Special Constabulary Long Service Medal

Special Constabulary Long Service Medal

Ribbon of the medal
Awarded by United Kingdom
Type Long service medal
Eligibility Members of the Special Constabulary
Awarded for 9 years part-time service
Clasps The Great War 1914 - 1918
Bar for 10 subsequent years of service
Statistics
Established 30 August 1919
Order of Wear
Next (higher) H.M. Coastguard Long Service and Good Conduct Medal[1]
Next (lower) Canadian Forces Decoration[1]

The Special Constabulary Long Service Medal is long service medal awarded in the United Kingdom to members of the Special Constabulary who have completed a specified period of service. Established in 1919 by King George V, the medal was initially created to reward members of the Special Constabulary for their service during World War I.

History

Established 30 August 1919 by Royal Warrant the medal was initially established as the Special Constabulary Medal. The intent of the original warrant was to recognize the service of the members of the Special Constabulary during World War I, with further regulations to recognize nine years of service as a member of the Special Constabulary.[2] A new Royal Warrant was promulgated in 1920 changing the name of the medal to the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.[3] In 1929, subsequent awards could be recognized by a clasp engraved Long Service.[4]

Criteria

The Special Constabulary Long Service Medal may be awarded under one of four different sets of criteria:

Great War service

Special Constables who served without pay during World War I from 1914-1918 for three years, and performed at least 150 police duties were eligible to be awarded the medal. Recipients who received the medal under these conditions were entitled to a clasp to their medal denoting World War I service.[5]

Special Constabulary

The medal may be awarded to Special Constables who are recommended by the Chief Officer of Police of the department in which they serve so long as they have served without pay for at least nine years, and willingly and competently discharged their duty as a Special Constable. Years of service during World War I from 1914 to 1918 and service during World War II from 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1945 are counted as triple.[5]

Special Constables who complete an additional period of ten years service are eligible for a clasp to the medal, upon the recommendation of the Chief Officer of Police.[5]

Ulster Special Constabulary

Members of the Ulster Special Constabulary were eligible for award of the medal after fifteen years of service where they willingly and competently discharged their duty. Members who were serving their fifteenth year on 30 April 1970, the date the Ulster Special Constabulary was disbanded, were also eligible for award of the medal. Eligible individuals must have been recommended for award by the Chief Officer of Police, Royal Ulster Constabulary.[5]

Special Constables who complete an additional period of ten years service are eligible for a clasp to the medal, upon the recommendation of the Chief Officer of Police. Members of the Ulster Special Constabulary who were in at least the ninth year of a subsequent ten-year period of service on 30 April 1970 were eligible for award of a clasp.[5]

Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve

The medal may be awarded to members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve upon the recommendation of the Chief Constable, Royal Ulster Constabulary, who served fifteen years and willingly and competently discharged their duty as a member of the RUC Reserve. Service in the Ulster Special Constabulary which was not counted for the award of the medal or bar, may be counted with service as a member of the RUC Reserve.[5]

Special Constables who complete an additional period of ten years service are eligible for a clasp to the medal, upon the recommendation of the Chief Officer of Police.[5]

Appearance

The Special Constabulary Long Service Medal is a circular bronze medal. The obverse of the medal bears the effigy of the reigning sovereign.[5] The reverse bears the inscription in six lines FOR / FAITHFUL / SERVICE / IN THE / SPECIAL / CONSTABULARY.[6]

In 1956, a separate reverse was created for the Ulster Special Constabulary. The only difference was in the inscription which read in seven lines: FOR / FAITHFUL / SERVICE / IN THE / ULSTER / SPECIAL / CONSTABULARY. In 1982, the reverse was modified again to recognize service in the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve.[7]

The medal hangs from a ribbon 1 3/8 inches wide with a red center stripe, at the edges are a white stripes bisected by an equal black stripe.[8]

Clasps

The first clasp to the medal was created upon the establishment of the medal which denoted that the medal was awarded for service during World War I. This bronze clasp bears the inscription The Great War 1914 - 1918.[2] For subsequent awards of the medal, recipients are entitled to wear a bronze clasp with the words Long Service.[5] Recipients who are entitled to a clasp to the medal may wear a silver rosette on the service ribbon.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56878. p. 3353. 17 March 2003.
  2. 1 2 The London Gazette: no. 31539. p. 11242. 5 September 1919.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31770. p. 1557. 6 February 1920.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33527. p. 5403. 20 August 1929.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The London Gazette: no. 49051. p. 9255. 14 July 1982.
  6. ↑ "Medal; Special Constabulary". Falkirk Community Trust. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Mackay, James; Mussell, John W.; Editorial Team of Medal News, eds. (2004). The Medal Yearbook 2004. Devon, UK: Token Publishing Ltd. p. 236. ISBN 9781870192620.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 38974. p. 3749. 21 July 1950.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 39754. p. 357. 16 January 1953.
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