Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal | |
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![]() Obverse (left), reverse (right) | |
Type | Non-wearable campaign medal |
Presented by |
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Eligibility | All overseas combatants from Ceylon |
Campaign(s) | World War I |
Total | ~3000 |
The Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal (sometimes referred to as the Government of Ceylon War Medal) is a non-wearable campaign medal awarded by the Government of Ceylon to all members of the Ceylonese armed forces that volunteered for overseas service during World War I. [1] [2] The exact number of medals struck is disputed, with sources citing numbers between 450 [1] and 3000. [3] The medal was the only one of its kind, Ceylon being the only British crown colony to issue a medal of its own for its citizens' service in the war. [1] [3] Those awarded the medal were servicemen of the Ceylon Defence Force (including the all-European Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps). [4]
The medal was cast in bronze, having dimensions of 45 x 52 x 3 mm. [5] The obverse depicts the personification of Ceylon- a seated, right-facing robed and laureate female figure placing, with her right hand, a laurel wreath crown on the bowed head of a left-facing soldier kneeling on his left knee. [5] The soldier rests his cap on the ground with his right hand, while the background depicts a multi-rayed sun setting into the sea behind them. [5] An inscription above the scene reads: [5]
..PRESENTED..
BY THE GOVERNMENT
OF CEYLON TO THOSE WHO
VOLUNTARILY GAVE THEIR
SERVICES OVERSEAS IN
THE GREAT WAR OF –
1914
1919
Above the words is a short piece of laurel wreath, bound. [5]
The reverse depicts a front-facing illustration of Victory- a winged, robed and laureate female figure seated on a throne. [5] Her right hand is raised aloft, holding a laurel wreath, while her left holds a shield emblazoned with the coat of arms of Ceylon. [5] A plaque inscribed with the recipient's name is located at the figure's feet, above a skull and spiked helmet obscuring a horizontal scythe. [5]