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Reverted to revision 270430543 by Sfan00 IMG: revert to a seperate article as the medal is assocaited with but not formally part of the Royal Victorian Order.. (TW)
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{{Infobox Military Award
{{Infobox Military Award
|name= Royal Victorian Medal
|name= Royal Victorian Medal
|image=[[Image:Silverroyalvictorianmedalcrowncopyright.jpg|120px]]<br><br>[[Image:Royal Victorian Order UK ribbon.png|90px]]
|image=[[File:RVM-trimmed.jpg]]<br><br>[[Image:Royal Victorian Order UK ribbon.png|90px]]
|caption= Medal and ribbon
|caption= Medal and ribbon
|awarded_by= [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|UK]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]]
|awarded_by= the<br>[[File:Personal flag of Queen Elizabeth II.svg|30px]]<br>[[Commonwealth realm|sovereign of the Commonwealth realm]]s
|type= Royal decoration.
|type= Medal belonging to the [[Royal Victorian Order]]
|eligibility= British and Commonwealth citizens and non-commissioned personnel
|eligibility= British and Commonwealth citizens and non-commissioned personnel
|for=Personal service to the Sovereign or Royal Family
|for=Personal service to the Sovereign or Royal Family
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|recipients=
|recipients=
|individual=
|individual=
|higher=[[Royal Victorian Medal#Precedence in each realm|Varies by realm]]
|higher=[[Meritorious Service Decoration|Meritorious Service Medal]] (Canada)
|same=
|same=
|lower=[[Sacrifice Medal]] (Canada)
|lower=[[Royal Victorian Medal#Precedence in each realm|Varies by realm]]
|related=
|related=
|image2=
|image2=
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}}
}}


The '''Royal Victorian Medal''' is a [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] medal established by [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] in April 1896. It is a reward for personal service to the Sovereign or the Royal Family, and as a mark of royal esteem. The Medal is conferred upon civilians and non-commissioned military personnel. Although the Medal is related to the [[Royal Victorian Order]], it differs in appearance and in the way it is worn. Like the Royal Victorian Order, this medal is the personal gift of the sovereign.
The '''Royal Victorian Medal''' (RVM) is a [[Civil awards and decorations|decoration]] established by [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] in April 1896.<ref>{{londongazette|issue=26733|startpage=2455|date=24 April 1896}}</ref> On 14 May 1912, King [[George V]] further confirmed the institution of the medal with an additional royal warrant.<ref>{{londongazette|issue=28607|startpage=3474|endpage=3475|date=14 May 1912}}</ref> A part of the [[Royal Victorian Order]], it is a reward for personal service to the Sovereign or the Royal Family, and is the personal gift of the sovereign.<ref>http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/chc-tdh/chart-tableau-eng.asp?ref=RVM</ref> Although the Medal is related to the [[Royal Victorian Order]], it differs in appearance and in the way it is worn.<ref>www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=72</ref>


The Medal has three different categories: [[Bronze]], [[Silver]] and silver gilt (gold). Bars may be awarded to each class of Medal for further services. Recipients may continue to wear their original medal if they are awarded a higher level for further service. In most cases recipients are given the silver medal. The medal may also be worn in addition to the badge of the [[Royal Victorian Order]] if this is later given to them.
The medal has three levels: [[Bronze]], [[Silver]] and Gold ([[silver gilt]]). Bars may be awarded to each level of Medal to denote subsequent awards. Recipients may continue to wear their original medal if they are awarded a higher level for further service. The medal may also be worn in addition to the badge of the [[Royal Victorian Order]] if this is later given to them.<ref>{{londongazette|issue=34290|startpage=3518|date=2 June 1936}}</ref>


Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters <small>RVM</small>.<ref name=McCreery2008>{{cite book|last=McCreery|first=Christoper|title=On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada|year=2008|publisher=Dundurn Press Ltd|location=2008|isbn=1770702822|pages=57-59}}</ref>
The medal is given to Commonwealth citizens during royal visits and holds a place on the Order of Precedence in many Commonwealth countries.


