STATUTORY RULES.
1912. No. 3.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the following Regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910 should come into immediate operation, and make the Regulations to come into operation forthwith as Provisional Regulations.
Dated this fifth day of January, One thousand nine hundred and twelve.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command.
G. F. PEARCE.
REGULATIONS FOR THE NAVAL FORCES OF THE COMMONWEALTH—ADDITION.
Part VIa.
(a) Decoration for Officers of the Citizen Naval Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia.
183a. Officers of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve having twenty years’ service, or officers retired from the Naval Militia prior to this date, who had twenty years’ service (which need not be continuous) may be granted a decoration designated “The Volunteer Officers’ Decoration.” Honorary service will not be allowed to count. The following will be allowed to reckon towards the twenty years:—
(a) All service over seventeen years of age as Midshipman, and all Commissioned Service in the Citizen Naval or Military Forces, and all Commissioned Service in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the Army Volunteer, or Territorial Force of Great Britain, or in the disbanded Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers.
(b) Half the time served as a Petty Officer or man of the Citizen Naval or Military Forces, or in the ranks of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the Army Volunteer or Territorial Force of Great Britain, or in the disbanded Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers,
and
(c) All previous service qualifying for the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, provided that at least ten years’ qualifying service has been spent in the Citizen Naval or Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia.
C.6765.—Price 3d.
183b. Applications for the decoration are to be made in writing to the District Naval Officer, and each case is to be supported by a statement of the applicant’s service certified by the District Naval Officer. The decoration being granted as a reward for good and long services, the District Naval Officer, should, in each case, state in general terms the reasons which, in his opinion, give the applicant a claim to receive the decoration. He will forward his recommendation to the Director of Naval Reserves.
183c. The letters “V.D.” will be inserted in the Naval Forces List against the name of the Officer to whom the decoration is given.
183d. An officer who is awarded the Volunteer Officers’ Decoration while in possession of a Long Service Medal will not be required to forfeit the latter, but will not be allowed to wear it in addition to the decoration.
(b) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for the Citizen Naval Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia.
183e. A silver medal, bearing His Majesty’s bust on the obverse, and a representation of the battleship Dreadnought, with the motto “Diuturne fidelir” on the reverse, and on the rim the sailor’s name and rating, may be awarded by the Governor-General to a Petty Officer or man of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve on the recommendation of the Naval Board.
To entitle a Petty Officer or man to this medal—
(a) He must have served for twelve years in the Citizen Naval or Military Forces, including service from the age of seventeen in a Cadet corps. Only service as an efficient member will be allowed to count towards the qualifying period, but the service need not be continuous.
(b) Service with the Permanent Forces will not be allowed to reckon towards the qualifying period, but all service in the Citizen Forces, including service qualifying for the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, or for the corresponding medal awarded to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the Army Volunteer or Territorial Force of Great Britain, will reckon, provided that the last five years have been served in the Naval Reserve.
(c) The medal may also be granted to members who have retired after completing twelve years’ service, and to Officers who have served in the ranks and completed a total of twelve years’ service, if they are not eligible for the decoration for Officers.
Application for Medals.
183f. Applications are to be forwarded to the Director of Naval Reserves by the District Naval Officer with his recommendation.
The medal will be presented publicly on parade to the member by a District or Sub-District Naval Officer, and is to be worn by him as an honorable testimonial of his Sovereign’s appreciation of his conduct.
Medals, when not issued to members before their discharge, will be forwarded to them.
Letters containing medals, when forwarded through the post, are to the registered.
Forfeiture of Medal.
183g. When the conduct of a member, after he has been awarded the medal, is considered to be such as to disqualify him from wearing it, he may be deprived of it by the Naval Board.
Loss of Medals.
183h. When it is desired to replace a medal which has been accidentally lost by the holder, a declaration must be made before a magistrate stating the circumstances under which the loss occurred, and the rank, name, and official number of the man to whom the medal belonged. This declaration will be sent to the Director of Naval Reserves through the man’s District Naval Officer in the case of a man who is still serving, and direct in the case of a man who has retired. The medal will be replaced on payment, if the explanation as to its loss is considered satisfactory.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by J. Kemp, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.