Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal
Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal (Women's Voluntary Service Medal) | |
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Type | Long service medal |
Awarded for | Fifteen years service |
Country | ![]() |
Presented by | the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms |
Eligibility | Royal Voluntary Service members |
Clasps | Additional twelve year periods |
Status | Current |
Established | 1961 |
First awarded | 1961 |
![]() Second award clasp ![]() Ribbon bar | |
Order of wear | |
Next (higher) | Voluntary Medical Service Medal[1] |
Next (lower) | South African Medal for War Services |
The Women's Voluntary Service Medal was instituted in 1961 to reward fifteen years of exemplary service in the Women's Voluntary Service. In 1966 Queen Elizabeth II 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.[2][3]
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 during the Second World War, most notably during the Blitz, 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.[4][5][6]
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.[4][7][8] Although the organisation was further renamed the Royal Voluntary Service in 2013, dropping 'women' from the title,[5] the name of the medal did not change.[1]
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, 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.[9] Holders of the medal qualify for the award of a clasp after each subsequent period of twelve years service.[7][10]
By 2015, approximately 35,000 medals had been awarded.[11] This includes a number of awards to men, the first in 1964.[9]
Order of wear
In the order of wear prescribed by the British Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, the Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal takes precedence after the Voluntary Medical Service Medal and before the South African Medal for War Services.[1]
Description
The medal was struck in cupro-nickel by the Royal Mint and is a disk, 36 millimetres (1.42 inches) 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 ARCA FRBS.[2][7] It is awarded unnamed.[11]
- 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.[2][3][7]
- Reverse
The reverse shows three flower stems of rosemary, the woman’s herb, to typify remembrance and friendship. It is circumscribed "SERVICE BEYOND SELF".[2][3][7]
- 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.[12][13]
- Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres (1.26 inches) 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.[13][14]
References
- ^ a b c "No. 62529". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 January 2019. p. 327.
- ^ a b c d Medal-Medaille - Women’s Royal Voluntary Service Long Service Medal (Accessed 21 August 2015)
- ^ a b c Medal-Medaille - Women’s Royal Voluntary Service Long Service Medal in fitted embossed Royal Mint case of issue (Accessed 21 August 2015)
- ^ a b Royal Voluntary Service - Our history (Accessed 21 August 2015)
- ^ a b 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)
- ^ a b c d e 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)
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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 ISBN 9781473830998 (Accessed 22 August 2015)
- ^ a b John Mussell (ed). Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 253. Published by Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon.
- ^ Windows on Warwickshire - Women's Voluntary Service Long Service Clasp (Obverse) (Accessed 22 August 2015)
- ^ a b Windows on Warwickshire - Women's Voluntary Service Long Service Clasp (Reverse) (Accessed 22 August 2015)
- ^ Online Medals - Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal (Accessed 22 August 2015)
- v
- t
- e
meritorious
and long
service medals
Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (Australia)
Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
Meritorious Service Medal (Natal)
Meritorious Service Medal (New Zealand)
Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa)
Accumulated Campaign Service Medal
Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal)
Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal
Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military)
Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (South Africa)
Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1830)
Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1848)
Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for Europeans of Indian Army)
Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Europeans of Indian Army)
Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Ulster Defence Regiment)
Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for Indian Army)
Royal West African Frontier Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
King's African Rifles Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Royal Sierra Leone Military Forces Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Trans-Jordan Frontier Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Indian Army)
service medals
Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Fire and Rescue Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
African Police Medal for Meritorious Service
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal
Ceylon Police Long Service Medal
Ceylon Fire Services Long Service Medal
Sierra Leone Police Long Service Medal
Colonial Police Long Service Medal
Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Long Service Medal
Mauritius Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Mauritius Fire Services Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Mauritius Prisons Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Colonial Fire Brigades Long Service Medal
Colonial Prison Service Medal
Hong Kong Disciplined Services Medal
Ambulance Service (Emergency Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Medal
Prison Services (Operational Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Royal Ulster Constabulary Service Medal
Northern Ireland Prison Service Medal
National Crime Agency Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Police Service of Northern Ireland Service Medal
Border Force and Immigration Enforcement Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
and part-time
long service
decorations
and medals
Emergency Reserve Decoration
Volunteer Officers' Decoration
Volunteer Long Service Medal
Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies
Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal
Militia Long Service Medal
Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal
Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Territorial Decoration
Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
Efficiency Decoration
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal
Territorial Efficiency Medal
Efficiency Medal
Army Emergency Reserve Efficiency Medal
Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve
Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Royal Naval Wireless Auxiliary Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Long Service Medal
Air Efficiency Award
Volunteer Reserves Service Medal
Ulster Defence Regiment Medal
Northern Ireland Home Service Medal
Cadet Forces Medal
H.M. Coastguard Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Special Constabulary Long Service Medal
Royal Observer Corps Medal
Civil Defence Long Service Medal
Jersey Honorary Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Service Medal of the Order of St John
Voluntary Medical Service Medal
Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal
South African Medal for War Services
Colonial Special Constabulary Medal