Obverse: Britannia seated, with trident and shield (right), the sun above. Legend: 'FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE'. Exergue: 'MERITORIOUS SERVICE'. Reverse: Between two pairs of lions, passant-gardant, the Royal Cypher, 'GRI', crown above. Legend: 'INSTITUTED BY KING GEORGE V'. Inscription on edge: 'GEORGE WILLIAM WOODFORD'. Suspended by oak leaves from a bar and rose-pink ribbon edged with pearl-grey. Mounted on bar with seven other medals MED1311-1317.

George William Woodford (1880-1954) was born at Ryde, Isle of Wight. In 1901 the family was living at Bembridge where Woodford was employed as yacht crew. He married Laurie Elizabeth Silvester, at Henley on Thames in 1909. Woodford served as a boatswain in the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary during World War I and during the early 1920's on 'Orbita', Royal Mail Line, Southampton to New York route. He was active in the merchant service throughout World War II being awarded the British Empire Medal see (London Gazette 6 June 1941).