TFE Medal

An ancestor was awarded the TFE medal during WWI. As far as I can
discover, it was a service medal connected with the TA rather than a
gallantry medal.

Could someone please elaborate on exactly what the medal was and what
it was awarded for?

Charani...

SOK, scratch that. Should have asked my husband first, cos he knew
:))

andrew...

The only military meanings for TFE hardly apply:

* TFE - Tactical Field Exchange
* TFE - Tactical Firing Evaluation
* TFE - Terrain-Following E-scope

The main TA decoration that I can think of is the TD, which supplanted
the VD I believe at about the time of WW I.

Let us hope that Forrest Anderson comes to your aid!

Charani...

Thanks :)) Jeff's come up with the answer :))

Jeff...

Anytime you get an answer from Forrest that differs from
mine - believe Forrest!!!!!!

Charani...

You do yourself a disservice there :)) But I know what you mean.
Forrest has a vastly greater experience than the majority of us.
Anyone with a military query is very fortunate to have him around :))

Forrest Anderson...

Thank you both for your kind words. No need for me to come to the

Charani...

YW :))

rescue this time though, as TFE Medal is indeed the Territorial Force
Efficiency Medal, as has been stated.

Charani...

Thanks :))

I'm beginning to find a number of ancestors who served; previously
they'd been either too old, too young or managed to serve without
leaving any obvious signs.

How and what is the best way to start looking for those who served in
one or other of the World Wars or did a stint in the forces at some
point in their lives?

Forrest Anderson...

That's a very wide-ranging question, so I'm going to chicken out by

Charani...

8>< details snipped but saved and URLs bookmarked

Oops, sorry, and thank you for the pointersand information. If I know
where to look, I can do my own research without asking too many
questions - I hope.

drop-down menu called "Topics to research"

and click on the menu at the left

The problem is also covered in several books, and the following title,
due out next month, looks as though it's tailor-made for you:

Family History in the Wars: Find how your ancestors served their
country (Paperback), by William Spencer, July 2006, ISBN 1903365953,
6.99 GBP

Yours Aye Andrew Sellon East Anglia
Cats look down on you; dogs look up to you; but pigs look you in the eye as equals. Attributed to: Sir Winston Churchill, in 'The Gathering Storm'

Jeff...

You are thinking of:
The Territorial Force War Medal 1914-1919 was awarded to
members of the Territorial Force only. To qualify, the
recipient had to have been a member of the Territorial Force
on or prior to 30 September 1914, and to have served in an
operational theatre outside of the United Kingdom between 5
August 1914 and 11 November 1918

The Territorial Force War Medal: An indication of the spirit
that prevailed among the Territorials before the outbreak of
the First World War was recognised by the issue in 1920 of
the Territorial Force War Medal. This medal was awarded to
those members of the Force, including the Nursing Service,
who had volunteered for service overseas before 30th
September 1914 and who had rendered such service during the
War, but did not qualify for the 1914 Star or the 1914-15
Star. The medal is in, bronze with a straight bar suspender,
and the effigy of King George V on the obverse. On the
reverse is the inscription 'The Territorial War Medal for
Voluntary Service Overseas 1914-19'. The ribbon is ye1low
with green stripes.

TFE was: Territorial Force Efficiency Medal

This is a pretty full descripton: (From
The Volunteer Force: In recognition of the valuable service
rendered to their country by officers of the Volunteer
Forces, Queen Victoria in 1892 instituted the Volunteer
Officers' Decoration to be granted to 'efficient and
capable' officers who had served with the Force for twenty
years. In 1894, a Volunteer Long Service Medal was
instituted to reward others who had completed the same terms
of service, but did not have twenty years of commissioned
service.

Charani...

8>< snipped but all saved

Many thanks for the detailed info :))

He was the only member of the family who appears to have served but
they were all dock workers at Portsmouth which might have some bearing
on why.

