Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal

{{Infobox military award | name = Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal | image = 300px | caption = Obverse (left), reverse (right) | presenter = 28px Ceylon | country = | type = Non-wearable campaign medal | eligibility = All overseas combatants from Ceylon | awarded_for = | campaign = World War I | status = | description = | motto = | clasps = | post-nominals = | established = | firstawarded = | lastawarded = | total_awarded = ~3000 | total_awarded_posthumously = | total_recipients = | precedence_label = | individual = | higher = | same = | lower = | related = | image2 = | alt2 = | caption2 = }}

thumb|Memorial/headstone to Ceylon's World War 1 fallen 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.<ref name="anzacs">{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Neil C.|title=The Empire's Other Anzacs - The Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps|date=2014|publisher=Mostly Unsung Military History Research and Publications|location=Brighton, Victoria|isbn=9781876179892}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ceylon WW1 Volunteer Service Medal 1914-19|url=http://www.jbmilitaryantiques.com.au/product/ceylon-ww1-volunteer-service-medal-1914-19/|website=jbmilitaryantiques.com.au|publisher=JB Military Antiques|accessdate=6 May 2018}}</ref> The exact number of medals struck is disputed, with sources citing numbers between 450<ref name="anzacs"/> and 3000.<ref name="GMIC">{{cite web|title=WW1 Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal|url=http://gmic.co.uk/topic/4117-ww1-ceylon-volunteer-service-medal/|website=Gentleman's Military Interest Club|accessdate=6 May 2018|date=26 August 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref name="anzacs"/><ref name="GMIC"/> Those awarded the medal were servicemen of the Ceylon Defence Force (including the all-European Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps).<ref>{{cite news|title=Forgotten campaign, forgotten veterans|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/061105/Plus/pls1.html|accessdate=6 May 2018|agency=Sunday Times|publisher=sundaytimes.lk|date=5 November 2006}}</ref>

==Design== The medal was cast in bronze, having dimensions of 45 x 52 x 3 mm.<ref name="IWM">{{cite web|title=Government of Ceylon War Medal 1914-1919|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/40837|website=iwm.org.uk|publisher=Imperial War Museum|accessdate=6 May 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref name="IWM"/> 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.<ref name="IWM"/> An inscription above the scene reads:<ref name="IWM"/> {{center| {{Quote |text=..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.<ref name="IWM"/>

The reverse depicts a front-facing illustration of Victory- a winged, robed and laureate female figure seated on a throne.<ref name="IWM"/> Her right hand is raised aloft, holding a laurel wreath, while her left holds a shield emblazoned with the coat of arms of Ceylon.<ref name="IWM"/> 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.<ref name="IWM"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal}} Category:Military awards and decorations of Sri Lanka Category:Military awards and decorations of World War I Category:Awards and decorations for military volunteers