Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal : Petty Officer R Gilbert, HMS Orlando

Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (second type). The recipient's name, rank and ship are impressed on the edge. Obverse: The diademed head of Queen Victoria and the legend 'VICTORIA REGINA'. Reverse: A three masted man-of -war surrounded by a rope tied at the foot with a reef knot together with the legend 'FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT'. The medal is fitted with a straight bar narrow type suspender and has a piece of 32 mm dark blue ribbon with white edges.

Awarded to Petty Officer Second Class R Gilbert whose last ship was the cruiser HMS Orlando, built in1886. The Long Service & Good Conduct Medal for the Royal Navy was instituted in 1831 for 21 years exemplary conduct, but the period was reduced in 1874 to 10 years, then later increased to 15 years. Bars for additional periods of 15 years service were granted by George V. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.