[2] Established in 1911 by the Board of Trade, the medal was initially known as the Board of Trade Rocket Apparatus Long Service Medal,[3] first appearing in the order of wear in 1922.

The obverse bears the effigy of the sovereign surrounded by their royal titles.

Since 2012 the reverse has the inscription Presented to, with a space for engraving the recipient's name, and for long service and good conduct with H. M.

[2] The precise wording on the reverse of earlier versions varied to reflect the then title of the organisation and the administering Government Department.

Prior to 2012, the ribbon was red with a broad centre stripe of sky blue.