While Canada had struggled for many years to come to grips with the requirement for a distinctly Canadian naval presence on the world scene nothing much happened before the establishment of the Naval Act of 1910. The Act made provision for Naval Reserves however no official action was taken until the outbreak of the First World War. At this time a naval reserve named the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve (R.N.C.V.R.) was formed and many of its members were to see service in home waters and abroad in Royal Navy ships. At the end of the war this service was disbanded.
On January 31st 1923 a truly Canadian naval volunteer reserve came into being by Order In Council #139. The use of the "Royal" prefix was granted that same year and the R.C.N.V.R. was born with an authorized compliment of 70 officers and 930 men. Later that same year the first of a cross-country net work of reservists units was formed in Montreal with the commissioning of H.M.C.S. Donaconna.
The RCNVR was originally organized into 14 companies or half-companies in each of the following cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, Saint John, Charlottetown, and Halifax. Montreal actually had two companies one French speaking (Cartier) and the other English (Donaconna).
In 1937 another type of reserve came into being with the establishment of the Supplementary Reserve a branch of the RCNVR. This reserve was largely made up of yachtsmen.
Additional naval divisions were established in Kingston, London, Port Arthur and Prince Rupert bringing the total to 18 by the start of the Second World War in September 1939. During the war two more, one in Victoria and the other in Windsor, were also added. With Newfoundland's entry to the Confederation a reserve division at St. John's was established in 1949.
On November 1st 1941 the Reserve Divisions were commissioned as ships.
Medal
In 1938 it was determined that recognition of long service in the R.C.N.V.R. was required. Consequently a medal was authorized for awarded to Petty Officers and men of the volunteer reserve who had completed 12 years of service with accompanying good conduct. A further 12 years of service with accompanying good conduct would be recognized with the award of a bar to the medal. When the ribbon alone is worn, the possession of a bar is denoted by the addition of a silver rosette to the ribbon.
The silver medal hangs from its ribbon, 1 1/4 inches wide, from a straight suspender. 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).
Medals are found with only one obverse that of George VI with the pre-1948 legend. Naming of the medals is found around the edge and includes the rank, name, number and R.C.N.V.R. The order in which this information appears on the medal is dependant upon the date at which the medal was awarded (see examples).
Decoration
Unlike the Royal Canadian Navy, officers of the R.C.N.V.R. were awarded recognition for their long service. This was in the form of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve Decoration (V.D.). To earn this award officers had to complete 20 years of service. An officer awarded this honour could use the letters V.D. after his name.
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). There is no provision in the original warrant for a clasp to this award.
Decorations are found with the GRI cypher only. Naming is engraved on the reverse and contains the officer's rank spelt out in full on the first line, name on the second line and the letters R.C.N.V.R. on the last line.
With the amalgamation of the R.C.N.V.R. and the R.C.N.R. in 1946 into the R.C.N.(R), both the RCNVR Decoration and Medal were superceded by the RCN(R) Decoration and Medal for long service and good conduct.
A total of 36 Decorations were issued; and a total of 582 Medals were awarded, to which 19 second award bars were issued. The bars would have been earned as members of the R.C.N.(R.)
The following are examples of medals with their exact naming as it appears on the medals. The naming is around the edge and in a single line.
|
RCNVR LS Medal - Reverse
|
Bar to LS Medals
|
RCNVR LS Medal - Obverse
|
|
|
|
|
A/Ldg.Smn. R.W.LAND RCNVR V-11259
|
|
A.CORDY P.O. V9254 R.C.N.V.R.
|
Note: 1. PO Cordy was issued his medal in 1943, while A/L/S Land was issued his in 1963 note the difference in the naming. As well even though LS Land received his medal in 1963 it bears the George VI obverse.
2. A medal named "V 9346 L/S J.W.SMITH RCNVR" is known to exist and is believed to be a replacement. L/S Smith was originally issued his medal in 1943 and should be named in the same format as PO Cordy's.
|
RCNVR Decoration
|
|
|
COMMANDER J.P.CONNOLLY R.C.N.V.R. |