The Territorial Force: On the disbandment of the Volunteer
Force and the establishment of the Territorial Force in 1908
both the Decoration and the Medal were superseded. In there
place were substituted the Territorial Decoration for
officers and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal for
soldiers.
The Territorial Army: In 1921, the Territorial Force became
the Territorial Army. There was on change in the Territorial
Decoration for officers, but the soldiers' Territorial Force
Efficiency Medal changed its name to the Territorial
Efficiency Medal. For officers, the terms of entitlement for
the Decoration were reduced in 1949 from twenty years
service to twelve years 'continuous efficient commissioned
service' in the Force, now entitled the Territorial Army,
with war service to count as double.
In the case of the Medal, the terms remained the same,
twelve years service, provided men had undergone at least
twelve trainings or camps.
The Territorial Decoration of 1908: The badge of the
Decoration consists of an oval oak wreath in silver, tied
with gold, and having in the centre the Royal Cypher,
surmounted by the crown, both in gold. It is suspended from
its ribbon by a silver ring. At the top of the ribbon there
is a bar brooch. The ribbon is coloured dark green, with a
yellow stripe running down the centre. Recipients were
entitled to use the letters TD after their name.
In 1930, the word 'Territorial' was dropped from the title
and the Decoration became known as the Efficiency
Decoration. Holders in the United Kingdom were still
entitled to put TD after their name. This Decoration has a
suspender bar brooch with 'Territorial' on it. The ribbon
remained the same.
The Medals of 1908 and 1930: The Medal, which is oval; bears
on its obverse the head of the reigning sovereign, with the
usual legend. The inscription 'Territorial Force Efficiency
Medal' appears on the reverse, but from 1921-1922 the word
'Force' is omitted. In 1930, the medal was superseded by the
Efficiency Medal, the only change in its design being,
instead of a ring suspender, a bar bearing the work
'Territorial' was substituted.
The ribbon was originally the same as that of the
Territorial Decoration, but in 1919 was changed to green
with narrow yellow edges. Other Rank members of the
Territorial Army who were serving on the outbreak of the
Second World War could count their war service as double. As
the War lasted nearly six years, practically everyone
serving in the ranks of the Territorial Army on 2nd
September 1939 became eligible for the Medal.
The Volunteer Force: In recognition of the valuable service
rendered to their country by officers of the Volunteer
Forces, Queen Victoria in 1892 instituted the Volunteer
Officers' Decoration to be granted to 'efficient and
capable' officers who had served with the Force for twenty
years. In 1894, a Volunteer Long Service Medal was
instituted to reward others who had completed the same terms
of service, but did not have twenty years of commissioned
service.
The Territorial Force: On the disbandment of the Volunteer
Force and the establishment of the Territorial Force in 1908
both the Decoration and the Medal were superseded. In there
place were substituted the Territorial Decoration for
officers and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal for
soldiers.
The Territorial Army: In 1921, the Territorial Force became
the Territorial Army. There was on change in the Territorial
Decoration for officers, but the soldiers' Territorial Force
Efficiency Medal changed its name to the Territorial
Efficiency Medal. For officers, the terms of entitlement for
the Decoration were reduced in 1949 from twenty years
service to twelve years 'continuous efficient commissioned
service' in the Force, now entitled the Territorial Army,
with war service to count as double.
In the case of the Medal, the terms remained the same,
twelve years service, provided men had undergone at least
twelve trainings or camps.
The Territorial Decoration of 1908: The badge of the
Decoration consists of an oval oak wreath in silver, tied
with gold, and having in the centre the Royal Cypher,
surmounted by the crown, both in gold. It is suspended from
its ribbon by a silver ring. At the top of the ribbon there
is a bar brooch. The ribbon is coloured dark green, with a
yellow stripe running down the centre. Recipients were
entitled to use the letters TD after their name.
In 1930, the word 'Territorial' was dropped from the title
and the Decoration became known as the Efficiency
Decoration. Holders in the United Kingdom were still
entitled to put TD after their name. This Decoration has a
suspender bar brooch with 'Territorial' on it. The ribbon
remained the same.
The Medals of 1908 and 1930: The Medal, which is oval; bears
on its obverse the head of the reigning sovereign, with the
usual legend. The inscription 'Territorial Force Efficiency
Medal' appears on the reverse, but from 1921-1922 the word
'Force' is omitted. In 1930, the medal was superseded by the
Efficiency Medal, the only change in its design being,
instead of a ring suspender, a bar bearing the work
'Territorial' was substituted.
The ribbon was originally the same as that of the
Territorial Decoration, but in 1919 was changed to green
with narrow yellow edges. Other Rank members of the
Territorial Army who were serving on the outbreak of the
Second World War could count their war service as double. As
the War lasted nearly six years, practically everyone
serving in the ranks of the Territorial Army on 2nd
September 1939 became eligible for the Medal.