630904-1899-Circular-Despatch-Volunteer-Long-Service-Medal — Page 2

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21ST OCTOBER, 1899. 1651

It is intended that the Medal for Colonial Volunteers should be of the same design as that awarded to Volunteers in this Country, except that the words "et Imperatrix" will be added to the inscription "Victoria Regina" on the obverse of the latter.

The Medal is manufactured for the War Office by Messrs. Jenkins & Sons, Unity Works, Vittoria Street, Birmingham; and it is a matter for consideration whether it may not be convenient that all the Colonial Governments in which there are Volunteer Forces, should decide to obtain the Medal from that firm.

It will be observed that under the terms of the Royal Warrant, the Medal is to be issued to Colonial Volunteers under regulations recommended by the Governors of Colonies and approved by a Secretary of State. These regulations should, so far as circumstances permit, be similar to those now existing for the Volunteer Force in Great Britain, and I enclose for your information copies of the paragraphs of the current Volunteer Regulations dealing with the issue of the Medal in this Country.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

The Officer Administering

the Government of

HONGKONG.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

THE COLONIAL AUXILIARY FORCES LONG SERVICE MEDAL WARRANT.

VICTORIA R.I.

WHEREAS it is Our desire to recognize the long and meritorious services of members of Our Colonial Auxiliary Forces, and of others who shall be eligible under the conditions herein laid down, We do hereby constitute and create, as a reward for these services, a new Medal, which shall be designated "The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal."

IT IS OUR WILL AND PLEASURE that this Medal shall be awarded to the members of all organized Military Forces, except the Permanent Forces serving in Our Colonies and Dependencies, or raised for Our Service in countries under Our protection, whether designated as Militia or Volunteers, or otherwise, subject to the following rules:-

The period of service requisite to qualify for this Medal shall be 20 years. Service on the West Coast of Africa shall reckon double as qualifying service.

Service rendered partly in the local forces of one Colony or Protectorate, and partly in the local Forces of another Colony or Protectorate, or partly in the local Forces of one or more Colonies or Protectorates, and partly in the Volunteer Force of Great Britain, shall be reckoned as qualifying service for the Medal, provided that no Officer or man shall be eligible, unless at least half his service has been rendered in the Militia or Volunteer Forces of one or more Colonies or Protectorates, service on the West Coast of Africa counting double.

Service on the Permanent Staff shall not reckon as qualifying service for this Medal.

Service qualifying for this Medal shall also count towards the necessary qualifying service for "The Volunteer Long Service Medal," provided that no Officer or man shall be eligible for such medal, unless 10 years' service has been spent in the Volunteer Force of Great Britain.

An Officer who has served in the ranks of a Volunteer corps in Great Britain, or of the Militia or Volunteers of a Colony or Protectorate, but who is not qualified for the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration, shall, on completing 20 years' service in all, be eligible to receive the Long Service Medal, but shall surrender it if subsequently the aforesaid Decoration shall be conferred upon him.

IT IS OUR FURTHER WILL AND PLEASURE that this Medal shall be awarded under such regulations as to issue, surrender, forfeiture, and restoration as may from time to time be submitted by the Gov- ernor-General of Our Dominion of Canada, or by the Governors of Our Colonies and Dependencies, or by Our representatives in countries under Our protection, and as may be approved by Our Principal Secretary of State for War upon the recommendation of Our Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. The regulations aforesaid shall as far as possible correspond with those laid down for "The Volunteer Long Service Medal."

Volunteer Long Service Medals already issued to Colonial Forces under the authority of Our Warrant of the 13th June 1896, shall be considered equivalent to "The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal."

Our Warrant of the 13th June 1896, save and except so much of it as relates to Our Indian Empire, is hereby cancelled.

Given at Our Court at Windsor, this 18th day of May 1899, in the 62nd year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,

LANSDOWNE.