Royal Canadian Navy (Reserve)

Long Service & Good Conduct

Medal and Decoration

At the onset of World War 2 Canada’s naval capabilities were not able to meet the demands that this conflict would require. A tremendous expansion was undertaken and the ‘Navy’ grew a hundred fold. This growth was largely in the area of reserves and most notably the Wavy Navy or R.C.N.V.R. Consequently the Navy numbered some 100,000 at the end of the War.

As the War came to a close authorities had to determine the form of the new peacetime Canadian Navy. For the R.C.N.V.R. and R.C.N.R. it was determined that a new single reserve force was the best to meet any future requirement to augment the permanent force. Plans were announced in November of 1945 for a post-war reserve to be known as the Royal Canadian Naval (Reserve). Authorized complement of the RCN(R) was pegged at 18,000 all ranks. It was expected that the new reserve would be organized in 23 Divisions, 19 of which were already in existence.

In 1946 the R.C.N.(R.) came into being and the R.C.N.V.R. and the R.C.N.R. were now a part of the history of Canada’s naval history. With the creation of the new force, a new system of honours for long service would be required. The decision to continue with the award of a medal for petty officers and men, as well as a decoration for officers was made. The design and ribbon were to be the same as those used by the former R.C.N.V.R. with the new names, Royal Canadian Naval (Reserve) Medal and Royal Canadian Naval (Reserve) Decoration.

These awards were in effect until they were superceded by the introduction of the Canadian Decoration in 1950. From 1946 until the final issues a total of 19 medals and 16 decorations were awarded. To the best of my knowledge these were all of the George VI type, with the medal bearing the pre-1948 legend. Naming format of these awards was much the same as that of the honours they replaced with the inclusion of the letters R.C.N.(R.).

Although a bar to the medal was authorized no examples are known to exist. Bars were awarded to members of the RCN(R) but they were for medals earned in the R.C.N.V.R. and R.C.N.R.

RCN(R) LS Medal - Reverse	Bar to LS Medals	RCN(R) LS Medal - Obverse
		J.J.MOFFIT CPO2/c R-2041 R.C.N.(.R.)