The Imperial Service Order was established by King
Edward VII in August
1902. It was awarded to the administration and clerical staff of the
Civil Service throughout the
British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a person must have served for 25 years to become eligible, but this might be shortened to 16 years for those serving in unsanitary locations. Both men and women were eligible for this order, and receipients of this one-class order are entitled to use the
post-nominal letters 'ISO'.
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