Date Instituted: 1892.

Description: Oval skeletal medal in the form of a wreath of oakleaves with the royal cypher in the centre of the reigning monarch. The ribbon is attached via a metal ring at the top of the medal. The ribbon is finished at the top with a brooch bar decorated with laurel wreaths.

Metal: Silver and silver-gilt.

Size: 42mm high and 35mm wide.

Bars: Non authorised for this medal.

Ribbon: Plain green.

Naming: Issued un-named but privately named examples are encountered.

Comments: Awarded to officers of the Volunteer Force for 20 years service with any non-commissioned service counting as half. Those awarded during Queen Victoria's reign have 2 different cyphers of 'VR' and 'VRI' the former being awarded to British recipients while the latter were given to colonial officers. However the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration and the Indian Volunteer Forces Decoration superceeded this decoration for colonial and indian officers. The decoration was replaced by the Territorial Decoration in 1908 with the formation of the Territorial Force.

Further Reading:

• Nil.