Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces


The Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces was instituted in 1953, as an Air Force version of the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces. One medal each can be awarded to the champion shot of annual small arms marksmanship competitions held by the Air Forces of the United Kingdom and those member countries of the British Commonwealth whose Governments desire to take part in the grant of the award.
The Air Forces of countries that took part at some stage include the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Royal Rhodesian Air Force. Today, only the United Kingdom and New Zealand still award the medal.

Origin

The Medal for the Best Shot in the British Army, Infantry, was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1869 and was awarded from 1870 to 1882 to the best shot of the annual Army shooting competition. In 1923 the medal was re-introduced by King George V and designated the King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces. It could now be awarded to the champions of Army marksmanship competitions, held under battle conditions, at annual central meetings in the United Kingdom, the British Dominions, Colonies and India.
All contenders for the King's/Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces have to be actual serving members of the Regular Army, Army Emergency Reserve, Territorial Army, or Local Militia and Volunteer Forces in the countries concerned. Members of independent Naval and Air Forces, while not excluded from the competition, could therefore not be awarded the medal even though they won the championship. This happened to an Air Force shot twice, in Canada in 1938 and in Rhodesia in 1962.

Institution

The Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on 12 June 1953. Only one medal, or a clasp only, is granted annually in each of the Air Forces of the United Kingdom and those member countries of the British Commonwealth whose governments desire to take part in the grant of the award. Apart from the United Kingdom, the Dominions of Australia, Canada and New Zealand and the Colony of Rhodesia all took part at some stage, but only the United Kingdom and New Zealand still award the medal.
Every medal is awarded with a clasp, inscribed with the year of award and attached to the medal's suspension bar. Holders of the medal who qualify for a subsequent award, are awarded a clasp only, to be worn on the ribbon of the original medal and attached to the original or previous clasp. When medals are not worn, the award of second or further clasps are denoted on the ribbon bar by a silver rosette to denote the award of each additional clasp.

Award criteria

The medal is awarded to the champion shot of the annual championship meeting of each respective Air Force, held under service rifle championship conditions. All medal contenders have to be actual serving members of the Regular Air Forces of the respective countries.

Order of wear

In the order of wear prescribed by the British Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces takes precedence after the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces and before the Cadet Forces Medal.

Participating countries

The tables below list the known recipients of the medal in the respective participating countries.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the first Royal Air Force championship to compete for the medal took place in 1953 and was won by Senior Technician J.E.P.P. Witts of RAF Stafford. The championship took place annually since then, except in 1991 when no competition was held as a result of the Gulf War. The record for the most wins of the Air Force medal is held by Chief Technician J.T. Prictor, who won the championship for the fourteenth time in 2009.
YearRankInitialsSurnameSquadron or Formation
1953SAC J.E.P.P.WittsRAF Stafford
1954SgtC.H.GreenleeRAF Ballykelly
1955Cpl TechB.R.CreaseyRAF Wahn
1956Sqn LdrC.C.Willott OBERAF West Malling
1957Flt LtM.GillRAF Little Rissington
1958Wg CdrP.E.H.Thomas AFCRAF Hornchurch
1959Wg CdrP.E.H.Thomas AFC RAF Hornchurch
1960Sqn LdrD.H.YoungRAF Hemswell
1961WOF.FlanaghanRAF Chigwell
1962Chf TechB.R.Creasey RAF West Raynham
1963SAC D.J.LimbyRAF Geilenkirchen
1964Flt LtR.S.HassellRAF Lindholme
1965CplR.N.van GelderenRAF Gaydon
1966CplR.N.van Gelderen RAF Gaydon
1967Chf TechH.J.Dillon-LeeRAF Wattisham
1968SgtR.N.van Gelderen RAF Gaydon
1969SgtR.N.van Gelderen RAF Gaydon
1970SgtR.N.van Gelderen RAF Gaydon
1971SgtR.N.van Gelderen RAF Gaydon
1972SgtR.N.van Gelderen RAF Gaydon
1973Flt LtG.Cox
1974Chf TechD.D.WattRAF Honington
1975SgtP.A.MossRAF Sealand
1976SgtP.A.Moss RAF Sealand
1977SgtP.A.Moss RAF Sealand
1978SgtP.A.Moss RAF Sealand
1979Chf TechA.A.Thompson
1980MAEI.WilkinsonRAF Lyneham
1981CplP.W.RaymondRAF Abingdon
1982CplJ.A.Wyles
1983Flt LtD.P.Calvert
1984CplJ.T.PrictorRAF Honington
1985CplP.W.Raymond RAF Abingdon
1986CplJ.T.Prictor RAF Honington
1987CplI.L.VosperRAF Cottesmore
1988CplJ.T.Prictor RAF Bruggen
1989SACI.D.E.BrownRAF Catterick
1990SgtJ.T.Prictor No. 9 Squadron RAF, RAF Bruggen
1992FSM.W.Silver BEMNo. 19 Squadron RAF, RAF Aldergrove
1993SgtP.BarryRAF Valley
1994SgtD.B.VickRAF Honington
1995SgtJ.T.Prictor No. 9 Squadron RAF, RAF Bruggen
1996Flt LtL.F.SmithNo. 72 Squadron RAF, RAF Aldergrove
1997SgtJ.T.Prictor No. 9 Squadron RAF, RAF Bruggen
1998Flt LtL.F.Smith Engineering Wing, RAF Coningsby
1999SgtJ.T.Prictor RAF Kinloss
2000Chf TechJ.T.Prictor MOD London, RAF Uxbridge
2001Chf TechJ.T.Prictor MOD London, RAF Uxbridge
2002Chf TechJ.T.Prictor RAF Cottesmore
2003Chf TechJ.T.Prictor RAF Cottesmore
2004Flt LtC.AllenRAF Wittering
2005Sqn LdrL.F.Smith 5001 Squadron, RAF Stafford
2006Chf TechJ.T.Prictor 5131 Squadron, RAF Wittering
2007Chf TechJ.T.Prictor 5131 Squadron, RAF Wittering
2008Flt LtD.B.Vick RAF Honington
2009Chf TechJ.T.Prictor 5131 Squadron, RAF Wittering
2010Sqn LdrL.F.Smith HQ Air Command, RAF Halton
2011Sqn LdrD.B.Vick RAF Regiment, RAF Honington
2012SgtP.Hunter
2013CplR.JamiesonRAF Regiment
2014CplR.Jamieson RAF Regiment
2015CplR.Jamieson RAF Regiment
2016SgtA.LilleyRAF Waddington
2017CplM.KeightleyRAF Northolt
2018SgtA.Lilley RAF Waddington
2019FSP.A.D.GuardRAF Odiham

