Volunteer decorations are numerous and one or two collectors of our acquaintance have specialized in them and gathered together series of much value and interest.
The earliest Volunteer specimens which we have seen are those which came from corps raised during the Napoleonic times of trouble, especially those which dated from the period when an invasion of England was feared.
At this time there were some hundreds of volunteer corps throughout the land, many of them were only small organizations, it is true, but the old lists tell us that the volunteers aggregated some 500,000 men in all. The force as a whole was well organized and well equipped, and proficiency was encouraged by the granting of medals and decorations. These awards were not granted by Royal Warrant but by the patrons of each corps, though official sanction was always obtained previously. On this account we may look upon the medals as properly authenticated specimens well worth collecting.
Most of the volunteer medals which we have seen of this period bear dates between 1776 and 1816, whilst many of them are highly artistic and ornamental. We have seen specimens given by the following corps—the names are worth mentioning if only to show the quarters in which the bodies were raised:—
The Bank of England Volunteers.
The Bermondsey Volunteers.
The Broad Street Ward Volunteers.
The Essex Volunteer Cavalry.
Hans Town Association Volunteers.
Loyal Cork Volunteers.
Sadler's Sharpshooters.
Walthamstow Volunteers.
Of recent Volunteer awards the Volunteer Officers' Decoration is probably the best known. The Royal Warrant which proclaimed its issue, under date of July 25, 1892, said:—
"Whereas it is Our Royal desire to reward for long and meritorious service of Officers of proved capacity in Our Volunteer Force: Now for the purpose of attaining this end, We have instituted, constituted, and created, and by these presents to Us, Our Heirs and Successors, constitute and create a new decoration which we are desirous should be highly prized by Officers of Our Volunteer Force: and We are graciously pleased to make, ordain and establish the following rules and ordinances for the Government of the same which shall from henceforth be observed and kept."
Then followed eight clauses, of which the following is the chief:—
"It is ordained that no person shall be eligible for this Decoration nor be nominated thereto unless he is or was a Commissioned Officer and has served twenty years in Our Volunteer Force, is recommended by the Commanding Officer of the Corps in which he has served, and is duly certified by the District Military Authorities in which the Corps is located as having been an efficient and thoroughly capable Officer, in every way deserving of such decoration: Provided nevertheless and We do hereby declare that half of any time during which an Officer of Our Volunteer Force may have served in the ranks of Our said Force shall reckon as qualifying service towards the twenty years required as aforesaid."