Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
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The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, initially designated the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service Medal, was instituted in 1908. It could be awarded to part-time ratings in the United Kingdom's
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...
after twelve years of service and good conduct. The medal was a Naval version of the Volunteer Long Service Medal and its successor, the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal.North East Medals – Long Service Medals to the Naval Reserve 1909–1957
(Accessed 25 July 2015)
''The London Gazette'': no. 35141. p. 2288. 24 April 1941
(Accessed on 31 July 2015)
The medal could also be awarded to part-time ratings in the Naval Volunteer Reserves of Dominion and Colonial Auxiliary Forces throughout the
British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
.New Zealand Defence Force – New Zealand Long Service and Good Conduct Medals – The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
(Accessed 29 July 2015)
The award of the medal was discontinued in the United Kingdom in 1966, when the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, composed of civilian volunteers, was merged with the
Royal Naval Reserve The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original Ro ...
, composed of Merchant Navy seamen. It was superseded by its identical sister medal, the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. The New Zealand version, the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, is still being awarded.Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet – Other Distinctive New Zealand Honours
(Accessed 25 July 2015)


Origins

The
Volunteer Long Service Medal The Volunteer Long Service Medal was instituted in 1894 as an award for long service by other ranks and some officers of the United Kingdom's Volunteer Force. Award of the medal was discontinued when it was superseded by the Territorial Force ...
was instituted in 1894 as an award for long service by other ranks of the United Kingdom's
Volunteer Force The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement throughout the British Empire in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated ...
. In 1896, the grant of the medal was extended by Royal Warrant to other ranks of the Volunteer Forces throughout the British Empire and a separate new medal was instituted, the Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies. In 1899, the Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies was superseded by the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, for award to part-time members of all ranks in recognition of long service in any of the organized military forces of the Dominion of Canada and the British Colonies, Dependencies and
Protectorates A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over most of its inter ...
. In 1908, the Volunteer Long Service Medal was superseded in the United Kingdom by the
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal was a United Kingdom award for long service in the Territorial Force between 1908 and 1921. Institution Established in 1908, the medal superseded the Volunteer Long Service Medal and the Imperial Yeomanr ...
. In the same year, a pair of distinctive Naval medals were instituted, specifically to reward long and meritorious service by part-time ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve, composed of Merchant Navy seamen, and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, composed of civilian volunteers.The Military Archive – Volunteer Long Service Medal
(Accessed 30 June 2015)


Institution

The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service Medal was instituted in 1908 as a long service award for part-time ratings of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, Colonies and India. At some point between 1936 and 1941, the title of the medal was changed to Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. It was one of a pair of Naval long service medals which were instituted simultaneously, the other being the
Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal The Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was the Long Service Medal of the reserve forces of the Royal Navy. The medal was presented for 15 or 12 years of service by Petty Officers and ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunt ...
, which had different time-served requirements. The two medals are identical and can only be identified by the reserve branch abbreviation impressed on the rim after the recipient's details, "R.N.R." on the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and "R.N.V.R." on the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Both were initially hung from the same all-green ribbon inherited from the Volunteer Long Service Medal, until a new ribbon was introduced for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1919.South African Medal Website – Union Defence Forces (1913–39)
(Accessed 26 July 2015)
When a third identical medal, the
Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal The Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was the Long Service Medal of the reserve forces of the Royal Navy. The medal was presented for 15 or 12 years of service by Petty Officers and ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunt ...
, impressed "R.N.A.S.B.R.", was added to the group in 1919, a clasp to recognise further periods of long service in respect of all three medals was authorised in an Admiralty Fleet Order. This was followed in 1942 by the approval of a ribbon bar rosette, to denote the award of a clasp when ribbons alone are worn. The medal was also awarded by several countries in the British Empire. * South Africa adopted the medal in 1915, two years after the South African Division of the
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...
was established on 1 July 1913. * New Zealand adopted it in 1925, when the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (New Zealand) was established. * Canada adopted it as the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1938, when the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve was established. (Accessed 26 May 2015)Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal & Decoration
(Accessed 27 July 2015)
Veterans Affairs Canada – Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
(Accessed 30 July 2015)


Award criteria

The medal could be awarded to part-time Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve ratings after twelve years of efficient service, not necessarily continuous. Wartime service counted as double time for the purpose of reckoning eligibility for the medal. The clasp to the medal could be awarded for a second twelve-year qualifying period of service.
(Accessed on 30 July 2015)
Even fictional character like
James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...
were awarded it for their service.