Australia

The first Royal Australian Air Force championship to compete for the medal took place in 1956 and the first medal to an Australian was won by Warrant Officer C.E.P. Hawes. The championship took place annually from then until 1987, except in 1963 when no competition was held. In 1988, the Champion Shots Medal was instituted in Australia and the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces ceased to be awarded.
YearRankInitialsSurnameSquadron or Formation
1956WOC.E.P.Hawes
1957CplP.R.BeareRAAF School of Technical Training, Wagga Wagga
1958LACD.G.LambNo. 2 Aircraft Depot
1959ACM.J.Baxter86 Wing
1960CplR.B.CookBasic Flight Training Squadron
1961CplR.B.Cook Basic Flight Training Squadron, Pt. Cook
1962LACM.J.Baxter 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron
1964SgtG.Wiles
1965CplJ.W.Dewhurst
1966CplR.J.Rielly
1967SgtT.L.Mitchell
1968SgtM.Billett
1969CplJ.W.Dewhurst
1970FSS.R.Catts
1971FST.L.Mitchell
1972FST.L.Mitchell
1973Flt LtC.J.Griffiths
1974LACG.Thompson
1975SgtP.Phillips
1976SgtP.Phillips
1977CplG.Thompson
1978CplG.T.Pern
1979CplG.Thompson
1980SgtJ.L.Hamilton492 Squadron
1981SgtJ.L.Hamilton 492 Squadron
1982CplG.T.Pern
1983WOP.Phillips
1984SgtB.G.HartmanMOVCORDC
1985WOJ.L.Hamilton
1986FSN.F.Marxsen
1987SgtB.G.Hartman MOVCORDC

Canada

The first Royal Canadian Air Force championship to compete for the medal took place in 1954 and the first medal to a Canadian was won by Flight Sergeant J.V.P. Martin CD. The championship took place annually from then until 1967, when the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force were unified into the Canadian Armed Forces. As a result, the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces ceased to be awarded and, from 1968, regular Canadian Air Force members competed with regular Army and Navy members for the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces.
YearRankInitialsSurnameSquadron or Formation
1954FSJ.V.P.Martin CD
1955Flt LtT.W.Gregory CD
1956CplS.Goddard
1957LACD.A.Green
1958LACG.E.Sannachan
1959FSR.H.Cunnington CD
1960FSJ.W.Brown CD
1961CplA.F.O'Brien
1962CplA.F.O'Brien
1963Fg OffO.J.Ruckpaul CDRCAF Station Centralia
1964LACC.R.E.Wesley
1965CplH.R.Peters CD
1966Flt LtO.J.Ruckpaul CD CFB Cold Lake
1967Flt LtM.D.Phoenix CD

