SINGAPORE and MALAYA VOLUNTEER CORPS MEDALS

SINGAPORE and MALAYA VOLUNTEER CORPS MEDALS 

SVC Cap Badge
circa 1928 - 42

INTRODUCTION

Since her establishment in 1854,  and until the formation of the Singapore Armed Forces in 1967,  numerous medals were awarded to the SVC’s servicemen for their service or participation in certain campaigns. This article aims to list these medals, and their award criteria.

HISTORY AND CATEGORY OF MEDAL

The practice of making awards for gallantry and various other distinctions for military and civilian service dates largely from the 18^th and early 19^th centuries. Napoleon Bonaparte was keenly aware that some token of recognition from the nation could serve as motivation for bravery in the battlefield. The France’s Legion of Honor was the result. Unlike pre-revolutionary France where privilege, rank and class determined everything, it became possible for any Frenchman to aspire to this coveted award.

Strictly speaking medals can be broken down into three broad categories:

1. Orders – Orders originally date back to the days of knighthood in the Middle Ages, implying both an association with the noble class of society and religious ideal. However, today they reflect mainly special distinctions conferred on citizens for some type of service in peace or war, both civil and military. Orders may come in any grouping of one to five classes, although some countries may have more.

• Class One, often referred to as the Grand Cross, will normally consist of a large metal and enamelled breast star, worn on the left side of the chest, and a large, wide ribbon (sash) worn across the chest, over one shoulder, with a metal and enamelled badge hanging from it.

• Class Two will normally consist of a smaller badge hanging from a ribbon worn around the neck, and a smaller breast star.  This class goes by several names; Knight Commander (Great Britain), Grand Officer, Commander I Class, Commander with star.

• Class Three is normally the neck badge alone, being referred to as Commander or Commander II Class.

• Class Four is worn on the left chest on a ribbon, and usually referred to as Officer Class.

• The Fifth class is usually similar in appearance, but usually of a different metal, but worn in the same manner, and referred to as Knight (in Great Britain as member).

The metal employed may range from gold, to silver, to bronze, with most badges enamelled, while some are gold plated or gilt. Shapes of badges are usually in cross form, while the breast star will have four to eight points.

2. Decorations – This is usually an award for some distinctions such as heroism against the enemy in combat. Examples of these might be the British’s Victoria Cross, and the U.S.A.’s Medal of Honor, each their country’s highest valor award. 

3. Medals – This term is used more than any other to describe misleadingly all the categories of award. Most properly it should be applied to any award hanging from a ribbon, of gold, silver bronze metal etc., usually not enamelled and issue to commemorate a whole range of military campaigns, long service, royal occasions, independence celebrations etc.

Singapore and Malaya Volunteers MEDALS

The medals awarded to volunteers in the SVC from 1854 till the end of World War II are all British medals. The medals listed are based on written records or actual medals awarded to the recipients. While I would like to be as exhaustive as possible in the listing of the medals and the recipients, it may not be possible due to limited reference materials in this area. The medals awarded to Singapore and Malaya Volunteers in order of precedence are:

Orders

1. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Knight Grand Cross (G.B.E.), Knight Commander (K.B.E.), Commander (C.B.E.), Officer (O.B.E.) and Member (M.B.E.). This is the junior of all the British Orders, having being founded in 1917. The Order was introduced owing to the very large demand for honours and awards created by the First World War. The order, as well as the Medal of the Order, is awarded for service to Great Britain and the Commonwealth. It is given to a very wide range of people (both civilians and service personnel) in all walks of life for valuable work in the social services, entertainment and local government. When the Order was instituted in 1917, a Britannia appeared in the centres of both stars and badges. The ribbon was purple, with a central scarlet stripe added for the military division. In 1937, joint effigies of King George V and Queen Mary replaced Britannia. A notable SVC’s recipient of the of the Order of the British Empire was Mrs Elizabeth Choy, who was awarded the Order in 1946, together with the Star of Sarawak.

