Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
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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.
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[edit] Bars
A silver bar (often called a clasp), a maple leaf at its centre was awarded for 60 days service outside Canada. A silver maple leaf is worn on the ribbon in undress.
The Dieppe Bar is awarded to those who participated in the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942, It features the word DIEPPE in raised letters on a pebbled background, above this the bar bears an anchor surmounted by an eagle and a Thompson sub-machine gun.
The Hong Kong Bar is awarded to those involved in the Battle of Hong Kong during the period December 8 - 25, 1941.
[edit] Description
A circular, silver medal (.925 fine silver), 1.42 inches in diameter.
[edit] Obverse
Seven marching figures are depicted, representing men and women of the army, air force, navy and nursing service; and around the rim, the inscription 1939 CANADA 1945 VOLUNTARY SERVICE VOLONTAIRE.
[edit] Reverse
The reverse shows the coat of arms of Canada.
[edit] Mounting
The medal is linked to a straight suspender by a small ring passing through a small fixed ring at the top of the medal.
[edit] Ribbon
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with a royal blue centre (0.5") 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.
[edit] Dates
The medal was established on 22 October 1943.
[edit] Issued
There were 1,183,000 eligible, with 650,000 medals and 525,500 bars awarded.
[edit] Sources
Veterans Affairs Canada Anciens Combattants Canada [1]
