Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Royal Fleet Reserve (1910)

Obverse: Bust of King George V in naval uniform, orders and medals (left). Legend: 'GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN : REX ET IND: IMP'. Reverse: Starboard broadside view of the battle ship H.M.S. 'Dreadnought'. Legend: "DIUTERNE FIDELIS". Inscription on edge: '204317 CH.B.5119 G.E.CHIPPERFIELD A.B. R.F.R.' Fitted with a blue ribbon edged with white and a narrow red stripe.

George Edward Chipperfield (1884-1982) was born in Willingale Spain, Essex. He entered the Royal Navy on 26 February 1902. In HMS 'Diana' he was deployed to the Mediterranean where his ship escorted HMS 'Ophir' from Gibraltar to Port Said during the early stages of the world tour undertaken by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (Later George V and Queen Mary). He bought himself out in 1908 and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve. In the 1911 census, he was living in Poplar, married to Florence Maud Chipperfield, with a daughter Florence Lydia. His employment is given as corn dealer. He re-enrolled in 1912. During World War I, Chipperfield served as an able seaman in ‘Leviathan’ during 1914 and 1915 and in ‘Hannibal’ while in use as a troop ship during the Dardanelles campaign 1915 to 1916. The latter part of the war was spent in destroyer HMS ‘Archer’. Briefly during 1916 when the ship was with the 1st destroyer flotilla at Rosyth, then In 1917 when she was sent to the Mediterranean, remaining there until the end of the war. He was demobilised on 8 June 1921. In 1939 he was working as a postman. Chipperfield died in Canterbury while resident at Herne Bay.

Object Details

ID: MED1372
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: Long service award
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Gillick, Ernest George; Mackennal, Edgar Bertram
Events: World War I, 1914-1918
Date made: 1910
People: King George V; Chipperfield, George Edward
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm