Awards

The leftmost award is the 1939 - 45 Star. The medal was awarded for six months service on active operations for Army and Navy, and two months for Air Force active aircrew.

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Second from the left is the France and Germany Star. The star was awarded for one day or more of service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between 06 June 1944 (D-Day) and 08 May 1945.

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Third from the left is the Defence Medal.   Although the medal was usually awarded to Canadians for six months service in Britain between 03 September 1939 and 08 May 1945, the exact terms were: Service in the forces in non-operational areas subjected to air attack or closely threatened, providing such service lasted for three or more years. Service overseas or outside the country of residence, providing that such service lasted for one year, except in territories threatened by the enemy or subject to bomb attacks, in which case it was six months prior to 02 September 1945.

Under the terms of this last condition, Canadians serving for one year in Newfoundland were eligible and persons serving for six months in Hong Kong were also eligible. The qualifying period in mine and bomb disposal was three months. Canadians serving in West Africa, Palestine and India, other than operational air crew, qualified for this medal. Those awarded the George Cross (GC) or George Medal (GM) for civil defence received this medal. Home Guard and others in Britain qualified for this medal.

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Fourth from the left is the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.  

The CVSM is granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service and honourably completed eighteen months total voluntary service from 3 September 1939 to 1 March 1947.

On 6 June 2003, eligibility to the CVSM was extended to members and reserve constables of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who voluntarily served during the Second World War.

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.

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The medal furthest to the right is the War Medal.  The medal was awarded to all full-time personnel of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines for serving for 28 days between 03 September 1939 and 02 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea.