Summary

Medal featuring letters 'VMRR' inside a circular wreath, with an eye at the centre. Lines radiate out from the wreath. The medal is inscribed on edge 'PRESENTED TO S.C. NEWMAN No 1 GUN DETACHMENT RVVAR 24 MAY 1858'.

RVVAR is the Royal Victorian Volunteer Artillery Regiment. Newman served in the No. 1 Gun Detachment of the Royal Victorian Volunteer Artillery Regiment.

VMRR probably refers to a Victorian rifle regiment. The formation of the Victorian Mounted Volunteer Rifle Regiment was announced in The Argus, 7 July 1855, p.5. The term 'Victorian Volunteer Mounted Rifles' was used by The Age, 12 Nov 1860, p. 5. 'Victorian Mounted Rifles' was also used that year (The Age 20 Aug , p. 5), in an atricle which explained that 'The Victorian Mounted Rifles mustered in good force on Saturday afternoon in the St. Kilda Park. It is gratifying to note the success which has attended this corps during the past few weeks. It is already considerably stronger than the artillery, and is evidently fast becoming, as we long ago predicted that it would become, the favorite regiment of our mounted volunteers. The members are rapidly progressing in their sword exercises, and also in a knowledge of the use of the rifle from the instruction of Colonel Pitt; while under the careful superintendence of Captain Burton they are fast acquiring some intimacy with the intricacies of cavalry evolutions. In a short time, therefore, we may expect that this corps will become the most useful as well as the most attractive mounted force in the colony.'

The Victorian Volunteer Forces, of which the Victorian Mounted Rifles was part, were disbanded in 1884. In 1885 a Victorian Mounted Rifle Regiment (VMRR) was formalised under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Tom Price, a veteran with extensive military experience in India.

Obverse Description

At centre the All-seeing eye radiating light beams to near rim of medal; around eye a circular wreath within which the letters VMRR.

Reverse Description

At centre the All-seeing eye radiating light beams to near rim of medal; around eye a circular wreath within which the letters VMRR.

Edge Description

Impressed, PRESENTED TO S.C.NEWMAN No 1 GUN DETACHMENT RVVAR 24 MAY 1858.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Public Life & Institutions

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    1858 AD

  • Issued By

    Australia, 1858

  • Awarded By

    Royal Victorian Volunteer Artillery Regiment, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 24 May 1858

  • Awarded To

    S. C. Newman, Victoria, Australia, 24 May 1858

  • Inscriptions

    Impressed, PRESENTED TO S.C.NEWMAN No 1 GUN DETACHMENT RVVAR 24 MAY 1858 (edge) At centre the All-seeing eye radiating light beams to near rim of medal; around eye a circular wreath within which the letters VMRR (obverse) Same as obverse (reverse)

  • Series

    Victorian Volunteer

  • Material

    Silver

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Medals, Military general service, Meritorius service

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    45 mm (Outside Diameter)

  • Maximum dimensions

    3 mm (Length), 44 mm (Width), 3 mm (Depth), 57 mm (Height)
    Measurement From Conservation.

  • Shape

    Round with loop

  • References

    A context for this medal may be found in 'Rules and regulations'. Victoria. Volunteer Artillery Regiment, 1856. State Library of Victoria 824 V66. See also 'Rough sketch of the intended field operations of the Victorian Volunteer Force as ordered for the 21st April 1862, on the Werribee' [cartographic material]. W.A.D. Anderson, Colonel Commandant / sketched by P.H. Scratchley ; lithographed at the Office of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, April 12th 1862, by James B. Philp. State Library of Victoria 821.1992 HKMB 1862. 1855 'MOUNTED VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 7 July, p. 5. , viewed 07 Jan 2022, [Link 1] 1860 'THE NEWS OF THE DAY.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 12 November, p. 5. , viewed 07 Jan 2022, [Link 2] 1860 'THE NEWS OF THE DAY.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 20 August, p. 5. , viewed 07 Jan 2022, [Link 3] 1885 'MOUNTED RIFLE CORPS.', Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), 28 May, p. 3. , viewed 07 Jan 2022, [Link 4]

  • Keywords

    Victorian Volunteer Forces