Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers Cross, an attractive engraved 9ct. gold cross, 32 x 26mm., 3.75g., hallmarks for Birmingham 1890, obverse inscribed, ‘RNAV’; reverse inscribed, ‘H.M.S. Drake 15 Nov 1890’, extremely fine £100-140

The Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers (R.N.A.V.) were in existence from 1873 to 1892. The brainchild of Thomas C. Brassey, M.P. (later Earl Brassey), it was formed of civilian sailing enthusiasts who were not professional seafarers, whose services could be called upon in times of emergency for service in defence of the coasts of the United Kingdom and the adjacent seas. This narrow restriction to local defence at a time when British naval commitments were increasingly world-wide, ultimately led to its disbandment. Its successor, in 1903, was the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, whose members were not required to have sea or gunnery experience but who were expected to serve anywhere in the world in times of war.