Royal Army Temperance Association Medal, Home, Award of Merit, awarded to Colour Sergeant J H Smith, Royal Munster Fusiliers, 1911

Silver medal with an open-work monogram, 'RATA', for Royal Army Temperance Association, within a beaded oval bearing the inscription, 'Award of Merit', and the motto, 'Watch & be Sober', surmounted by a five-pointed star. The medal is suspended from a maroon ribbon with a brooch fastening bearing the Latin inscription, 'Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat' (Let whoever earns the palm bear it).

From the 1850s regimental and garrison temperance associations had been established to combat high rates of drunkenness and to encourage and reward temperance towards alcohol. The Soldiers' Total Abstinence Association (STAA) was founded in 1862 by the Reverend John Gelson Gregson, in and attempt to amalgamate the many military temperance societies set up in British India. The STAA was a success and gained official approval in 1876 with a government financial grant. The intervention of Lord Roberts, Commander in Chief in India, led to the association being replaced in 1888 with the Army Temperance Association, India. A Home branch was formed in 1893 and in 1902 the Association was granted its 'Royal' prefix by King Edward VII.

One of the rewards the Association provided to its members were medals that recognised their commitment to temperance. Some medals continued to be issued after organisational name changes were made as updated replacements were not always immediately available. Smith gained medals for twenty years of abstinence.

From a medal group awarded to Colour Sergeant J H Smith, Royal Munster Fusiliers.