==History==
Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters <small>RVM</small>.
In creating the Royal Victorian Order in 1896, [[Queen Victoria]] decided to make a medal a part of the [[Order of Chivalry|order]] as well. This medal would be used to reward those who had rendered faithful service to the monarch and the royal family, but were not eligible to be appointed to any orders due to their position or class. This creating followed along the precedent of other European monarchs who had royal household medal with which to reward servants. The first medals were received 7 July 1896 and were presented to Russians by the [[Duke of Connaught]] while he was in Russia for the coronation of [[Tsar]] [[Nicholas II]].<ref name=McCreery2008/>

The medal has been historically used to recognize the service of policemen who work in protective services, gardeners, housekeepers, drivers, valets and other similar type staff. Non-commissioned members of the military may also be awarded the medal for services. The medal is often awarded for service to the monarch and royal family during Royal Visits. The medal may be looked upon as a long service medal, but the service must be of a meritorious character to warrant its award.<ref name=McCreery2008/>

Originally ranked near the end,<ref>{{londongazette|issue=35141|startpage=2288|date=18 April 1941|supp=yes}}</ref> the medal now ranks ahead of campaign, jubilee, efficiency, and long service medals in the United Kingdom Order of Wear. This gradual increase in importance was marked by the July 1980 approval by the Queen to allow the use of the [[postnominal]] RVM by recipients of the medal.<ref>{{londongazetter|56878|startpage=3352|date=17 March 2003|supp=x}}</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
The medal is circular, 28&nbsp;mm in diameter, struck in bronze, silver, and silver-gilt for gold medals. The [[obverse and reverse|obverse]] bears the young effigy of [[Queen Elizabeth II]]. Surrounding the effigy is the inscription ''Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina F D''. The reverse depicts the royal cypher, surrounded by a wreath or ribbons and laurel leaves. A curled ribbon at the bottom bears the inscription, ''Royal Victorian Medal''.<ref name=McCreery2005>{{cite book|last=McCreery|first=Christopher|title=The Canadian Honours System|year=2005|publisher=Dundurn Press Ltd.|isbn=1550025546|pages=109}}</ref>
* On the obverse side of the medal appears the effigy of the reigning Sovereign and an inscription of the current legend.

* On the reverse is the [[Royal Cypher]] upon an ornamental shield within a [[laurel wreath]].
* The ribbon is blue with thin stripes of white and red on each edge. Awards to foreigners have a white central stripe
Attached by a ring suspension, the medal is borne by a blue ribbon with thin stripes of white and red on each edge. Awards to foreigners have a white central stripe. The ribbon is the sames as that of the Royal Victorian Order. Additional awards of the medal are indicated by bars attached to the ribbon.<ref name=McCreery2005/>

==Precedence in each realm==
Some orders of precedence are as follows:

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background:white; border: 1px #01796F solid; border-collapse: collapse; width:100%"
|- bgcolor="white"
|| '''Country''' || style="text-align:center;"| '''Preceding''' || style="text-align:center;"| '''Following'''
|-
| style="background:darkGrey;"| {{flagicon|AUS}} '''<font style="color:white;">[[Australia]]</font>'''<br><small>[[Australian Honours Order of Precedence|<span style="color:white;">Order of precedence</span>]]<ref>{{cite web|title=The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards|url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/docs/order_of_wearing.pdf|work=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au|accessdate=26 June 2012}}</ref> || [[Queen's Gallantry Medal]] || [[British Empire Medal]]
|-
| style="background:darkGrey;"| {{flagicon|CAN}} '''<font style="color:white;">[[Canada]]</font>'''<br><small>[[Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)|<span style="color:white;">Order of precedence</span>]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/chc-tdh/index-eng.asp |title=DH&R - Canadian Honours Chart |publisher=Cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=26 June 2012}}</ref> || [[Meritorious Service Medal (Canada)|Meritorious Service Medal]] || [[Sacrifice Medal]]
|-
| style="background:darkGrey;"| {{flagicon|NZ}} '''<font style="color:white;">[[New Zealand]]</font>'''<br><small>[[New Zealand Honours Order of Precedence|<span style="color:white;">Order of precedence</span>]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/info/orderofwear.html |title=NZDF Medals - Order of Wear |publisher=Medals.nzdf.mil.nz |date= |accessdate=26 June 2012}}</ref> || [[New Zealand Bravery Medal ]] || [[Queen's Service Medal ]]
|-
| style="background:darkGrey;"| {{flagicon|UK}} '''<font style="color:white;">[[United Kingdom]]</font>'''<br><small>[[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom#Order|<span style="color:white;">Order of precedence</span>]]<ref>{{citation| last=Directgov| title=Orders of Wear| publisher=Queen's Printer| accessdate=26 June 2012}}</ref></small> || [[Queen's Gallantry Medal]] || [[British Empire Medal]]
|}


