Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal |
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King Edward VII version with original all-green ribbon
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| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Type | Military long service medal |
| Eligibility | Part-time ratings of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve |
| Awarded for | Twelve years service |
| Status | Still current in New Zealand |
| Clasps | Twelve years additional service |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1908 |
| Order of wear | |
| Next (higher) | Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal |
| Next (lower) | Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal |
  Original and post-1919 ribbon bars |
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The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is a special award. It was created in 1908. This medal was given to people who served part-time in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. These were civilian volunteers who helped the Navy. They earned the medal after twelve years of good service.
This medal was like other long service medals. It was given to volunteers in the United Kingdom. It was also given to volunteers in Naval Reserves across the British Empire. This included places like Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand.
The United Kingdom stopped giving out this medal in 1966. This happened when the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve joined with the Royal Naval Reserve. The Royal Naval Reserve was made up of sailors from the Merchant Navy. After this, a similar medal, the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, took its place.
However, a version of this medal is still awarded in New Zealand today. It is called the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Contents
This medal was created to recognize long and good service. It was specifically for part-time sailors. These sailors were volunteers who helped the Royal Navy. They were not full-time military members.
Why was this medal created?
Before this medal, there were other awards for volunteers. For example, the Volunteer Long Service Medal started in 1894. It was for volunteers in the British Army. Later, similar medals were made for volunteers across the British Empire.
In 1908, two new Naval medals were created. They were for part-time sailors. One was for the Royal Naval Reserve. The other was for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. This is the medal we are talking about.
When was the medal established?
The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service Medal was started in 1908. It was for volunteers in the United Kingdom and other British countries. Later, its name changed to include "Good Conduct." This happened between 1936 and 1941.
This medal looked exactly like its sister medal. That was the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. You could only tell them apart by the letters on the edge. This medal had "R.N.V.R." on its rim.
How did the medal change over time?
At first, both medals had the same green ribbon. This ribbon came from an older volunteer medal. But in 1919, a new ribbon was made for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve medal.
Later, another similar medal was added in 1919. It was for the Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve. A special "clasp" was also approved. This clasp could be added to the medal. It showed that someone had served even longer. In 1942, a small ribbon bar was also approved. It showed if someone had earned a clasp.
Which countries used this medal?
Several countries in the British Empire also used this medal:
- South Africa started using it in 1915. This was two years after their Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve began.
- New Zealand adopted it in 1925. This was when their Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was formed.
- Canada started using it in 1938. It was called the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
How to earn the medal
To get this medal, a part-time Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve member needed to serve for twelve years. Their service did not have to be continuous. This means they could take breaks.
If someone served during wartime, that time counted as double. So, they could earn the medal faster. A special clasp could be added to the medal. This was for another twelve years of service. Even famous fictional characters like James Bond were said to have earned this medal!
What does the medal look like?
The medal is made of silver. It is a round disk, about 36 millimeters wide. It has a raised edge on both sides. The medal hangs from a silver bar.
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The front side (Obverse)
The front of the medal shows the picture of the King or Queen at the time. Seven different versions of the medal have been made.
- The first version was from 1908. It showed King Edward VII.
- Later versions showed King George V. There were two different designs for him.
- Then came two versions for King George VI. The second one removed "Emperor of India" from the words.
- Finally, two versions showed Queen Elizabeth II. The second Queen Elizabeth II medal was made in one piece.
The back side (Reverse)
The back of the medal shows a picture of HMS Dreadnought. This was a famous Royal Navy battleship. Below the ship, it says "DIUTURNE FIDELIS." This means "Faithful Over Time" or "For long and faithful service."
The clasp and ribbons
The clasp is a silver bar with a leaf pattern. It attaches to the medal. It shows extra periods of service.
Two different ribbons were used:
- The first ribbon was dark green. It was 32 millimeters wide.
- A new ribbon came out in 1919. It was also 32 millimeters wide. It had a navy blue stripe, a dark red stripe, and a dark green stripe in the middle. The colors have meanings: blue for the sea, red for the Royal family, and green for the original volunteer medal.
When the medal stopped being awarded
The medal was slowly replaced by new awards. This happened in the United Kingdom and some other countries.
- Canada stopped awarding it in 1946. Their Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve joined with the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. A new medal, the Royal Canadian Navy (Reserve) Medal, took its place.
- South Africa replaced it in 1952. They started giving out the John Chard Medal. This medal was for all volunteers in their Citizen Force.
- In the United Kingdom, the medal stopped in 1966. This was when the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve merged with the Royal Naval Reserve. The Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal became the main award.
However, New Zealand still awards a version of this medal. It is called the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. It was officially started in 1985. It is given for fifteen years of service. A clasp can be added for every ten extra years of service.
