Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal
Obverse (left), reverse (right)
TypeNon-wearable campaign medal
Presented by Ceylon
EligibilityAll overseas combatants from Ceylon
Campaign(s)World War I
Total~3000
Memorial/headstone to Ceylon's World War 1 fallen

The Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal (sometimes referred to as the Government of Ceylon War Medal) is a non-wearable campaign medal awarded by the Government of Ceylon to all members of the Ceylonese armed forces that volunteered for overseas service during World War I.[1][2] The exact number of medals struck is disputed, with sources citing numbers between 450[1] and 3000.[3] The medal was the only one of its kind, Ceylon being the only British crown colony to issue a medal of its own for its citizens' service in the war.[1][3] Those awarded the medal were servicemen of the Ceylon Defence Force (including the all-European Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps).[4]

Design

The medal was cast in bronze, having dimensions of 45 x 52 x 3 mm.[5] The obverse depicts the personification of Ceylon- a seated, right-facing robed and laureate female figure placing, with her right hand, a laurel wreath crown on the bowed head of a left-facing soldier kneeling on his left knee.[5] The soldier rests his cap on the ground with his right hand, while the background depicts a multi-rayed sun setting into the sea behind them.[5] An inscription above the scene reads:[5]

..PRESENTED..

BY THE GOVERNMENT
OF CEYLON TO THOSE WHO
VOLUNTARILY GAVE THEIR
SERVICES OVERSEAS IN
THE GREAT WAR OF –
1914

1919

Above the words is a short piece of laurel wreath, bound.[5]

The reverse depicts a front-facing illustration of Victory- a winged, robed and laureate female figure seated on a throne.[5] Her right hand is raised aloft, holding a laurel wreath, while her left holds a shield emblazoned with the coat of arms of Ceylon.[5] A plaque inscribed with the recipient's name is located at the figure's feet, above a skull and spiked helmet obscuring a horizontal scythe.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Smith, Neil C. (2014). The Empire's Other Anzacs - The Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps. Brighton, Victoria: Mostly Unsung Military History Research and Publications. ISBN 9781876179892.
  2. ↑ "Ceylon WW1 Volunteer Service Medal 1914-19". jbmilitaryantiques.com.au. JB Military Antiques. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 "WW1 Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal". Gentleman's Military Interest Club. 26 August 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "Forgotten campaign, forgotten veterans". sundaytimes.lk. Sunday Times. 5 November 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Government of Ceylon War Medal 1914-1919". iwm.org.uk. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.