King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Queen's/King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces
Queen Victoria version
Country	United Kingdom
Type	Military marksmanship medal
Eligibility	All ranks (Army)
Status	Current in United Kingdom, Jamaica and New Zealand
Clasps	Displaying year of award
Statistics
Established	1869
Order of wear
Next (higher)	King's Medal for Champion Shots of the New Zealand Naval Forces
Next (lower)	King's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces
Ribbon bar

The Medal for the Best Shot in the British Army, Infantry is a special award. It was first created by Queen Victoria in 1869. This medal was given every year from 1870 to 1882. It went to the very best shooter in the British Army's Infantry, which included the Royal Engineers and Colonial Corps.

In 1923, King George V brought the medal back. It was then called the King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces. This new version could be awarded to top shooters in Army competitions. These competitions were held in battle-like conditions. They took place in the United Kingdom, India, and other British areas.

Over time, many countries awarded this medal. By the mid-1900s, twelve countries were giving it out. But as some countries became independent, they stopped using it. Today, only the United Kingdom, Jamaica, and New Zealand still award this medal.

Later, other versions of the medal were created. An Air Force version started in 1953. Then, a New Zealand Naval Forces version began in 1958. Finally, a Royal Navy and Royal Marines version was introduced in 1966.

How the Medal Started

Queen Victoria officially created the Medal for the Best Shot in the British Army, Infantry in 1869. At first, the medal was made of bronze. But from 1872, it was made of silver. Each medal had the year it was won and the winner's name and army details.

The winner got to keep the medal forever. They could wear it throughout their time in the military. From 1870, the medal came with a £20 prize. This was a lot of money back then! Only thirteen medals were given out before the award stopped in 1882. A smaller £5 prize and a special gold badge replaced it in 1884.

After 41 years, King George V brought the medal back in 1923. It was renamed the King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces. Now, it was for champions in Army shooting contests. These contests were designed to be like real battle situations. They happened in the United Kingdom, India, and other British Dominions.

A special "clasp" was also added in 1923. This clasp showed the year the medal was won. If someone won the medal again, they got a new clasp instead of a whole new medal. These clasps could be attached to the medal's ribbon. In 1926, small rosettes were added to the ribbon bar. These rosettes showed how many times someone had won the medal.

Who Can Win This Medal?

To win this medal, you must be an active member of the Regular Army, Army Emergency Reserve, Territorial Army, or local volunteer forces. This means that members of the Navy or Air Force usually couldn't win this specific Army medal. This rule caused some interesting situations.

For example, in 1938, T.W. Gregory won the competition in Canada. He had won the medal before in 1935 as an Army Sergeant. But in 1938, he was in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Because of this, he couldn't get the medal again. The medal went to the second-place winner instead.

Later, in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II created a new medal just for Air Force champion shooters. In 1955, T.W. Gregory won this new Air Force medal! This made him the only person to win champion shooter medals in two different parts of the military.

Another example happened in Rhodesia in 1962. Corporal Technician B.T. Gilpin, from the Royal Rhodesian Air Force, won the Army competition. Even though Army leaders protested, he was given the Army medal. This caused a big discussion.

Because of this, Rhodesia got permission to create its own Air Force champion medal. The first two Rhodesian Air Force medals were given out in 1963. One went to Gilpin for his 1962 win. His Army medal was returned, and the 1962 Army runner-up received another clasp for his medal.

After the Air Force medal, new medals were created for other forces. The Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the New Zealand Naval Forces started in 1958. The Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines followed in 1966.

How to Wear the Medal

The Queen's/King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces has a specific place in the order of medals. It is worn after the King's Medal for Champion Shots of the New Zealand Naval Forces. It is worn before the King's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces.

Countries That Award This Medal

In the United Kingdom, the medal is still given out every year. It goes to the winner of the Regular Army shooting championship. This event is called the Army Operational Shooting Competition.

Since 1935, a second medal could also be awarded in the UK. This one was for the champion shooter of the part-time forces, like the Territorial Army. Their competition happens during the National Rifle Association's yearly meeting at the National Shooting Centre, Bisley.

Outside the United Kingdom, many British Commonwealth countries used to award this medal. By the mid-1900s, eleven countries gave it out. But over the years, this number went down. Some countries became republics and stopped awarding the medal. Others created their own new medals instead.

