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 and
have honourably completed eighteen months (540 days) total
voluntary service from September 3, 1939 to March 1, 1947.
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. |
Legion of Honour |
The Legion of Honour, or in full the
National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre national
de la Légion d'honneur) is a French order established by
Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the First Republic, on 19
May 1802. The Order is the highest decoration in France
and is divided into five various degrees: Chevalier (Knight),
Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier
(Grand Officer) and Grand Croix (Grand Cross).
The order's motto is Honneur et Patrie ("Honour and
Fatherland"), and its seat is the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur
on the left bank of the River Seine in Paris.
Technically, membership in the Légion is restricted to French
nationals. Foreign nationals who have served France or the
ideals it upholds may, however, receive a distinction of the
Légion, which is nearly the same thing as membership in the
Légion. Foreign nationals who live in France are submitted
to the same requirements as Frenchmen. Foreign nationals
who live abroad may be awarded a distinction of any rank or
dignity in the Légion. |
Croix de guerre 1914-1918 |
Soon after the outbreak of World War
I, French military officials felt that a new military award had
to be created. At that time, the "Citation du jour"
("Daily Service Citation") already existed to acknowledge
soldiers, but it was just a sheet of paper.
At the end of 1914, General Boëlle, Commandant in Chief of the
French 4th Army Corps, tried to convince the French
administration to create the formal military award.
Maurice Barrès, the noted writer and deputy of Paris, gave
Boëlle support in his efforts.
On December 23, 1914, the French deputy Georges Bonnefous
proposed a legislative bill to create the "Croix de la Valeur
Militaire" ("Cross of the Military Valor") signed by 66 other
deputies. Émile Driant, a deputy who served in the war zone
during much of this time, became its natural spokesman when he
returned to the legislature. On 18 January 1915, Émile
Driant submitted this bill but the name of the military award
was renamed the Croix de guerre ("Cross of War"). After
parliamentary discussions, the bill was adopted on 2 April 1915
World War I began in 1914 and ended in 1918, so the final name
became "Croix de guerre 1914 to 1918".
Every "Croix de guerre" carries at least one mention awarded for
gallantry to any member of the French military or its allies.
Degrees indicate the importance of the former soldier's role
during the World War I. The lowest degree is represented
by a bronze star and the highest degree is represented by a
silver palm. The number of mentions on a Croix de guerre
is not limited. |
Croix de guerre 1939–1945 |
The Croix de guerre 1939–1945
(French for "Cross of War") is a French military decoration
created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with
the Allies against the Axis force at any time during World War
II.
The recipients were pretty various according to the large line
of war zone:
>>the one who fought during the Battle of France
>>the one who fought with the French Forces of the Interior
>>the one who fought with the Free French Forces
>>>> on the Western Front,
>>>> on the Middle East Theatre
>>>> on the Mediterranean Theatre
>>>> during the African campaigns
On every "Croix de guerre", there is at least one mention, this
one is awarded for gallantry to any member of the French
military or its allies. The degree shows the importance of the
former warriors role during the World War II : the lowest degree
is represented by a bronze star while the highest degree is
represented by a bronze palm. On a "Croix de guerre", the number
of mentions are not limited. |
Distinguished Service Cross |
The Distinguished Service Cross
(DSC) is the third level military decoration awarded to
officers, and (since 1993) other ranks, of the British Armed
Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and
formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.
The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is granted in
recognition of "... gallantry during active operations against
the enemy at sea."
The award was originally created in 1901 as the Conspicuous
Service Cross, for award to warrant and junior officers
ineligible for the DSO. It was renamed the Distinguished
Service Cross in October 1914, eligibility being extended to all
naval officers (commissioned and warrant) below the rank of
Lieutenant Commander. In 1931, the award was made
available to members of the Merchant Navy and in 1940
eligibility was further extended to non-naval personnel (British
Army and Royal Air Force) serving aboard a British vessel.
Since the 1993 review of the honours system, as part of the
drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the
Distinguished Service Medal, formerly the third level decoration
for ratings, has been discontinued. The DSC now serves as the
third level award for gallantry at sea for all ranks. |
Military
Cross |
The Military Cross (MC) is the
third-level military decoration awarded to officers and (since
1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also
to officers of other Commonwealth countries.
The MC is granted in recognition of "an act or acts of exemplary
gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land to
all members, of any rank in Our Armed Forces…". In 1979
the Queen approved a proposal that a number of awards, including
the Military Cross, could in future be awarded posthumously.
The award was created in 1914 for commissioned officers of the
substantive rank of Captain or below and for Warrant Officers.
In 1931, the award was extended to Majors and also to members of
the Royal Air Force for actions on the ground.
Since the 1993 review of the honours system, as part of the
drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the
Military Medal, formerly the third-level decoration for other
ranks, has been discontinued. The MC now serves as the
third-level award for gallantry on land for all ranks of the
British Armed Forces.
Bars are awarded to the MC in recognition of the performance of
further acts of gallantry meriting the award. Recipients
are entitled to the postnominal letters MC. |
1939-1945
Star |
The 1939–45 Star was a campaign
medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in the
Second World War. The medal was awarded for operational
service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.
>> Army personnel had to complete 6 months service in an
operational command. Airborne troops qualified if they had
participated in any airborne operations and had completed 2
months service in a fully operational unit.
