Efficiency Decoration

Efficiency Decoration
First King George V version with a "TERRITORIAL" bar-brooch
Awarded by the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India
Country	United Kingdom
Type	Military long service decoration
Eligibility	Part-time commissioned officers of the Territorial Army and Auxiliary Military Forces
Awarded for	Twenty years service until 1949 Twelve years service from 1949
Status	Still current in New Zealand
Post-nominals	TD (Territorial Army) ED (Auxiliary Military Forces)
Statistics
Established	1930
Order of wear
Next (higher)	Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
Equivalent	Efficiency Decoration (Canada) Efficiency Decoration (New Zealand) Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)
Next (lower)	Territorial Efficiency Medal
Original, HAC and 1967 ribbon bars

The Efficiency Decoration, post-nominal letters TD for recipients serving in the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom or ED for those serving in the Auxiliary Military Forces, was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time officers after twenty years of service as an efficient and thoroughly capable officer. The decoration superseded the Volunteer Officers' Decoration, the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration and the Territorial Decoration.

In the British Commonwealth, the decoration was gradually superseded by local decorations in some member countries, in Canada by the Canadian Forces Decoration in 1951, in the Union of South Africa by the John Chard Decoration in 1952 and in Australia by the Reserve Force Decoration in 1982. In the United Kingdom, the decoration was superseded by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal in 1999. New Zealand continues to award the Efficiency Decoration (New Zealand) and is one of a few countries to still do so.

In 1892 the Volunteer Officers' Decoration was instituted as an award for long and meritorious service by officers of the United Kingdom's Volunteer Force. In 1894, the grant of the decoration was extended to officers of volunteer forces throughout the British Empire by instituting a separate new decoration, the Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies.

The Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies was superseded in 1899 by the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration. In the United Kingdom, the Volunteer Officers' Decoration was superseded by the Territorial Decoration in 1908, but it continued to be awarded in a few Crown Dependencies until 1930.