Naval Good Shooting Medal

The Naval Good Shooting Medal is a Naval gunnery medal that was instituted in 1902, for award to the gunner on each type of ship's gun in the fleet who achieved first place in the gunnery competitions held during the Annual Fleet Competitions. From 1903 to 1914 medals were awarded annually, until the competition was discontinued upon the outbreak of the First World War.[1][2]

This article is about the medal for champions in Naval gunnery competitions. For similar medals for small-arms marksmanship competitions, see Queen's Medal for Champion Shots.

Naval Good Shooting Medal
(Medal for Good Shooting (Naval))
King Edward VII version
Awarded by the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India
Country United Kingdom
TypeNaval gunnery medal
EligibilityAll ranks
Awarded forNaval gunnery champions
StatusDiscontinued in 1966
ClaspsDisplaying ship's name, year, bore and gun
Statistics
Established1903
First awarded1903
Last awarded1914
Order of wear
Next (higher)Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal
Next (lower)Militia Long Service Medal

Ribbon bar

After being unawarded for 52 years, the medal was replaced in 1966 by the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, which is awarded annually to the champion shot of a Naval small-arms marksmanship competition, held by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.[2][3][4]

Institution

The Naval Good Shooting Medal, listed in the official order of wear as the Medal for Good Shooting (Naval), was instituted by King Edward VII in 1902 as an award for outstanding Naval gunnery. In the United Kingdom the medal is unique, since all comparable medals were awarded for small-arms marksmanship championships.[1][2]

Award criteria

The medal was awarded to the gunner on each type of ship's gun in the fleet who achieved first place in the gunnery competitions, held during the Annual Fleet Competitions, from 1903 until the competition was discontinued upon the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. Holders of the medal who qualified for a subsequent award, were awarded a clasp to be worn on the ribbon of the original medal.[1][2][5]

Order of wear

In the order of wear prescribed by the British Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, the Naval Good Shooting Medal takes precedence after the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal and before the Militia Long Service Medal.[2][6]

Description

The medal was struck in silver and is a disk, 36 millimetres (1.42 inches) in diameter, with a raised rim on each side and suspended from a straight silver bar. The recipient's number, name, rank, ship's name, year, gun bore and gun type are inscribed on the edge of the medal.[1][7]

The medal's reverse design and the same ribbon was used in 1955 with the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the New Zealand Naval Forces and in 1966 with the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.[3][4][8]

Obverse

The obverse bears the effigy of the reigning monarch, in the uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet. Two versions of obverse were awarded.[1][7]

King George V version, showing both ribbon versions
  • The King George V version displays his effigy, facing left, and is circumscribed "GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:". The obverse is identical to that of the first King George V version of the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1848).[7][10]
Reverse

The reverse bears a representation of a naked and cloaked Neptune, grasping thunderbolts in both hands and with his right arm drawn back in the act of hurling the missiles. Behind him is the prow of a Roman trireme, drawn by three sea horses. Above the horses, a trident is depicted on the table of the medal. The inscription is "AMAT VICTORIA CVRAM" (Victory delights in care), as required by King Edward VII. The design came about when the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint invited students of the Modelling School of the Royal College of Art in South Kensington to submit designs for the reverse. The winning design was submitted by Miss Margaret Winser, while the die was engraved by George de Saulles.[1][3][4][7][11]

Clasps

Since the medal could be won multiple times, each subsequent award is indicated by the award of a clasp which is inscribed with the ship's name, year, gun bore and gun type. The clasp was designed to be attached to the suspender with rivets, in roller chain fashion. Only 53 men ever won a clasp to the medal. The clasp depicted alongside was awarded to 208318 Able Seaman H. Croton of HMS Warrior who had won his medal in 1907, as the 1908 champion on the 7½ inch 50-calibre breech loading naval gun.[5]

Ribbon

Two ribbon versions exist, one with wide white bands and another with narrow white bands. While both versions are seen on issued medals, the latter is the correct pattern. It is 32 millimetres wide with an 8 millimetres wide dark blue band and a 3½ millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 9 millimetres wide dark crimson band.[3][4]

Discontinuation

Although awarding of the medal ceased in 1914 upon the outbreak of the First World War, it was only officially discontinued in 1966. In that year, it was replaced by the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, instituted by Queen Elizabeth II for award to the winner of an annual Naval small-arms competition, organised under service rifle championship conditions.[2][3][4]

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References
  1. "Naval Good Shooting Medal, awarded to PO1 A. Gass 1905". British and other Campaign and Gallantry Medals from the Collection of Lester Watson (1889-1959). The Fitzwilliam Museum. Retrieved 23 June 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  2. "No. 49522". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 October 1983. p. 14201. (Accessed 16 August 2015)
  3. The Queen's/King's Medal for Champion Shots - Naval Awards (Accessed 7 August 2015)
  4. Royal Navy and Royal Marines Rifle Association - HM The Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines (Accessed 15 August 2015)
  5. Medals of England - Naval Good Shooting Medal (EdVIII) (sic) with Clasp HMS Warrior 1908 7.5 B.L. - To 208318 H. Croton. AB. HMS Warrior. 7.5 In B.L. (Accessed 16 August 2015)
  6. "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3353. (Accessed 16 August 2015)
  7. Royal Museums Greenwich - Naval Good Shooting Medal 1910-1914 (Accessed 14 August 2015)
  8. New Zealand Defence Force - The Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the New Zealand Naval Forces - Royal Warrant (Accessed 15 August 2015)
  9. Medal-Medaille - Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Edward VII, 1901-1910 issue, rare attribution to H.M. Coast Guard (Accessed 10 June 2015)
  10. Veterans Affairs Canada - Royal Canadian Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Accessed 10 June 2015)
  11. Miss Margaret Winser, Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 (Accessed 15 August 2015)
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