Canadian unification era medal bars

[Steiner]

I recently purchased these medal bars. What I found interesting

was the progression of medals that the service man received.

In the first group is the Canadian Forces Decoration which has two rosettes denoting over

32 years of service (12 years for the medal and 10 years for each rosette), QE II Silver

Jubilee Medal (only 7000 issued to Canadian personal), International Commission of

Control and Supervision Viet Nam 1973 (only 240 Canadian service personal were

assigned), UNEFME 73-79 (11,500 issued to Canadians).

Next the ribbon bar shows the addition of Special Service Medal. The medal was issued

with bars but it is unknown which one this person got.

Last bar has the US Legion of Merit ribbon. This medal could be issued to foreign

personal.

All in all this person had a great career in the Canadian military.

In the picture you will notice two of the medal bars with the Legion of Merit. One now resides with Reliy1965. Hope did not steal your tunder Doc!

Regards

Steiner

[Guest Rick Research]

How is the American decoration first on a Candaian bar?

And what is the Special Service Medal, with ribbon eerily similar to a German 1939 KVK2?

[Laurence Strong]

Special Service Medal

Terms

Awarded to a member of the Canadian Forces for a service performed under exceptional circumstances in a clearly defined locality for a specified duration, not necessarily in a theatre of active operation. The medal may be awarded to persons who are not members of the Canadian Forces.

Bars

The medal will only be issued with a bar, representing the particular special service. Where a member serves in a locality to warrant the award of a second medal, a bar only will be added to the original medal. The bars awarded to date are:

PAKISTAN 1989 - 90

PEACE - PAIX

ALERT

NATO + OTAN

HUMANITAS

JUGOSLAVIJA (cancelled, replaced by ECMMY medal)

Description

A circular, cupro-nickel (silver colour) medal, 1.42 inches (36 mm) in diameter.

Obverse

A large maple leaf is surrounded by a laurel wreath.

Reverse

In the centre, the Royal Cypher EIIR surmounted by the Royal Crown and around the edge: SPECIAL SERVICE SP?CIAL, the word SERVICE positioned at the bottom.

Mounting

A single-toe claw attaches to the top of the medal and to the centre of a straight, slotted bar. The bars are sewn onto the ribbon.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a dark green centre (12 mm) with red (5 mm) edge stripes. The red and dark green are separated by white stripes (5 mm).

Dates

The letters patent were signed by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 June 1984.

Issued

PAKISTAN 1989 - 90 (50 awarded on 27 January 1992)

PEACE-PAIX (287 issued to 21 March 1994 [500 expected])

ALERT (3,425 issued to 21 March 1994 [5,500 expected])

NATO + OTAN (27,492 issued to 21 March 1994 [69,000 expected])

HUMANITAS (None issued to 21 March 1994)

There have been 945 Canadians awarded with two bars, such as Lt (N) Mike Cormier, CD, PEACE and NATO bars.

This medal comes immediately after the Canadian Korean War Medal and before the United Nations Service Medal for Korea. When initially considered, it appeared that the medal would not split up this natural pairing of medals but now that it will be awarded for NATO service and awarded to retired members of the Canadian Forces, this will in fact occur.

TERMS OF THE BARS TO THE SPECIAL SERVICE MEDAL

(a) PAKISTAN 1989 - 90(Authorized PC 1991 - 1061 on 06 June 1991)

(Operational Decimal)

Fifty medals and bars were awarded to the Canadian Engineers who participated in the UN sponsored Mine Awareness & Clearance Training Program (MACTP) between March 1989 and July 1990. The MACTP mandate was to assist Afghan refugees in preparing to return to Afghanistan from camps in Pakistan. More than 180,000 Afghans received mine awareness training; more than 10,800 received basic mine clearance training; and 250 received advanced mine clearance training. The initial group of CF officers consisted of 38 Canadian Military Engineers plus three women. The program was called Operation Decimal. (Canada Gazette, page 5132, 16 December 1992)

(b) PEACE - PAIX(Authorized PC 1992 -2437 on 26 November 1992)

This is to be awarded to those who have fulfilled 180 days of honourable, non-continuous service in international peacekeeping operations from 1948 to the present. The time in respect of this medal may be non-continuous but must not be recognized by any other award in, or accepted into, the Canadian system of honours, but who are not eligible for recognition of a particular mission. The recipient must have been deployed outside Canada in an active capacity with, or in conjunction or association with an operational peacekeeping truce supervision, observer force or similar mission. Time spent in operations such as UNOVEH (United Nations Observers of the Elections in Haiti) from November 1990 to March 1991 will count as time towards this bar for the 11 Canadian Officers involved. (For example: Lt (N) Michael Cormier CD) (Canada Gazette, page 5135, 16 December 1992)

? ALERT (Authorized PC 1992 - 2435, 26 November 1992)

An aggregate of 180 days of honourable service on the posted strength of Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert, or of honourable service with a military force operationally deployed to or at CFS Alert, since it began its operation on 01 September 1958 and still continuing. (Canada Gazette, page 5133, 16 December 1992)

(d) NATO + OTAN (Authorized by PC 1992 - 2436, 26 November 1992)

Awarded for an aggregate of 180 days of honourable service with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), since its beginning on 01 January 1951 and still continuing. The time need not be continuous. Time spent serving aboard ships sailing under NATO control, crew aboard aircraft flying under NATO control; and units or personnel deployed for reinforcement or exercise in Europe under NATO control also qualify. (Canada Gazette, page 5134, 16 December 1992)

(e) HUMANITAS (Authorized by PC 1993 - 449, 09 March 1993)

The bar is awarded for serving an aggregate of 30 days of honourable service outside Canada in support of humanitarian operations, including rescue, relief and reconstruction operations, conducted in response to disasters and human conflict, since 11 June 1984, provided the said service has not been recognized by any other award in, or accepted in, the Canadian Honours System. (Canada Gazette Part II, page 1403, 24 March 1993)

(f) JUGOSLAVIJA (Authorized by PC 1993 - 449, 09 March 1993)

A minimum of 90 days of honourable service with the European Community Monitor Mission in Yugoslavia (ECMMY), from 04 September 1991 until the end of the mission, is the qualifying time required to be awarded the SSM and this bar. (Spelling on the bar is correct with the J near the end.) (Canada Gazette Part II, page 1404, 24 March 1993) This bar was cancelled, being replaced with the ECMMY medal.

Edited March 23, 2007 by Laurence Strong

[Michael Johnson]

It isn't. Here's how it should look.

The Special Service Medal was authorized in the early 1990s. The Clasp for him is probably NATO - the most common. Although awarded late, it is classed as a War Medal, and so takes precedence over the UN and Commission medals.

His peacekeeping service would also qualify him for the Peacekeeping Service Medal.

[Steiner]

It isn't. Here's how it should look.

The Special Service Medal was authorized in the early 1990s. The Clasp for him is probably NATO - the most common. Although awarded late, it is classed as a War Medal, and so takes precedence over the UN and Commission medals.

His peacekeeping service would also qualify him for the Peacekeeping Service Medal.

Thank you.

Note to self. Don't take pictures while upside down, looking through a miror while drinking beer.

Steiner

[Guest Rick Research]

Ah. All is now clear!