At about the same time as the volunteer reserve (R.C.N.V.R.) was authorized, a seaman's reserve was also authorized. It was to comprise of men who had followed a seafaring career in foreign-going, coasting, fishing or other vessels. Thus the R.C.N.R. came into being.
The R.C.N.R. was originally organized in nine port divisions, which were soon afterwards reduced in number to five. They were headquartered in the following homeports: Charlottetown, Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, and Vancouver. Entrants were required to engage for one or more periods of 5 years. For enlisted personnel official numbers were prefaced by an alpha character, which designated the period of engagement. For example D-48 Leading Seaman W. S. Woods indicates that Woods was in his forth period of engagement. He would have started his first enrollment as A-48.
In 1937 another type of reserve came into being with the establishment of the Fishermen's Reserve a branch of the RCNR. As the name implies this reserve was largely made up of fishermen. The Firshermen's Reserve had its own numbering system and they were prefixed by the letters "FR".
In the late 30s rewards for long service by officers and men of the R.C.N.R. were authorized. While the medals and decorations were identical to those of the R.C.N.V.R., ribbons were distinctive to the R.C.N.R.
Medal
The R.C.N.R. medal for long service and good conduct was given after a rating had completed 15 years of qualifying service and had completed the prescribed drills and training. War service time was reckoned to count as double toward the 15-year requirement. Completion of a second period of qualifying service was marked with the award of a bar to the medal. It bears on the obverse the bust of the reigning sovereign; on the reverse a broadside view of the battleship H.M.S. Dreadnought beneath which is the motto Diuturne Fidelas (For long and faithful service). The silver medal hangs from it ribbon, 1 1/4 inches wide, from a straight suspender. The ribbon originally was solid green in colour but this was changed in 1941 to green with white edges and a central white stripe. Naming of the medals is around the edge with number, rank, name and the letters R.C.N.R. Medals were awarded with only one obverse, that of George VI with the pre 1948 legend. This medal was superceded in 1946, with the amalgamation of the R.C.N.V.R. and the R.C.N.R. into the R.C.N.(R), by the long service and good conduct medal of the R.C.N.(R). There were 54 R.C.N.R. long service medals awarded with one second award bar.
Decoration
The R.C.N.R. decoration was conferred upon officers who had complete 15 years of service. The decoration is inscribed on the plain reverse with the officer's rank spelt out in full on the first line, name on the second line and on a third line the letters R.C.N.R. Like the medal for long service the decoration also hung from a solid green ribbon but 1-½ inches wide. It also was changed in 1941 to green with white edges. Officers who had earned the R.C.N.R. decoration had the letters R.D. annotated after their name in the navy list. There were 37 R.C.N.R. decorations awarded. There is no provision in the original warrant for a bar to this award.
The decoration is in the form of an oval medallion in silver and gilt. In the centre is the GRI cypher (in gilt) surrounded by a loop of cable (in silver) tied off at the bottom with a reef knot and at the top a King's crown (also in gilt).
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RCNR LS Medal - Reverse
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RCNR LS Medal - Obverse
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W.S.WOODS. LDG.SMN. D-48 R.C.N.R. |
STO R.L.CLARK B-218 RCNR |
Note: Woods was awarded the medal in 1938 with the solid green ribbon, while Clark's was awarded in 1951 with the green and white ribbon. Note the difference in naming.
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RCNR Decoration
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CHIEF SKIPPER J.L. CLOUTIER R.C.N.R. |
Note: In order to save space, and still show the two different ribbons, I have superimposed a small strip of the post 1941 ribbon on the decoration.