Australia

Australia held its first King's Medal Competition in 1924. The first Australian winner was Captain W.C.G. Ruddock. In 1988, Australia created its own award, the Champion Shots Medal. After that, the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots was no longer awarded there.

Canada

Canada's first King's Medal Competition was in 1923. The first Canadian winner was Warrant Officer Class 1 F.J. Goodhouse. From 1963, Canada awarded two Queen's Medals each year. One was for the Regular Force, and the second was for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or Reserve Force. In 1991, Canada created its own unique medal, the Queen's Medal for Champion Shot. The British version stopped being awarded in Canada from 1992.

Ceylon

Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) held its first Queen's Medal Competition in 1954. Captain C.L.A.P. Direkze was the first winner. The medal was only awarded three more times in Ceylon: in 1957, 1958, and 1966.

Ghana

Ghana held the Queen's Medal Competition only once, in 1959. Sergeant M.P. Konkomba of the Ghana Regiment won it. Ghana stopped the competition and award in 1963.

India

India's first King's Medal Competition was in 1924. Naik S.S. Lama was the first Indian winner. British soldiers stationed in India could also compete and won it sometimes. The last competition was in 1938, before World War II started. When India became independent in 1947, the medal was no longer awarded there.

Jamaica

Before 1963, Jamaica had its own local shooting competition. But in 1963, the first Queen's Medal Competition was held there. Private J.E.P. Daley was the first Jamaican to win. The medal can still be awarded every year in Jamaica.

New Zealand

New Zealand held its first King's Medal Competition in 1923. Staff Sergeant-Major A.J. Moore was the first New Zealander to win. The competition was paused a few times, especially from 1931 to 1954 due to World War II. However, the medal is still awarded every year in New Zealand.

Pakistan

Pakistan held its first Queen's Medal Competition in 1950. Jemadar S.P. Akbar was the first Pakistani winner. The competition was not held again after 1956.

Rhodesia

Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) held its first King's Medal Competition in 1926. Sergeant F.G. Elliott was the first Rhodesian winner. The competition was paused during World War II (1940-1947). Even after Rhodesia declared independence in 1965, the medal continued to be awarded for four more years. In 1970, Rhodesia stopped ties with the British Crown and created its own President's Medal for Shooting.

South Africa

The Union of South Africa held its first King's Medal Competition in 1924. G.W. Church was the first South African winner. The competition didn't happen in 1926 and was paused during World War II (1940-1947). The last medal was awarded in 1961, the year South Africa became a republic. From 1962, South Africa replaced the British medal with its own Commandant General's Medal.

Trinidad and Tobago

The Queen's Medal Competition started in Trinidad and Tobago in 1970. But the first medal was only awarded in 1972. Lance Corporal F.P. Marcano was the first winner. The medal was won only two more times there, in 1973 and 1975.

What the Medal Looks Like

The first few Queen Victoria medals were bronze, but from 1872, they were silver. The medal is a round disk, about 36 millimeters wide. It hangs from a straight silver bar.

First Queen Elizabeth II version

Front Side (Obverse)

The front of the medal shows a picture of the King or Queen who was ruling at the time. Seven different versions of the medal have been made.

• The first Queen Victoria medal (1869) shows her wearing a crown and veil. It says "VICTORIA REGINA" (Queen Victoria).
• The first King George V medal (1923) shows him in his military uniform.
• A second King George V medal (1933-1936) shows him crowned in his robes.
• The first King George VI medal (after 1936) shows him in his coronation robes.
• A second King George VI medal (after 1947) removed the reference to "Emperor of India" from the words.
• The first Queen Elizabeth II medal (after 1952) shows her crowned.
• The second Queen Elizabeth II medal (after 1953) has the same picture but slightly different words.

Back Side (Reverse)

The back of the medal shows a winged goddess named Pheme. She is a mythological figure. She is rising from her throne and crowning a warrior with a laurel wreath. The warrior is holding a bow and arrows and leaning on a target with three arrows in the middle. This design was created by Sir Edward John Poynter.

Clasps

People can win this medal more than once. Each time they win again, they get a new clasp. This clasp shows the year of the new award. Clasps are attached to the medal's ribbon. If the medal isn't being worn, small silver rosettes are placed on the ribbon bar to show extra wins. If someone wins more than five times, gold rosettes are used.

Ribbon

The medal's ribbon is 32 millimeters wide. It is dark crimson (a deep red color). On each edge, there are three narrow bands: a black band, a beige band, and another black band.