Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal is granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service from September 3, 1939, to March 1, 1947. The medal was established on October 22, 1943.^[1]

Criteria

Members of the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada are eligible for this medal if they voluntarily served on Active Service and honourably completed eighteen months (540 days) total service from September 3, 1939, to March 1, 1947.^[1]

On March 14, 2001, the Governor General extended the eligibility to individuals who served, but not as members of the military forces. Those granted eligibility were Canadian World War II merchant mariners; Auxiliary Services personnel, engaged and paid by the Canadian Legion, Knights of Columbus, Salvation Army and the YMCA; The Corps of Canadian (Civilian) Fire Fighters who served in the United Kingdom and helped fight the fires during the Blitz; Overseas Welfare Workers and the Voluntary Aid Detachments; Ferry Command pilots and aircrew under contract to deliver aircraft from North America; and British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Instructors.^[3]

On June 6, 2003, eligibility to the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal was extended to members and reserve constables of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who voluntarily served during the Second World War.^[1]

Bars

Overseas Bar

A silver bar with a maple leaf at its centre is awarded for 60 days service outside Canada; Newfoundland counted as outside Canada. A silver maple leaf is worn on the ribbon in undress.^[1]

Dieppe Bar

The Dieppe Bar is awarded to those who participated in the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942. The bar bears the word DIEPPE in relief on a pebbled background, on top of the bars is an anchor surmounted by an eagle and a Thompson sub-machine gun.^[4]

Hong Kong Bar

The Hong Kong Bar is awarded to those involved in the Battle of Hong Kong during the period 0f December 8—25, 1941.^[5]

Bomber Command Bar

The Bomber Command Bar was announced to honour those who served in Bomber Command during World War II by Minister of Veterans Affairs Steven Blaney and National Defence Minister Peter MacKay on June 25, 2012.^[6] This bar is awarded for minimum one day service with Bomber Command.^[7] On April 15, 2013, the design of the bar was unveiled. The bar is silver with a depiction of a four engined World War II era bomber in the center, superimposed on a pebbled back ground.^[8] The first bars were presented on August 26, 2013, by Minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino in a ceremony at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. Bomber Command Veterans, their families, and families of deceased veterans entitled to the bar were in attendance.^[9]

Description

The medal is circular, made of silver (.925 fine silver), 1.42 inches (36 mm) in diameter. The obverse depicts seven marching figures, representing men and women of the army, air force, navy and nursing service. Around the rim is the inscription 1939 CANADA 1945 VOLUNTARY SERVICE VOLONTAIRE. The reverse shows the coat of arms of Canada.

The medal is linked to a straight suspender by a small ring passing through a small fixed ring at the top of the medal. It is suspended from a 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide with a royal blue centre 0.5 inches (13 mm) flanked by two equal stripes of scarlet and dark green, the dark green being on the edges. The ribbon was issued during the war; the medal after the war.

Issued

There were 1,183,000 eligible, with 650,000 medals and 525,500 bars awarded.

References