The Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal.
Creation.
The Women's Voluntary Service Medal was instituted on 23rd March 1961 and rewarded fifteen years service in the Women's Voluntary Service. When Queen Elizabeth II (who had been patron of the Women's Voluntary Service since 1956) granted the WVS the title "Royal" in recognition of its work, the medal became the Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal. It didn’t changed its name when the organisation became the Royal Voluntary Service.
The presentation case (top) and the Obverse (left and Reverse (right).
The Medal.
The medal is circular and 36 millimetres (1.42 inches) in diameter, with a raised rim. The obverse has the letters "WVS", superimposed upon one another in a wreath of ivy, the symbol of steadfastness, and rosebuds. The reverse has three flower stems of rosemary, for remembrance and friendship, encircled by the inscription "SERVICE BEYOND SELF".
It is awarded unnamed.
A clasp (see above) can be awarded for each further twelve years service and is inscribed "LONG SERVICE". Qualification.
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 Corps, could count towards the award, provided the period had not been counted for the award of the Civil Defence Long Service Medal and vice versa.
By 2015, approximately 35,000 medals had been awarded including, since 1964, several awards have been made to men. As the RVS is a current organisation, this medal is still being awarded.
A little W(R)VS background.
The “Women’s Voluntary Services for Air Raid Precautions” was set up in 1938, as part of the preparations for the expected war with Germany. On the Home Front, the WVS played an important role including in the evacuation of children, organising welfare and rest centres, and assisting those made homeless by bombing.
When World War Two ended and the Cold War began, the WVS carried on their work in local communities and also provided the bulk of the members of the Welfare Section of the Civil Defence Corps. In this role, they were prepared to carry out similar activities to their war work but as aid during disasters and potentially atomic/nuclear attack.
After the stand down of the Civil Defence Corps in 1968, the WRVS developed to assisting and caring for isolated and lonely people, particularly the elderly. The organisation became the “Royal Voluntary Service” in 2013 and still continues its work as back-up to professional services in times of crisis by running rest centres and providing emergency feeding to the public and emergency services where needed.
Sources:
Photos by the author & Images from Wikipedia (they were better than my photos) under the Creative Commons Licence,
Civil Defence - The Fourth Arm Vol.13, No. 5. May 1961