Order of the British Empire

Top Row:             1. K.B.E Civil Neck Badge,  2. C.B.E Military Neck Badge.

Bottom Row:            1. K.B.E Breast Star,  2. O.B.E and  3. M.B.E Military Breast Badges. 

Gallantry Awards

2. The Military Cross (M.C.). The demand for a gallantry award for issue to the junior commissioned officers or warrant officers at the commencement of World War I made it necessary to institute the Military Cross, which was introduced on 28^th Dec 1914.

3. The Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.). Prior to the Crimean War in 1854, there was no official gallantry medals for other ranks. It was the Crimea War which caused the D.C.M. to be instituted for other ranks only.

4. The Military Medal (M.M.). This medal was introduced on 25^th Mar 1916 as an award for Army N.C.O. and men for individual or even associated acts of bravery in the field. In June of that year it was extended to women.

1. The Military Cross (M.C.),  2. The Distinguish Conduct Medal (D.C.M.), 

3. The Military Medal (M.M.)

War / Campaign Medals

5. Second World War Stars 1939 – 45. The are eight different campaign stars awarded for World War II which were almost identical in design – six-pointed stars with the crowned cypher of King George VI in the centre. The centre cypher is partly surrounded by the appropriate campaign. The two World War II Stars awarded to SVC were the 1939 - 45 Star and the Pacific Star. The award criteria are as follows:

• The 1939 - 45 Star. For 6 months of operational service, or specified operations from 3 Sep 1939 to 15 Aug 1945. 

• The Pacific Star. For operational service in the Pacific Theatre from 8 Dec 1942 to 2 Sep 1945.

All the ribbons are symbolic, reputedly designed by King George VI. The ribbon of the 1939 – 45 Star represent the three services. For Pacific Star’s ribbon, the green in the centre represents the jungle, with a narrow yellow narrow stripe the beaches, flanked by narrow stripes of dark blue for the Navy and light blue for the Air Force, and on each edge rather wider stripes of red represent the Army.

6. The Defence Medal. This medal was awarded to personnel who formed part of recognized defence units for service in non-operational areas subjected to attack. The ribbon is symbolic of the British Isles, which is represented by green, the orange colour represent the bombing of the UK that took place, and the black the black out.

7. The War Medal. This medal was awarded to all full-time personnel of the armed forces wherever they are serving, provided that they served at least 28 days, irrespective of whether they are operational or non-operational.

Top Row: World War II Star, Pacific Star
Bottom Row: World War II Medal (obj, rev), Defence Medal (obi, rev)

Commemorative Medals

8. Jubilee Medal 1935.  The medal was issued to commemorate the 25^th year of the reign of King George V.

9. Coronation Medal 1937. The medal was issued to commemorate the Coronation of King George VI on 12^th May 1937.

10. Coronation Medal 1953. The medal was issued to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2^nd Jun 1953.

1.     Jubilee Medal 1935 (obv, rev)  

2. Coronation Medal 1937 (obv, rev)

2.     Coronation Medal 1953 (obv)

Long Service Awards

11. The Volunteer Officers Decoration was instituted in July 1892 for the purpose of rewarding "efficient and capable" officers of the Volunteer Force in Great Britain who had served for twenty years. Two years later (1894) a similar distinction was introduced for officers of Volunteer Forces in India and the Colonies, but in the case of India the qualifying service was reduced to eighteen years. The reward entitled the recipients to use the letters "V.D." after their names. It was awarded, in the Colonies up to 1899, in Great Britain up to 1908 when the Volunteer Forces were disbanded and succeeded by the Territorial Forces, and in India up to 1930.

The Decoration is a badge consisting of an oval oak wreath in silver tied in gold, and having in the centre the Royal or Imperial Cypher surmounted by a Royal Crown, both in gold. It is suspended by a silver ring from a green ribbon 1½ inches wide and has a silver bar brooch with oak leaves on top.

