History
The King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was instituted in 1935 to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the King's accession in 1910, given as a personal souvenir by the sovereign. It went to the royal family, officers of state, officials and servants of the Royal Household, ministers, public servants, and members of the navy, army, air force and police in Britain, her colonies and the Dominions.
Following the practice of the day, the United Kingdom set a total number to be struck, some 85,235, and allocated a share to each Commonwealth country and dependency, the local authorities then deciding who should receive them. Australian public servants, servicemen and police were among the recipients. The medal bears the conjoined effigies of King George V and Queen Mary and the dates of the accession and the jubilee. As an Imperial award it retains its place in the Australian Order of Wearing.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The medal is circular silver, 32 millimetres in diameter, its obverse bearing the crowned and robed conjoined effigies of King George V and Queen Mary facing left within a legend naming the jubilee. The reverse displays the royal cypher GRI beneath an imperial crown, with the dates 6 May 1910 and 6 May 1935 either side. It was awarded unnamed.
The ribbon
Red with dark blue and white edge stripes.
The ribbon is red with three narrow stripes of dark blue, white and dark blue at each edge.
Eligibility
The medal was awarded as a personal souvenir of the King's Silver Jubilee.
- It went to the royal family, officers of state, officials and servants of the Royal Household, ministers, public servants and members of the armed forces and police across Britain, the colonies and the Dominions;
- It was awarded unnamed and carries no clasps; numbers were allocated across the Empire for local authorities to award;
- As an Imperial award it retains its place in the Australian Order of Wearing.
Order of wear
Coronation and jubilee medals commemorate a royal occasion rather than service or gallantry. In the Australian Order of Wearing they are worn after campaign medals and before long service awards, and among themselves in the date order of the occasions they mark. Since 1918 they have been worn after campaign medals; before that date they were worn ahead of them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal?
A commemorative medal issued in 1935 to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of King George V's accession, given as a personal souvenir of the jubilee.
Who received it?
The royal family, officials, public servants and members of the armed forces and police across Britain, the colonies and the Dominions, allocated for local authorities to bestow.
What does it show?
The conjoined effigies of King George V and Queen Mary on the obverse, and the royal cypher with the dates 6 May 1910 and 6 May 1935 on the reverse.
How many were awarded?
About 85,235 in total, a number set by the United Kingdom and shared out across the Empire.
Is it named to the recipient?
No; it was awarded unnamed.
Does it carry a post-nominal?
No; commemorative medals carry no post-nominal.