King George V Police Coronation Medal

The Police Coronation Medal was sanctioned in 1911 as an award to policemen, members of ambulance units, firemen and Royal Parks' staff on duty during the official celebrations of the coronation of King George V that took place during 1911.[1]

King George V’s Police Coronation Medal
Obverse and reverse of the medal awarded to members of the Metropolitan Police.
Awarded forPolice, fire and ambulance personnel on duty during the official Coronation celebrations.
Presented byUnited Kingdom
Established1911
Total31,822
Police Coronation Medal ribbon
RelatedKing George V Coronation Medal Visit to Ireland Medal 1911

Award

The medal was presented in silver to all ranks. It continued the practice of awarding a special medal to police on duty during major royal celebrations that commenced with Queen Victoria's Golden and Diamond Jubilee Police Medals, and Edward VII's Police Coronation Medal, although qualification was now widened to include bodies outside London.[1]

Several service organisations qualified, with the name of the organisation shown on the reverse of the medal. A total of 31,822 medals[2] were awarded:
Metropolitan Police 19,783
Scottish Police 2,800
St John Ambulance Brigade 2,755
County and Borough Police 2,565
City of London Police 1,400
London Fire Brigade 1,374
Royal Irish Constabulary 585[3]
St Andrew’s Ambulance Corps 310
Police Ambulance Service 130
Royal Parks 120[4]

No recipient was permitted to receive both the Police Coronation Medal and the more broadly awarded Coronation Medal 1911.[4]

Description

The medal is silver and is 1.4 inches (36 mm) in diameter. It was designed by the Australian sculptor Bertram Mackennal.[1]

  • Obverse: A crowned left-facing bust of King George V with the inscription GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP:.
  • Reverse: The Imperial Crown with an ornate surround, with the inscription CORONATION 1911 below and the name of the service the recipient was serving with above.
  • Ribbon: 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide. Red with a narrow central blue stripe, with a similar stripe towards each edge.
  • The recipient's rank and name were engraved on the edge of the medal.[1]
  • The medal was worn in date order with other Royal commemorative medals. These were worn before campaign medals until November 1918,[5] after which the order of wear was changed, with such medals now worn after campaign medals and before long service awards.[6]

References
  1. Howard N Cole. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals. pp. 31–33. Published J. B. Hayward & Son, London. 1977.
  2. John W. Mussell, editor. Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 288 Published Token Publishing Limited, Honiton, Devon. 2015.
  3. A role naming 572 recipients was published in the Royal Irish Constabulary Magazine, Vol 1 No 11, September 1912 pp 373-374.
  4. Gerard McEwan. Coronation (Police) Medal 1911, Royal Parks reverse. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, September 2017, pp 178-182. This provides the names of all 120 recipients.
  5. Howard N Cole. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals. pp. 3-4. Published J. B. Hayward & Son, London. 1977.
  6. "No. 32300". The London Gazette. 22 April 1921. p. 3184.
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