Menu - Royal Lifesaving S Bronze Medallions. In date order.

Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medallions. In date order.

1990 The Lifesaving Yearbook.

Bronze Medallion

The Bronze Medallion, instituted in 1892, requires proficiency in basic life saving and artificial respiration techniques and is used as a standard of achivement throughout the British Commonwealth. The award emphasized swimming and life saving skills and is designed to demonstrate that the recipients have the necessary physical strength and stamina to effect body contact rescues.

In 1933 a bar system was introduced for holders of the Bronze Medallion to maintain their Proficiency by means of subsequent re-examination.

Bronze Medallion footnotes:

*No ribbon was issued, prior to 1933, but it seems to have been the common

practice, when mounted for wear, to use a 1" or 11/4" dark blue ribbon.

*Bars, for subsequent requalification, were introduced in 1933.

*The ribbon used since 1933 is in the official colours of the R.L.S.S. - light blue with a narrow centre stripe of white and narrow intermediate side strip of dark blue, the whole being 11/4" wide prior to 1956 and subsequently 5/8" wide

*The ribbon is not issued with the medal initially but is issued, together with a suspensory bar bearing the letters R.L.S.S., with the first bar.

*Up to the end of 1964 bars were issued in bronze bearing the date of requalification, with the exception of the fifth bar which was in silver and blue enamel and the tenth bar which was in gold and blue enamel. The issue of th distinctive fifth and tenth bars was disconintued in 1957. After 1964, the number of the bar is borne on the bar (i.e. "1st Bar, "2nd Bar", etc.) which is issued in red enamel. The bars, naturally, fit the ribbon which was reduced in 1956 from 11/4" to 5/8".

*In 1956, 55, 447 Bronze Medallions and 8,217 bars to the Bronze Medallion

were awarded in the British Commonwealth.

Type 1.

First type thick heavy, brass Claw Suspension. Undated. By Vaughton Birm. To C,E.Stewart. 32mm. Wt.24g. Type 1. 1891-1900

Type 2 To B.Williams.Dated but no makers name.

Type 2

Type 3. To M.Smith. Now The Royal Life Saving Society. Cased.

Type 3.

Classes of instruction are held, not only all over the United Kingdom, but also in other parts of the world ; and it is pleasing to add that branches have been formed in New South Wales, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, India, Western Australia, Malta, Scotland, Manchester and district, Birmingham and district, and also in several European countries, notably in Sweden and Italy. The Handbook of Instruction issued by the society has been translated into Swedish and Italian ; thus the work of teaching the best methods of saving life from drowning is gradually spreading. The formation of so many foreign and colonial branches is eloquent proof 'of the interest which the subject has aroused. Inquiries are constantly being received from almost every British dependency as well as from the leading Continental swimming associations and other societies. The members of the medical profession have been most assiduous in helping the executive of the society, and many valuable suggestions have been received from them.