The Women's Voluntary Service Medal was instituted in 1961 to reward fifteen years of exemplary service in the
Women's Voluntary Service
The Royal Voluntary Service (known as the Women's Voluntary Services (WVS) from 1938 to 1966; Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) from 1966 to 2004 and WRVS from 2004 to 2013) is a voluntary organisation concerned with helping people in need ...
. In 1966
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 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. ...
granted the organisation the prefix "Royal" in recognition of its valued work and the title of the medal was changed to Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal.Medal-Medaille - Women’s Royal Voluntary Service Long Service Medal (Accessed 21 August 2015) (Accessed 21 August 2015)
Royal Voluntary Service
The Women’s Voluntary Services for Air Raid Precautions was established in 1938, in anticipation of impending hostilities. They played a key role on the
home front
Home front is an English language term with analogues in other languages. It is commonly used to describe the civilian populace of the nation at war as an active support system for their military.
Civilians are traditionally uninvolved in com ...
during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, most notably during
the Blitz
The Blitz (English: "flash") was a Nazi Germany, German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom, for eight months, from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941, during the Second World War.
Towards the end of the Battle of Britain in 1940, a co ...
, including in the evacuation of civilians from urban areas. After the war, the organisation evolved to assisting and caring for isolated and lonely people, particularly the elderly. Renamed the Royal Voluntary Service in 2013, it still serves as back-up to professional services in times of crisis by running rest centres and providing emergency feeding to members of the public, fire and rescue crews and police.Royal Voluntary Service - Our history (Accessed 21 August 2015)BBC News, 20 May 2013 - Charity WRVS drops 'women' from its name to attract men (Accessed 21 August 2015)Royal Voluntary Service - WRVS becomes Royal Voluntary Service - Monday, 20 May 2013 (Accessed 21 August 2015)
Institution
The Women's Voluntary Service Medal was instituted on 23 March 1961. It was renamed the Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal when Queen Elizabeth II, patron of the Women's Voluntary Service since 1956, granted the organisation the prefix "Royal" in 1966.Royal Voluntary Service - Timeline List - Royal Voluntary Service in 1960s - May 1961 - WVS Long Service Medal (Accessed 21 August 2015)Royal Voluntary Service - Timeline List - Royal Voluntary Service in 1960s - January 1966 - WRVS badge (Accessed 22 August 2015) Although the organisation was further renamed the Royal Voluntary Service in 2013, dropping 'women' from the title, the name of the medal did not change.
Award criteria
The medal can be awarded to a volunteer after completing forty duties each year over a period of fifteen years. Service in the
Civil Defence
Civil defense or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state (generally non-combatants) from human-made and natural disasters. It uses the principles of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, ...
, disbanded in 1968, could count towards the award, provided the period had not been reflected in the award of the Civil Defence Long Service Medal.
Holders of the medal qualify for the award of a clasp after each subsequent period of twelve years service.Duckers, Peter. ''British Military Medals - A Guide for the Collector and Family Historian.'' 2nd edition, 2013. Chapter 14. Pen & Sword Books Ltd, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. PDF (Accessed 22 August 2015)
By 2015, approximately 35,000 medals had been awarded. This includes a number of awards to men, the first in 1964.''The W.V.S Long Service Medal.'' by A.F. Flatow. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, Vol 17 No 1, pages 18-22, Spring 1978.
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 orde ...
, the Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal takes precedence after the
Voluntary Medical Service Medal
The Voluntary Medical Service Medal is a medal awarded by St Andrew's First Aid and formerly by the British Red Cross. It was instituted in 1932 at the direction of George V.
Criteria
To qualify for the medal, a member must accrue fifteen year ...
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the United Kingdom's official maker of British coins. It is currently located in Llantrisant, Wales, where it moved in 1968.
Operating under the legal name The Royal Mint Limited, it is a limited company that is wholly ow ...
and is a disk, in diameter, with a raised rim on each side and suspended from a straight non-swivelling bar. The medal's design was created by coin designer
Norman Sillman
Norman Henry Sillman, ARCA, FRBS (4 May 1921 – 18 July 2013) was a British sculptor and a coin designer, including the one pound coins for the Royal Mint.ARCA
FRBS
The Royal Society of Sculptors (RSS) is a British charity established in 1905, which promotes excellence in the art and practice of sculpture. Its headquarters are a centre for contemporary sculpture on Old Brompton Road in South Kensington, Lo ...
. It is awarded unnamed.
;Obverse
The obverse has the letters "WVS", superimposed one upon the other in sequence and encircled by a wreath of ivy, the symbol of steadfastness, and rosebuds.
;Reverse
The reverse shows three flower stems of rosemary, the woman’s herb, to typify remembrance and friendship. It is circumscribed "SERVICE BEYOND SELF".
;Clasp
The clasp was also struck in cupro-nickel and is inscribed "LONG SERVICE". It is rectangular with bend-over pins on the reverse for attachment to the ribbon.Windows on Warwickshire - Women's Voluntary Service Long Service Clasp (Obverse) (Accessed 22 August 2015)Windows on Warwickshire - Women's Voluntary Service Long Service Clasp (Reverse) (Accessed 22 August 2015)
;Ribbon
The ribbon is wide, with a 5 millimetres wide red band and a 3 millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 16 millimetres wide dark green band.Online Medals - Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal (Accessed 22 August 2015)