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Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: CM.1312-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Ruler: Edward VII (1901-10)
State: United Kingdom
Ruler: Edwardvs VII rex imperator (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The United Kingdom has seen various organisations which have enjoyed the name of `militia', but after the Bill of Rights of 1689 made the maintenance of a standing army illegal, it was usual for such groups to be in some way part of the regular army's structure. From the mid-19th century onwards, this usually meant that such units were considered `extra' battalions of regular regiments. Men could amass a long period of service in the Militia in this way, and this was recognised by King Edward VII's institution of a Militia Long Service Medal in 1904. In 1908, however, the reserve forces of Britain were reorganised and most of the Militia was subsumed into the new Territorial Force, which went on to become today's Territorial Army. Some units, largely based in Ireland, however were left to form a Special Reserve, and this too was granted its own Long Service award, of which this is an example.
To obtain the medal the recipient had to have completed 15 years' service (in the Militia, Imperial Yeomanry, Volunteers or Territorial Force, as long as 5 years of it had been in the Militia or Special Reserve) and attended at least 15 trainings.
This medal was awarded to Private D. Murphy of the 4th Royal Munster Fusiliers. Lester Watson purchased it from the London dealers Seaby in 1927.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, bt Seaby 1927

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 32 mm
Weight: 31.69 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1908 - 1910

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Edward facing left

  • Text: EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Inscription below marginal legend "SPECIAL RESERVE"

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1312-2009
Primary reference Number: 141406
Watson Catalogue: 216
Ordering: M-0195
Previous object number: LW.0195
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 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 (2024) "Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141406 Accessed: 2024-03-28 21:55:29

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141406 |title=Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-03-28 21:55:29|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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