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Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal: CM.1301-2009

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An image of Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Artist: Wyon, William
Ruler: Victoria regina (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

A Naval Long Service Medal was instituted by King William IV in 1831, the year after that for the Army; when Queen Victoria succeeded that issue was for a while continued, but the medal was updated, with new designs by William Wyon, in 1848. To earn it a sailor had to have twenty years' service to his credit, although some had amassed rather more by the time of their discharge.
Some of the earliest issues of the new Wyon design bore the date 1848 in the exergue of the obverse; this was later abandoned but can be seen here. This medal was awarded to Able Bodied Seaman Joshua Holdam, of the third-rate battleship HMS Illustrious, for 26 years' service. Lester Watson acquired the medal at some point before 1928.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, acquired before 1928

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.4 mm
Weight: 33.37 g

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester

Dating

Production date: AD 1848

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left

  • Text: VICTORIA REGINA
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Full-rigged ship at sea in circle of rope

  • Text: FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1301-2009
Primary reference Number: 141395
Watson Catalogue: 204
Ordering: M-0184
Previous object number: LW.0184

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 25 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141395 Accessed: 2025-12-06 13:11:08

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141395 |title=Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 13:11:08|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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