BRITISH T & AVR TERRITORIAL ARMY RESERVE LONG SERVICE MEDAL

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Oval silvered metal medal on ornate fixed suspension of two laurel leaves with ‘T & A.V.R.’ bar; the face with the Tudor-crowned head and shoulders of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, circumscribed ‘ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID. DEF.’ (Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith); the reverse inscribed ‘FOR / EFFICIENT / SERVICE’; on original ribbon. Named to rim: 23871882 CPL. R. B. F. RICE. 51 HIGHLAND (51 Highland Division). Medal is in near mint condition.

The medal was instituted on 17 October 1930 to simplify the then existing awards, replacing the Territorial Efficiency Medal, the Militia Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the equivalent awards issued by Commonwealth countries to other ranks in the volunteer forces. It was awarded for 12 years’ continuous efficient service (wartime service and also peacetime service in West Africa counting double). In 1969, with the establishment of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, the ribbon was changed to blue and green with yellow side stripes and the ‘Territorial’ bar was changed to ‘T& A.V.R’. In 1982, the title ‘Territorial Army’ having been restored, the ‘Territorial’ bar was restored making this short lived T & A.V.R. medal quite scarce.