Order of wear

In the order of wear prescribed by the British
Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood The Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, or simply the Central Chancery, is an office of the Lord Chamberlain’s department within the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for the administration of ...
, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal takes precedence after the
Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal The Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was the Long Service Medal of the reserve forces of the Royal Navy. The medal was presented for 15 or 12 years of service by Petty Officers and ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunt ...
and before the
Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal The Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was the Long Service Medal of the reserve forces of the Royal Navy. The medal was presented for 15 or 12 years of service by Petty Officers and ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunt ...
.


South Africa

With effect from 6 April 1952, when a new South African set of decorations and medals was instituted to replace the British awards used to date, the older British decorations and medals which were applicable to South Africa continued to be worn in the same order of precedence but, with the exception of the
Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
, took precedence after all South African decorations and medals awarded to South Africans on or after that date. Of the official British medals which were applicable to South Africans, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal takes precedence as shown.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, * Preceded by the
Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve The Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, post-nominal letters VD until c. 1947 and VRD thereafter, was instituted in 1908. It could be awarded to part-time commissioned officers in the United Kingdom's Royal Naval Volunt ...
(VRD). * Succeeded by the
Air Efficiency Award The Air Efficiency Award, post-nominal letters AE for officers, was instituted in 1942. It could be awarded after ten years of meritorious service to officers, airmen and airwomen in the Auxiliary and Volunteer Air Forces of the United Kingdom ...
(AE).


Description

The medal was struck in silver and is a disk, in diameter, with a raised rim on each side. It is suspended from a straight silver bar, swivelling on some versions and, on all but the second Queen Elizabeth II version, affixed to the medal by means of a single-toe claw and a pin through the upper edge of the medal. ;Obverse The obverse bears the effigy of the reigning monarch. Seven versions of the medal have been awarded. * The original
King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria a ...
version of 1908 has his effigy in the uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet and is circumscribed "EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR". The initials "De S" below the epaulette on the King's left shoulder are those of the engraver, British medallist
George William de Saulles George William de Saulles (4 February 1862 – 21 July 1903) was a British medallist. He designed the obverse of coins of the United Kingdom and its colonies under Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. Life He was born on 4 February 1862 at Villa St ...
.Medal-Medaille – Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Edward VII, 1901–1910 issue, rare attribution to H.M. Coast Guard
(Accessed 10 June 2015)
* The first
King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...
version, introduced after his succession to the throne in 1910, shows him in the uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet and is circumscribed "GEOGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:". The initials "BM" at the bottom of the effigy are those of the designer of the obverse, Sir
Bertram Mackennal Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal (12 June 186310 October 1931), usually known as Bertram Mackennal, was an Australian sculptor and medallist, most famous for designing the coinage and stamps bearing the likeness of George V. He signed his work "BM". ...
KCVO, an Australian sculptor.Imperial War Museums – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
(Accessed 31 July 2015)
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, (MUP), 1986 – Mackennal, Sir Edgar Bertram (1863–1931), article by Noel S. Hutchison
(Accessed 14 June 2015)
* The second King George V version, introduced in 1931, has the King's coinage type effigy. It is also circumscribed "GEOGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:". The initials "BM" on the truncation of the King's neck are those of the designer of the obverse, Sir Bertram Mackennal. * The first
King George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of Ind ...
version, introduced after his succession to the throne in 1936, has his coinage type effigy and is circumscribed "GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP." The initials "HP" below the truncation of the King's neck are those of the designer of the obverse of the medal,
Thomas Humphrey Paget Thomas Humphrey Paget OBE (13 August 1893 – 30 April 1974) was an English medal and coin designer and modeller. Paget's designs are indicated by the initials 'HP'. Paget was first approached by the Royal Mint in 1936 after the accession of ...
, an English medal and coin designer. Only this version of the medal was awarded in Canada.The Royal Mint Museum – The portrait of George VI
(Accessed 11 June 2015)
* The second King George VI version was introduced in 1949, after his title "
Emperor of India Emperor or Empress of India was a title used by British monarchs from 1 May 1876 (with the Royal Titles Act 1876) to 22 June 1948, that was used to signify their rule over British India, as its imperial head of state. Royal Proclamation of 22 ...
" was abandoned and reference to India was omitted from the medal inscription. This version has the same effigy as the first, but is circumscribed "GEORGIVS VI D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF:". * The first
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...
version was introduced after her succession to the throne in 1952. It has her coinage type effigy and is circumscribed "ELIZABETH II DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REGINA F: D:", reading around from a cross at the top. The effigy was designed by
Mary Gillick Mary Gaskell Gillick ( Tutin; 1881 – 27 January 1965) was a sculptor and medallist, best known for her effigy of Elizabeth II used on coinage in the United Kingdom and elsewhere from 1953 to 1970. Personal life Born Mary Gaskell Tutin in Not ...
OBE and was also used on general-circulation coinage for the United Kingdom from 1953, as well as in cameo form on British commemorative postage stamps since 1966.Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain & Ireland 1851–1951 – Mrs Mary Gaskell Gillick OBE
(Accessed 12 June 2015)
* The second Queen Elizabeth II version was introduced after her coronation in 1953. This version has the same effigy as the first, but is circumscribed "ELIZABETH•II•DEI•GRATIA•REGINA•F: D:", reading around from a cross at the top. Unlike all the earlier versions of the medal, the suspension mount of this version was struck in one piece with the medal. ;Reverse The reverse depicts a starboard broadside view of HMS ''Dreadnought'', the Royal Navy battleship which entered service in 1906. It is inscribed "DIUTURNE FIDELIS" ("Faithful Over Time" or "For long and faithful service") underneath. The design was by British sculptor Ernest George Gillick
ARA ARA may refer to: Media and the arts * American-Romanian Academy of Arts and Sciences * '' Artistička Radna Akcija'', compilation album released in former Yugoslavia * Associate of the Royal Academy, denoting membership in the British Royal Aca ...
, whose wife designed the obverse of the two Queen Elizabeth II versions of the medal.Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain & Ireland 1851–1951 – Ernest George Gillick ARA
(Accessed 1 August 2015)
;Clasp The clasp, decorated in a leaf pattern, was struck in silver and designed to be attached to the medal suspension. ;Ribbons Two ribbons were used with the medal. * The original ribbon was 32 millimetres wide and dark green. It is identical to the ribbon of the Volunteer Long Service Medal. * A new ribbon was introduced in 1919, 32 millimetres wide, with a 7 millimetres wide Navy blue band and a 3 millimetres wide dark red band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 12 millimetres wide dark green band. The ribbon colours are symbolic, with blue representing the sea, red the Royal crimson and green the original Volunteer Long Service Medal ribbon's colour.Imperial War Museums – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration & VRD
(Accessed 27 July 2015)