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.gg.ca/honours/medals/hon04-rvm_e.asp Governor General of Canada site about the RVM]
*[http://archive.gg.ca/honours/medals/hon04-rvm_e.asp Governor General of Canada site about the RVM]
*[http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/pdf/OrderOfWearing.pdf PDF file - The Order of wearing Australian honours]


[[Category:Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom]]

Revision as of 23:36, 26 June 2012

Royal Victorian Medal


Medal and ribbon
TypeMedal belonging to the Royal Victorian Order
EligibilityBritish and Commonwealth citizens and non-commissioned personnel
Post-nominalsRVM
StatusCurrently awarded
EstablishedApril 1896
Precedence
Next (higher)Varies by realm
Next (lower)Varies by realm

The Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) is a decoration established by Queen Victoria in April 1896.[1] On 14 May 1912, King George V further confirmed the institution of the medal with an additional royal warrant.[2] A part of the Royal Victorian Order, it is a reward for personal service to the Sovereign or the Royal Family, and is the personal gift of the sovereign.[3] Although the Medal is related to the Royal Victorian Order, it differs in appearance and in the way it is worn.[4]

The medal has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold (silver gilt). Bars may be awarded to each level of Medal to denote subsequent awards. Recipients may continue to wear their original medal if they are awarded a higher level for further service. The medal may also be worn in addition to the badge of the Royal Victorian Order if this is later given to them.[5]

Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters RVM.[6]

History

In creating the Royal Victorian Order in 1896, Queen Victoria decided to make a medal a part of the order as well. This medal would be used to reward those who had rendered faithful service to the monarch and the royal family, but were not eligible to be appointed to any orders due to their position or class. This creating followed along the precedent of other European monarchs who had royal household medal with which to reward servants. The first medals were received 7 July 1896 and were presented to Russians by the Duke of Connaught while he was in Russia for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II.[6]

The medal has been historically used to recognize the service of policemen who work in protective services, gardeners, housekeepers, drivers, valets and other similar type staff. Non-commissioned members of the military may also be awarded the medal for services. The medal is often awarded for service to the monarch and royal family during Royal Visits. The medal may be looked upon as a long service medal, but the service must be of a meritorious character to warrant its award.[6]

Originally ranked near the end,[7] the medal now ranks ahead of campaign, jubilee, efficiency, and long service medals in the United Kingdom Order of Wear. This gradual increase in importance was marked by the July 1980 approval by the Queen to allow the use of the postnominal RVM by recipients of the medal.[8]

Description

The medal is circular, 28 mm in diameter, struck in bronze, silver, and silver-gilt for gold medals. The obverse bears the young effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Surrounding the effigy is the inscription Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina F D. The reverse depicts the royal cypher, surrounded by a wreath or ribbons and laurel leaves. A curled ribbon at the bottom bears the inscription, Royal Victorian Medal.[9]

Attached by a ring suspension, the medal is borne by a blue ribbon with thin stripes of white and red on each edge. Awards to foreigners have a white central stripe. The ribbon is the sames as that of the Royal Victorian Order. Additional awards of the medal are indicated by bars attached to the ribbon.[9]

Precedence in each realm

Some orders of precedence are as follows:

Country Preceding Following
Australia Australia
Order of precedence[10]		 Queen's Gallantry Medal British Empire Medal
Canada Canada
Order of precedence[11]		 Meritorious Service Medal Sacrifice Medal
New Zealand New Zealand
Order of precedence[12]		 New Zealand Bravery Medal Queen's Service Medal
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Order of precedence[13]		 Queen's Gallantry Medal British Empire Medal

See also

References

  1. ^ "No. 26733". The London Gazette. 24 April 1896.
  2. ^ "No. 28607". The London Gazette. 14 May 1912.
  3. ^ http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/chc-tdh/chart-tableau-eng.asp?ref=RVM
  4. ^ www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=72
  5. ^ "No. 34290". The London Gazette. 2 June 1936.
  6. ^ a b c McCreery, Christoper (2008). On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada. 2008: Dundurn Press Ltd. pp. 57–59. ISBN 1770702822.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. ^ "No. 35141". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 18 April 1941.
  8. ^ Template:Londongazetter
  9. ^ a b McCreery, Christopher (2005). The Canadian Honours System. Dundurn Press Ltd. p. 109. ISBN 1550025546.
  10. ^ "The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards" (PDF). http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au. Retrieved 26 June 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  11. ^ "DH&R - Canadian Honours Chart". Cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  12. ^ "NZDF Medals - Order of Wear". Medals.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  13. ^ Directgov, Orders of Wear, Queen's Printer {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Victorian_Medal&oldid=499523310"