A sample from the section on Long Service Decorations

THE ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE DECORATION 1908 (VRD)

This decoration was instituted in 1908 and was awarded to officers of the RNVR for 20 years service, which need not be continuous, but commissioned service under the age of 17 was not counted. Commissioned service in the RNR, Volunteer and Territorial Forces was allowed to count whilst service in the ranks of the RNVR and other auxiliary services counted half and war service counted double.

Recipients of this decoration were permitted to use the post nominal letters VRD.

If the recipient had served in the ranks and had received the RNVR Long Service Medal, he was allowed to possess and wear both awards. On 1 Nov 1958 the RNVR merged with the RNR and since May 1966 this decoration was superseded by that of the RNR.

Description- An oval skeletal badge.

Obverse- The Royal Cypher surrounded by a loop of cable tied at the bottom and surmounted by a crown.

Reverse- EVII issues are hallmarked, later issues often have the year of award engraved.

Metal- Silver and Silver-gilt

Suspension- Ring suspender.

Ribbon- Originally plain dark green, but changed in 1919 to navy blue with a central green stripe flanked by two narrow red stripes.

Naming- Issued unnamed, but maybe found privately engraved on reverse.

An example of this award in Ceylon.

Willoughby Greaves Beauchamp CBE VRD, Capt. CRNVR Retd.

Born 05.04.1890 in Madras, India; Son of Willoughby George Beauchamp, RIN and Emily Greaves; Educ: Cheltenham Coll., (Cricket XI, 1907) and Univ. Coll. Hosp.; Played Rugger for Harlequin Club, 1909-10; Came to Ceylon, 1910; Planter in Dickoya and Dimbulla; Married, 08.04.1912, Kathleen Alice, 2nd Dau. of late Dr. W B Benison, of King’s Heath, Worcestershire; Had three dau., (Kathleen Patricia, Elaine Joyce and Barbara Meredith); Served as Capt. In the IA during WW1; with 54th Sikh Regt., in Meso.; (BWM and Vict.); Settled in Colombo after WW1; Tea and Rubber Merchant; Comm., CPRC and served for many years; Dir. and Chmn, J M Robertson & Co. Ltd, Colombo; Cricket and Rugby player; pres., Ceylon Cricket Assn., 1929; Pres., Ceylon Rugby Football Union; Pres., CH&FC; Founder and first CO, CNVF (later CRNVR) as Cdr, 01.02.1938; VRD, 22.12.1942; Capt. 08.02.1943; War and Def. Medals; CBE (Mil), 01.01.1946; Retired List, 31.03.1946; Retired from J M Robertson & Co, 1951; CASIM as Capt., RCyVNF; Chmn, CRNVR Assn., Apr – July, 1956; Worked briefly in Lond. and retired to Ireland; Died 24.02.1960 at Bantry Bay, Cork, Ireland. .