Discontinuation

In the United Kingdom and some countries of the Commonwealth, the medal was gradually superseded by new medals.South African Government Notice no. 1982 of 1 October 1954 – ''Order of Precedence of Orders, Decorations and Medals'', published in the South African Government Gazette of 1 October 1954. * On 1 January 1946, Canada was the first to discontinue the award of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, upon the amalgamation of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve and the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. The medal was superseded by the Royal Canadian Navy (Reserve) Medal. * In South Africa, the medal was superseded on 6 April 1952 by the
John Chard Medal The John Chard Medal is a military long service medal which was instituted by the Union of South Africa on 6 April 1952. Until 1986, it was awarded to members of the Citizen Force of the South African Defence Force for twelve years of efficient ...
, which could be awarded to all ranks of the Citizen Force in all Arms of the Service for twelve years of efficient service and good conduct. * In the United Kingdom, the medal and its equivalent award for part-time volunteer Naval officers, the
Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve The Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, post-nominal letters VD until c. 1947 and VRD thereafter, was instituted in 1908. It could be awarded to part-time commissioned officers in the United Kingdom's Royal Naval Volunt ...
, were discontinued in 1966, when the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was merged with the
Royal Naval Reserve The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original Ro ...
. The medal was superseded by its identical sister medal, the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, which could be awarded after fifteen years of efficient service. New Zealand continues to award the medal as the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, instituted by Royal Warrant of 6 May 1985, for fifteen years of accumulated service, during which the rating must have been rated as efficient in at least twelve. The clasp can be awarded for each additional ten years of qualifying service.New Zealand Defence Force – The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Royal Warrant
(Accessed 31 July 2015)

(Accessed 31 July 2015)


References

{{South African military decorations and medals Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth Decorations of the Royal Navy Military decorations and medals of South Africa Military decorations and medals of South Africa pre-1952 Awards established in 1908 1908 establishments in South Africa