>> Air Force personnel had to participate in operations against
the enemy providing that 2 months service had been completed in
an operational unit. Non-aircrew personnel had to complete 6
months service in an area of (overseas) operational army
command.
>> Naval personnel qualified if they completed 6 months service,
and at least 1 voyage was made through an operational area.
>> Royal Observer Corps personnel for service of 1080 days.
The star was immediately awarded if the service period was
terminated by death, disability or wounding. The award of
a gallantry medal or a Mention in Despatches also led to an
immediate award. |
Air
Crew Europe Star |
The Air Crew Europe Star was a
campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service
in World War II. Specifically, the medal was awarded to
Commonwealth aircrew who participated in operational flights
over Europe, from UK bases.
Two months operational flying was required between 3 September
1939 and 5 June 1944 in order to qualify. The 1939-1945
Star must have been earned before commencing qualifying service
for the Air Crew Europe Star. From 6 June 1944 (D-Day),
operational flying over Europe qualified aircrew for the France
and Germany Star.
British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Atlantic
Star nor the France and Germany Star would be awarded to a
recipient of the Air Crew Europe Star. Subsequent
entitlement to the Atlantic Star or the France and Germany Star
was denoted by the award of the appropriate clasp to the Air
Crew Europe Star. |
Burma Star |
The Burma Star was a campaign medal
of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War
II.
The medal was awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between
11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. This medal was also
awarded for certain specified service in China, Hong Kong,
Malaya and Sumatra:
>> Hong Kong - between 26 December 1941 and 2 September 1945
>> China and Malaya - between 16 February 1942 and 2 September
1945
>> Sumatra - between 24 March 1942 and 2 September 1945
Second World War service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra
after 8 December 1941 but prior to the above start dates was
recognised by the award of the Pacific Star.
British uniform regulations stipulated that the Pacific Star
would not be awarded to a prior recipient of the Burma Star.
Subsequent entitlement to the Pacific Star was denoted by the
award of the Pacific clasp. |
Italy Star |
The Italy Star was a campaign medal
of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War
II.
The medal was awarded for operational service (on land) in
Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Pantelleria, the Aegean area and
Dodecanese Islands, and Elba at any time between 11 June 1943
and 8 May 1945. Other areas to qualify for the award are:
>>Sicily - between 11 June 1943 - 17 August 1943
>>Sardinia - between 11 June 1943 - 19 September 1943
>>Corsica - between 11 June 1943 - 4 October 1943
A total of 91,000 medals were issued to Canadians.
The Italy Star Association 1943-45 is a thriving body in the
United Kingdom. The main reunion of the Association is in
Chichester in May of each year, involving a service of
Remembrance in Chichester Cathedral and a parade in the town.
Members also take part in the march past the Cenotaph on
Remembrance Day in London every year. |
France and Germany Star |
The France and Germany Star was a
campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service
in World War II.
The medal was awarded for operational service in France,
Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany from 6 June
1944 (D-Day) to 8 May 1945. The qualifying sea area is the
North Sea south of a line from the Firth of Forth to
Kristiansand (South), in the English Channel and in the Bay of
Biscay east of longitude 6° west, provided such service was
directly in support of land operations in France, Belgium, the
Netherlands or Germany.
British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Atlantic
Star nor the Air Crew Europe Star would be awarded to a
recipient of the France and Germany Star. Subsequent
entitlement to the Atlantic Star was denoted by the award of the
Atlantic clasp. A clasp for the Air Crew Europe Star was
not issued as that Star could not be earned after 5 June 1944.
Army personnel who entered Austria may not qualify for this
award, as their service is recognised by the grant of the Italy
Star. |
War Medal 1939-1945 |
The War Medal 1939–1945 was a
British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed
Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3
September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the
28 days must have been served at sea. It is sometimes described
as the "Victory Medal" for World War II, although that is not
its correct name. |
British
War Medal |
The British War Medal was a campaign
medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.
The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of
British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5
August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Officers and men of the
Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Dominion and Colonial naval
forces (including reserves) were required to have completed 28
days mobilised service - the medal was automatically awarded in
the event of death on active service before the completion of
this period.
The medal was later extended to cover the period 1919 to 1920
and service in mine-clearing at sea as well as participation in
operations in North and South Russia, the eastern Baltic,
Siberia, the Black Sea, and the Caspian.
Some 6,500,000 medals were awarded in total, of which 110,000
were bronze. These bronze medals were mostly issued to
Chinese, Maltese, and Indians who served in labour battalions. |
Victory Medal |
The Victory Medal (also called the
Allied Victory Medal) is a campaign medal - of which the basic
design and ribbon was adopted by Belgium, Brazil, Cuba,
Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Romania,
Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA.
The medal was issued to all those who received the 1914 Star or
the 1914-15 Star, and to most of those who were awarded the
British War Medal - it was never awarded singly. These
three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip,
Squeak and Wilfred.
To qualify for the Victory medal one had to be mobilised in any
service and have entered a theatre of war between 5 August 1914
and 11 November 1918. Women qualified for this and the
earlier two medals, for service in nursing homes and other
auxiliary forces.
It was also awarded to members of the British Naval mission to
Russia 1919 - 1920 and for mine clearance in the North Sea
between 11 November 1918 and 30 November 1919. |
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May 26, 2011
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