colours are symbolic, with the blue representing the sea, the red the Royal crimson and the green the original Volunteer Officers' Decoration ribbon colour. Order of wear In the order of wear prescribed by the British Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, the Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve takes precedence after the Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve and before the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. South Africa On 6 April 1952 the Union of South Africa instituted its own range of military decorations and medals. These new awards were worn before all earlier British decorations and medals awarded to South Africans, with the exception of the Victoria Cross, which still took precedence before all other awards. Of the official British medals applicable to South Africans, the Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve takes precedence as shown. Preceded by the Efficiency Medal (South Africa). Succeeded by the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Discontinuation New Zealand continues to award the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration, for fifteen years of service. In the United Kingdom and some countries of the Commonwealth, the decoration was gradually superseded by new decorations. On 1 January 1946, Canada was the first to discontinue the award of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve Officers' Decoration, upon the amalgamation of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve and the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. The decoration was superseded by the Royal Canadian Navy (Reserve) Decoration. In South Africa, the Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was superseded on 6 April 1952 by the John Chard Decoration, which could be awarded to all ranks of the Citizen Force and all Arms of the Service for twenty years of efficient service and good conduct. In the United Kingdom, the decoration and its equivalent award for part-time volunteer Naval ratings, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, were discontinued in 1966, when the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was merged with the Royal Naval Reserve. The decoration was superseded by its identical sister decoration, the Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve. References Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth Decorations of the Royal Navy Military decorations and medals of South Africa Military decorations and medals of South Africa pre-1952 Awards established