New Zealand

The first Royal New Zealand Air Force championship to compete for the medal took place in 1954 and the first medal to a New Zealander was won by Warrant Officer F.A. Haycock. The championship, which is restricted to members of the regular Air Force, took place annually from then, except in 1966, 1967, 1996 and from 1998 to 2003, when no competition was held. The medal is still current in New Zealand.
YearRankInitialsSurnameSquadron or Formation
1954WOF.A.Haycock
1955LACM.W.P.Godwin
1956WOF.A.Haycock
1957WOF.A.Haycock
1958SgtL.P.Boyd
1959SgtC.G.Robertson
1960LACH.V.Childe
1961LACH.V.Childe
1962SgtC.G.Robertson
1963Flt LtG.C.Derby
1964WOF.A.Haycock
1965SgtP.J.Sears
1968Flt LtA.E.West
1969WOC.G.Robertson
1970Sqn LdrA.E.West
1971WOR.F.Flutey
1972CplW.H.Wilkinson
1973FSM.J.Ross
1974Wg CdrG.C.Derby
1975SgtG.E.Cuthbert
1976SgtG.E.Cuthbert
1977SgtG.E.Cuthbert
1978FSA.W.Schischka
1979FSA.W.Schischka
1980FSJ.W.Tasker
1981WOM.J.Gallagher
1982ACV.J.d'Ath
1983Fg OffM.F.Loughran
1984SgtD.M.CraillGeneral Service Instructor
1985Sqn LdrR.B.Smith
1986Flt LtD.J.Ashton
1987Sqn LdrR.B.Smith
1988Flt LtM.F.Loughran
1989SgtS.J.Bakker
1990Wg CdrR.B.Smith
1991CplS.R.Meldrum
1992CplJ.M.Kovacs
1993CplJ.M.Kovacs
1994CplJ.M.Kovacs
1995CplB.W.Large
1997CplJ.M.Kovacs
2004SgtS.R.Meldrum

Rhodesia

The 1962 Rhodesian Army competition for the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces was won by Corporal Technician B.T. Gilpin of Thornhill Air Base, a member of the Royal Rhodesian Air Force. Despite protests from the Army commanders, the Minister of Defence presented Gilpin with the Army medal. As a result of the controversy, Rhodesia sought and was granted the Crown's permission to introduce the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces. The first Royal Rhodesian Air Force championship to compete for the Air Force medal took place in 1963, but the first medal award was backdated to 1962 and the first two medals were presented in December 1963, one to Gilpin and the other to the Air Force champion for 1963, Flight Lieutenant W.J. Geeringh. Gilpin's 1962 Army medal was returned and the 1962 Army runner-up, Inspector D. Hollingworth, was awarded a second clasp to his existing medal.
The championship took place annually from then until 1968, even after Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence on 11 November 1965, until Rhodesia severed its ties with the British Crown on 2 March 1970 and, in that same year, instituted the President's Medal for Shooting of the Security Forces.
YearRankInitialsSurnameSquadron or Formation
1962Cpl TechB.T.GilpinThornhill Air Base
1963Flt LtW.J.GeeringhRRAF
1966CplG.DartnellThornhill Air Base
1968Flt LtW.J.Geeringh RRAF

Description

The medal was struck in silver and is a disk, in diameter, with a raised rim on each side and suspended from a straight silver bar.
;Obverse
The obverse bears the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and is circumscribed "ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F. D.", reading around from the top. The effigy was designed by sculptor Cecil Thomas OBE and was used on a number of medals.
;Reverse
The reverse shows Hermes, the mythological messenger of the gods, mounted on the back of a hawk in flight, with a javelin in his right hand and in his left a caduceus, two snakes wrapped around a winged staff. The image is circumscribed “THE QUEEN'S MEDAL FOR CHAMPION SHOTS OF THE AIR FORCES”. The reverse of the medal was designed by British sculptor Sir Bernard Sindall.
;Clasp
Since the medal can be won multiple times, each subsequent award is indicated by the award of another clasp, which displays the year of the subsequent award. The clasps are designed to be attached to the suspender and to each other with rivets, in roller chain fashion. When medals are not worn, the award of second and subsequent clasps are denoted by silver rosettes on the ribbon bar. Since it is impossible to sew more than four rosettes onto a single ribbon bar and since several champions have won the award more than five times, gold rosettes were introduced to provide for situations where more than five championships have been won.
;Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark crimson with a 3 millimetres wide dark blue band, a 3 millimetres wide light blue band and a 3 millimetres wide dark blue band on each edge.