R.N.R. Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
History
The Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was instituted in 1908. The medal was presented for a the long service and good conduct and was awarded to Petty Officers and ratings who had completed a minimum of 15 years’ service in either the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve, Royal Fleet Reserve, or the Royal Naval Wireless Auxiliary Reserve.
It was one of a pair of Naval long service medals that were instituted simultaneously, the other being the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal that 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 in 1919.
When a third identical medal, the Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, impressed ‘R.N.A.S.B.R.’, was added to the group in 1919,
A bar to recognise further periods of 12 years qualifying service in respect of all three medals.
This was followed in 1942 by the approval of a ribbon bar rosette, to denote the award of a bar when ribbons alone are worn.
In 1966, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal was merged with this award when the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (composed of civilian volunteers), was merged with the Royal Naval Reserve, (composed of Merchant Navy seamen).
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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Edward VII
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1
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EVII 1
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An effigy of King in the uniform of the
Admiral of the Fleet
EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR.
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1908 - 1910
|
|
George V
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2
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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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3
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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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4
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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
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|
George VI
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5
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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
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Elizabeth II
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6
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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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7
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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 of the plain, straight and swivelling style riveted to the medal.
The recipient's details can be found impressed on the medal's rim.
Ribbon
Original Issue
Ribbon from 1941
Ribbon from 1958
The ribbon is 38mm wide and dark green in colour. In 1941 the ribbon changed to include a thin white stripe along either edge and one in the centre.
In 1958, when the Royal Naval Reserve amalgamated with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the ribbon changed again to one of five equal stripes of blue, white and green (down the centre).
Bar/Clasps
Bars bearing a Royal crown are awarded in recognition of periods of further qualifying lengths of service.
In undress uniform or on occasions when the medal ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette is worn on the ribbon to indicate each bar.
Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.
Dealer Retail Value */**
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Edward VII issue
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£45.00
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George V issue
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£35.00
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George VI issue
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£60.00
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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 Naval Volunteer Reserve.
- The Royal Naval Reserve.
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.
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.
End of database.