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Percy Metcalfe British Red Cross Voluntary Medical Services Medal

This medal was designed by Percy Metcalfe. In silvered metal the obverse depicts the head of Florence Nightingale in profile looking to her left, holding an oil lamp in both hands in front of her. The obverse is signed "P.M." for Percy Metcalfe. The reverse has the Geneva Cross in the centre with the St. Andrew's Cross or saltire superimposed over it. The words "Long and Efficient Service" are embossed around the top three-quarters of the edge. Engraved into the rim is the name of the recipient "Mrs. Gladys J. Morstatt". The riband is missing.

Approximate dimensions:
Weight: 1.25ozs - 38gms
Diameter of medal: 1.42ins - 3.6cms
Length of bar: 1.65ins - 4.2cms
Drop: 1.93ins - 4.9cms

Voluntary medical services medal
This medal was instituted in 1932 and is awarded to members who have completed 15 years qualifying service in the British Red Cross or the St Andrews Ambulance Corps. Service for the medal counts from the inception of the voluntary aid detachment scheme in 1909.

Percy Metcalfe
(1895-1970)
English artist sculptor & designer.
Born in Wakefield, he studied art in Leeds and in 1914 attended the Royal College of Art London. He produced many designs for Ashtead Pottery between 1923 and 1936. He designed the Wembley Lion that was used for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition plus a number of the obverses for tokens struck at that Exhibition. One of his noted sculptural works is the bronze war memorial in Durban, South Africa.

Percy Metcalfe was an accomplished designer of coins. His designs (with some modifications) were used for the reverse and obverse of all coins issued by the newly founded Irish Free State. The coinage depicted various farm animals, with a harp on the obverse.

Metcalfe also designed the obverse of the 1935 Australian florin, showing George V. It was his only design for the Australian Commonwealth series, although the same design was used on Rhodesian, New Zealand and Fijian coinages.

He also designed an image of a crowned George VI used for the obverse of many British and colonial coins including the 1937 Canadian unofficial pattern dollar. A similar image was used for the Australian Service Medal in 1945 (NU 18701).

In 1939 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited North America. To commemorate the visit, the Royal Canadian Mint struck three series of commemorative medallions. The obverse, featuring the conjoined profiles of George VI and Elizabeth was designed by Percy Metcalfe; it was also used on the 1937 British Coronation Medal.