R.F.R. Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
History
The Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal was instituted in 1919. The medal was presented for long service and good conduct and was awarded to those who had completed a minimum of 15 years aggregate service in the Royal Fleet Reserve - as long as the recipient had not been previously awarded the Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.
The original rules for the medal made it impossible for a bar to be awarded, hence the ball and ring design was adopted.
The award was discontinued in April 1999, and replaced by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal.
Description
The medal is circular, 36mm in diameter and was struck in silver. The obverse of this medal bears the effigy of the reigning monarch at the time that the medal was issued and a corresponding inscription. This is summarised in the table below:-
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Monarch
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Issue & Type
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Obverse Style & Inscription
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Dates
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|
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George V
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1
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GV 1
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An effigy of the King in the uniform of the
Admiral of the Fleet
GEOGIVS V BRITT:
OMN: REX ET IND: IMP.
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1910 - 1931
|
|
George V
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2
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GV 2
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King George V
coinage effigy
GEOGIVS V BRITT: OMN:
REX ET IND: IMP:
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1931 - 1936
|
|
George VI
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3
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GVI 1
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King George VI
coinage effigy
GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX F:D: IND: IMP.
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1936 - 1949
|
|
George VI
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4
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GVI 2
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King George VI same
effigy as the first
GEORGIVS VI D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: *
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1949 - 1952
|
|
Elizabeth II
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5
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E:R 1
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Queen Elizabeth II coinage effigy
ELIZABETH II DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REGINA F:D:
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1952 - 1953
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Elizabeth II
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6
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E:R 2
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Queen Elizabeth II same
effigy as the first ELIZABETH•II•DEI•
GRATIA• REGINA•F:D: **
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1953 - 1966
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* This version was introduced in 1949, after his title was changed from Emperor of India to Monarch of India and reference to India was omitted from the medal inscription.
** Unlike all the earlier versions of the medal, the suspension mount of this version was struck in one piece with the medal.
The reverse depicts a starboard broadside view of HMS Dreadnought, the Royal Navy battleship that entered service in 1906 with the inscription; ‘DIUTURNE FIDELIS’, (meaning either Faithful Over Time’, or, ‘For Long & Faithful Service’).
The ribbon suspender is in the form of a large ring attached to a mount that surmounts the medal.
The recipient's details can be found impressed on the medal's rim.
Ribbon
The ribbon is 32mm wide and blue in colour with a thin red and white stripe along either edge.
Bars/Clasps
None were authorised for this medal.
Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.
Dealer Retail Value */**
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George V issue
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£50.00
|
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George VI issue
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£50.00
|
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Elizabeth II issue
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£60.00
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* It should be noted that the values quoted above reflect the average price that a medal dealer may expect to sell this medal for - please see the ‘things you should know’ web page for more details about valuing medals.
** The individual medal value will vary considerably based on the recipient’s details.
Further Historical Context
- The Royal Fleet Reserve
- The Royal Naval Reserve.
- The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
The Royal Fleet Reserve - The Royal Fleet Reserve was composed of men who had served full time with the Royal Navy or Royal Marines. Enlistment rules changed over time but generally a man joined the Royal Navy for a specific number of years followed by a number of years in the Royal Fleet Reserve.
During their time in the Royal Fleet Reserve they carried on with civilian occupation unless they were required by the Navy, such as in wartime. The Navy reserve Act 1900 initially created two classes of reservist: Class ‘A’ reservist - men under 45 in receipt of a life pension and who possessed a specific skill such as Seaman Gunner, Signallers, Class ‘B’ reservist - men who had served 12 years in the Navy or a minimum of four years and purchased their discharge.
In 1903, a new class, Class ‘C’ reservist was introduced. These were seamen ratings who entered for seven years in the RN followed by five years Royal Fleet Reserve or in the case of stokers, five years Royal Navy followed by seven years Royal Fleet Reserve.
These men can be identified by the SS prefix to their service numbers (SS = Short Service). The Medal itself was awarded for 15 years aggregate service. The original rules for the medal made it impossible for a bar to be awarded, hence the ball and ring design was adopted.
The Royal Naval Reserve - The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom.
The present RNR was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), created 1903. The RNR was active in both the First and Second World Wars and was re-activated in 2003 for the Second Gulf War (Iraq War).
This information was taken from ‘Wikipedia’. The original article and details of the authors can be found here. It is reproduced on this web-site under the ‘creative commons’ licence which can be found here.
The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve - At the start of the 20th century, with a period of rapid naval expansion taking place it was realised that the RNR could not supply the required number of trained men and a scheme was introduced that allowed men in civilian shore jobs (unconnected with the sea) to train on a part-time basis at special shore establishments, and provided the valuable experience of real time with the fleet for a few weeks a year once a certain level of competence had been achieved.
This was the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), known as the 'Wavy Navy' on account of the rank stripes (rings) on officers sleeves being wavy rather than straight.
The RNVR was organised in 'Divisions' whose names were taken from the place where the main centre was situated. London, Edinburgh and most large seaports had such divisions. Each division was commanded by a Captain.
This information was taken from ‘Wikipedia’. The original article and details of the authors can be found here. It is reproduced on this web-site under the ‘creative commons’ licence which can be found here.
End of database.