The Service Medal of the Order of St John, which is approved for wear on the left breast alongside all other orders, decorations and medals authorised by the Crown, is unique in being the only British medal which retains the effigy of Queen Victoria on its current issue. The practice of awarding the Service Medal for ‘distinguished services’ was discontinued many years ago and today it is solely awarded to recognise a period of 12 years of voluntary service to the Order (having been reduced from 15 years in 1990).
The medal's design has been largely unaltered since creation, though the script has changed from gothic to seriffed capital letters and the original practice of naming the recipient on the medal gradually ceased except in New Zealand , but the metal composition has evolved from its original silver to various silver-plated base metals before reaching its current composition in 1966, cupro-nickel rhodium plated.
