Volunteer Decoration
Encyclopedia
The Volunteer Officers' Decoration was created by Royal Warrant
under command of Queen Victoria on 25 July 1892 to reward 'efficient and capable' officers
of the Volunteer Force
who had served for twenty years. In 1894 the decoration was introduced for officers of Volunteer Forces in India
and the Colonies
(although in the case of India the length of qualifying service was reduced to eighteen years). Colonial and Indian officers were issued with different volunteer decorations from May, 1899. Their version had the letters "VRI" (Victoria Regina Imperatrix) in place of the "VR" (Victoria Regina).
The award of the Volunteer Decoration entitled the recipient to the use of the postnominal letters V.D. after their name.
The award was superseded by the Territorial Decoration
in 1908.
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
under command of Queen Victoria on 25 July 1892 to reward 'efficient and capable' officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
of the Volunteer Force
Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
who had served for twenty years. In 1894 the decoration was introduced for officers of Volunteer Forces in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the Colonies
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
(although in the case of India the length of qualifying service was reduced to eighteen years). Colonial and Indian officers were issued with different volunteer decorations from May, 1899. Their version had the letters "VRI" (Victoria Regina Imperatrix) in place of the "VR" (Victoria Regina).
The award of the Volunteer Decoration entitled the recipient to the use of the postnominal letters V.D. after their name.
The award was superseded by the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
in 1908.