12. The Volunteer Long Service Medal. This Medal was instituted in 1894 for non-commissioned officers and men of the Volunteer Forces of Great Britain who had completed twenty years meritorious service. In 1896 it was extended to the Indian and Colonial Forces, eighteen years service being the qualification in India, where it was awarded up to 1930. The obverse bore the effigy of the reigning Sovereign with the words "et Imperatrix", or "et Imperator" added to the legend for India and the Colonies, and the reverse bore laurel branches and intertwined scrolls bearing the words "For Long Service in the Volunteer Force".

13. The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration was established in 1899 and as from that date superseded, for Colonial Officers, the "Volunteer Officers Decoration". The conditions of award were however the same, except that service on the West Coast of Africa and subsequently service in the Great War 1914/1918 counted double. It was, in fact still is, known as the Volunteer Officers Decoration since it also conferred on the recipient the right to use the letters "V.D." after his name. It became obsolete in 1930. It was an oval badge surmounted by an Imperial crown and consisting of the Imperial Cypher "G.R.I. V" surrounded by a band bearing the words "Colonial Auxiliary Forces".

14. The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal replaced the Volunteer Long Service Medal in 1908 on the disbandment of the Volunteers in Great Britain. It was of the same obverse design as the old “Volunteer” medal, but with the reverse design altered to bear the words “For Long Service in the Colonial Auxiliary Forces” on a plaque and surrounded by laurel branches surmounted by an Imperial Crown. It became obsolete in 1930.

15. The Efficiency Decoration was provided for under Royal Warrant of the 23^rd September, 1930 for grant to officers who have completed twenty years qualifying service (not necessarily continuous) in the Authorized Auxiliary Forces of the Empire (or their Reserves). It replaced numerous separate decorations awarded up to that date, and covers the Territorial Army of Great Britain, the Colonial Auxiliary Forces, the Auxiliary Force (India) and similar forces in all other Dominions, Colonies and Territories under His Majesty's protection to which attach similar obligations for training in peace. Recipients of this Decoration are entitled to the letters "E.D." after their names. The brooch of the Decoration is inscribed with the name of the country in which the recipient is serving at the time of the award (e.g. "Malaya").

16. The Efficiency Medal is the equivalent for N.C.O.'s and men of the Efficiency Decoration and was instituted at the same time, but is granted after twelve years service and a bar is issued for every six years thereafter.  The service to be continuous, however, unless under exceptional circumstances as laid down. The word "Malaya" is inscribed on the bar mount of these medals to indicate the place in which the recipient is service at the time of the award. It is likely that the current SAF Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (12 years) adopted the same 12 years criteria from this medal.

1. The Volunteer Officers’ Decoration. 

2. The Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration 

(note: the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration is of the same design except the words “Indian Volunteer Forces” is replaced by “Colonial Auxiliary Forces”.

3. The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal (obv, rev) 

(note: The Volunteer Long Service Medal has the same design with the words “For Long Service in the Volunteer Force”.)

Top Row: Efficiency Decoration, bar “Malaya”, King George V, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II cypher.

Bottom Row: Efficiency Medal, bar “Malaya”, obverse, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II cypher, reverse.

CONCLUSION

Medal is a form of recognition of military service by the State or Armed Forces. For the servicemen concerned, medal is one of the representation on the uniform of his military service or career. Singapore  and Malaya Volunteers servicemen, whether British or natives in Singapore or Malaya, were awarded numerous medals.

References:

1. Vernon’s Collectors’ Guide to Orders, Medals and Decorations (with valuations), Fourth (Revised) Edition, by Sydney Vernon. (ISBN 0-9623575-4-5)

2. A History of the Singapore Volunteer Corps 1854 – 1937 being also A Historical Outline of Volunteering in Malaya by Captain T. M. Winsley, S.V.C.

3. British and Indian Armies in the East Indies (1685 – 1935), by Alan Harfield. (ISBN 0902633 95 3)

4. Spink’s Standard Catalogue of British Orders Decorations and Medals with valuations, by A.R. Litherland and B.T. Simpkim

5. The Efficiency Decoration, Instituted in 1930 by J.M.A. Tamplin