Medal - Victoria Volunteer Forces Long & Efficient Service, Victorian Volunteer Forces, Australia, 1883

Search the collections

or return to home page

Where is it from?

A Mint Melbourne, Australia
A Awarded To Melbourne, Australia

Similar items over time

1882
1882
1882
1882
1883
1884
1884
1884
1884

Victoria Volunteer Forces Long and Efficient Service Medal

Summary:: Victorian Volunteer Forces Long Service and Good Conduct medal awarded to A. Geddes in 1883 for 'long and efficient service'. Mint: Stokes & Martin, Melbourne.

The medal was instituted on 26 January 1881 and given royal sanction on 21 April 1882. It was available to officers and men in the Volunteer Forces for 15 years service. Awards to officers ceased in 1894 when the Volunteer Officers Decoration was introduced.

The Victorian Volunteer Forces were the local regiments who undertook the naval and military defence of the colony of Victoria.
Description:: A round silver medal (38 mm. diameter) with ornate mount and ribbon (not original). The obverse features a crowned garter around simplified Southern Cross on a cross; on the garter to motto, AUT PACE . AUT BELLO . VICTORIA (translation - both in peace and in war Victoria); around, LOCAL FORCES VICTORIA. The reverse has the legend: FOR / LONG AND / EFFICIENT / SERVICE. The edge, A. GEDDES _ 1883 .
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	118 mm (Height), 39 mm (Width), 38 mm (Diameter)
Dimension Comment:	38 * 56 [including ribbon]

More information

Tagged with:	australian military forces, colonial military forces, long service awards
Themes this item is part of:	Public Life & Institutions Collection, Stokes & Son, Medal Makers, Melbourne, Victoria & Sydney, New South Wales, Victorian Artillery (AKA Royal Victorian Volunteer Artillery Regiment or Permanent Artillery Corps), Victorian Colonial Military, 1854-1901, Alfred Blannin, Victorian Volunteer Military Forces (1842-1889), Victorian Colonial Military Forces Units, 1854-1901, Victorian Volunteer Forces, 1854-1884
Primary Classification:	MEDALS
Secondary Classification:	Military General Service
Tertiary Classification:	good conduct
Series:	Long Service
DateEra:	1883 AD
Obverse Description:	Crowned garter around simple Southern Cross on cross; on garter, AUT PACE . AUT BELLO . VICTORIA; around, LOCAL FORCES VICTORIA
Reverse Description:	FOR / LONG AND / EFFICIENT / SERVICE
Edge Description:	A. GEDDES _ 1883
Inscriptions:	A. GEDDES _ 1883 AUT PACE . AUT BELLO . VICTORIA LOCAL FORCES VICTORIA FOR / LONG AND / EFFICIENT / SERVICE
Shape:	Round and ribbon
Material:	Silver
Issued By:	Victorian Volunteer Forces, 1854-1884, Australia, 1883
Mint:	Stokes & Martin (Mint), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1882
Awarded To:	A. Geddes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1883
References:	The Victoria Volunteer long and efficient service medal and the volunteer officers' decoration / by R.D. Williams
Bibliography:	[Book], Orders in council, regulations, and standing orders and instructions for the volunteer forces of H.M. Government in Victoria., Melbourne, 1875

Comments

Brad Westhead Posted on 15 Mar 2010 11:43 AM

Dear Sir/Madam I have an Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Servive (Queen Vic)named to Sapper A. Cherry Vict. Military Forces and a Victorian Volunteer Long and Efficient Medal named to Arthur Cherry Sapper Sub Mining Coy V.E. I was wondering if you could provide me with any information on the recipient of these medals. Hoping to hear from you soon Cheers Brad

Discovery Centre Posted on 16 Mar 2010 11:19 AM

Hi Brad. National Archives of Australia (NAA) holds the personnel service records of the Victorian colonial defence force. A list of records can be found at http://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/publications/fact-sheets/fs134.aspx and you can email them with your request for information about Arthur Cherry at ref@naa.gov.au

Jennifer Towan Posted on 27 Jun 2010 10:41 AM

I also have a similar medal awarded to my great grandfather William Ison. He emigrated from England in 1887 aged 20. The medal for Long and Efficient Service is not dated, but he was a captain in the 46th Brighton Rifles (engraved on the edge of the medal). Could you clarify your comment that "Awards to officers ceased in 1894 when the Volunteer Officers Decoration was introduced." The medal I have is almost exactly the same as depicted in your collection, excepting the motto, which is "PRO DEO ET PATRIA VICTORIA". Looking forward to your comments - Cheers Jennie

Discovery Centre Posted on 29 Jun 2010 1:15 PM

Hi Jennie, There were two forms of the obverse legend and the book The Victoria Volunteer long and efficient service medal and the volunteer officers' decoration / by R.D. Williams may prove useful for you in your research.