King's Volunteer Reserves Medal Explained

King's Volunteer Reserves Medal
Presenter:The Monarch
Eligibility:Members of the
Army Reserve
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Marines Reserve
Awarded For:Exemplary personal performance over an extended period of service in the Reserve Forces.
Clasps:None
Post-Nominals:KVRM
Established:29 March 1999
Precedence Label:Order of Wear
Higher:King's Ambulance Service Medal[1]
Lower:Queen's Medal for Chiefs (de jure)
British campaign medals, United Nations Medals, and Medals of recognised International Organisations in order of award (de facto)[2]

The King's Volunteer Reserves Medal (KVRM), originally the Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM), was created by Royal Warrant of Queen Elizabeth II on 29 March 1999.[3] Only 13 King's Volunteer Reserves Medals may be awarded in a year (although it appears more have been issued in some years - as of 2018, more than the 13 were awarded in 8 of the medal's 20-year history: 19 medals were awarded in 2011; 16 in 2003 and 2000; 14 in 2018, 2017, 2013, 2009 and 2002).[4] The medal is presented only to members of the Volunteer Reserves of the British Armed Services for exemplary meritorious service in the conduct of their duties.[5] The KVRM is a Level 3 award and ranks in military order of wear immediately after the British Empire Medal.[2] It is the first exclusive award to Volunteer Reserves that is presented at an investiture. The first awards were announced in the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours with these first awards presented at an investiture on 5 November 1999.[5]

Medal

The medal is circular and made of silver coloured metal. The obverse of the QVRM bears the sovereign's effigy surrounded by the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF (Latin: Elizabeth II [[Fidei defensor|by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith]]). The reverse depicts a scroll with the inscription The Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal. The ribbon is dark green with three narrow gold stripes. Receipt of this medal is entitles the holder to use the post-nominals KVRM or QVRM (depending on the monarch by whom the award was made).[6] There are no clasps awarded for this medal.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Queen's Ambulance Service Medal Royal Warrant . The Stationery Office . 30 December 2012 . 2 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110802162334/http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm81/8140/8140.pdf . dead .
  2. Web site: JSP 761 Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces . 12A-1 . British Veterans National Defence Medal (NDM) Campaign . 7 November 2014 . 2 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200802165525/https://ndm-pr.webs.com/jsp761%5B1%5D.pdf . dead .
  3. Web site: The Warrant . QVRM Association . 24 Nov 2022.
  4. Web site: QVRM Recipients.
  5. Web site: Didcot Reservist Receives Award at Buckingham Palace . Royal Air Force . 18 March 2009.
  6. Web site: Annex 108A Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM) . Royal Navy . February 2012 . 5 July 2012.