott

    mark abbott Junior Member

    Bryan,

    There is no sign of an Efficiency medal although it shows him being wounded twice (9.1.1943 and 10.3.1943) in the Western Desert whilst serving with 5 RHA.

    Mark
     
  13. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Thank you Mark.
    You are right .He was wounded twice once at El Aghelia 14.12.42
    And again at Eckt Netherlands 04.02.45
    Dates taken from Service Record and War Diaries.
    Bryan
     
  14. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    In 2016 the MoD replied to an enquiry regarding the existence of a nominal roll of awards of the Efficiency Medal (Territorial) held by them. Their answer was to look at the London Gazette as they do not hold such a roll.

    No information held on personnel awarded the Efficiency Medal in World War 2

    The letter states, “Only non-commissioned ranks were awarded the Efficiency Medal (Territorial)”. Whilst that was the rule at the end of the war in 1945 there were complaints that ORs commissioned during the war had not completed the qualifying time in the ranks to be eligible. Consequently the rule was changed. Therefore my father who joined the TA in April 1939 as a Rifleman and was commissioned in 1943 was awarded the medal in 1947.

    Richard
     
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