received certificates from Britain’s secretary of state for war, along with small oak leaf branches for wear on their Victory Medals (created in 1920). This practice continued during the Second World War and again during the Korean War, after which the practice went into abeyance after the establishment of the Canadian honours system.
First World War Mention in Dispatches certificate.
Criteria: For valiant conduct, devotion to duty, or other distinguished service in warlike situations in an active theatre of operations.
Insignia: First introduced in 1920, with permission to wear insignia backdated to those recognized beginning in 1914. There have been two types of full-sized MID insignia:
• 1st type (1914–20), a multi-lobed oak leaf, bronze in colour, 36 mm in length.
• 2nd type (1920 to present), a single oak leaf, bronze in colour, 20 mm in length.
Wear: The insignia is worn on the designated ribbon (Allied Victory Medal, 1939–45 War Medal, Queen’s Korean War Medal). If there is no designated ribbon, the insignia is worn at the end of the undress ribbons sewn to the uniform.
Other: Beginning in 1919, recipients were presented with a certificate bearing the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom at the top along with their rank, name, service, and serial number (where applicable).
Second World War Mention in Dispatches certificate.
Number Awarded: 5,467 (First World War), 9,666 (Second World War), 260 (Korean War).
King’s/Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct
King’s/Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct badge.
Origins: Created primarily to serve as a civilian equivalent to a Mention in Dispatches, the first awards of this commendation were made in December 1939. During the First World War, various civilians were commended officially by the British government. However, there was no consistency to the award, nor was there an insignia of any type.
Criteria: Awarded for brave conduct worthy of recognition but not meeting the requirement for bestowal of a gallantry decoration such as the George Medal.
Insignia: For those serving in a uniformed service, a Mention in Dispatches oak leaf was awarded. Civilians received an oval-shaped, gold-coloured badge 22 mm wide and 40 mm tall (initially made of plastic!) displaying two laurel braches terminating with the Royal Crown at the top, in the centre a broad sword and a plaque bearing the text FOR BRAVE CONDUCT. After the Second World War, this badge was replaced with a silver spray of laurel leaves worn on the ribbon of the Defence Medal or on the lapel in the absence of an associated medal.
Postnominals: None.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 28 King’s and 96 Queen’s Commendations.
King’s/Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct ribbon insignia.
King’s/Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air
King’s/Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
Origins: The King’s/Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air was created in 1943.
Criteria: Awarded for brave conduct worthy of recognition but not meeting the requirement for bestowal of a gallantry decoration such as the Air Force Cross or Air Force Medal.
Insignia: A bronze Mention in Dispatches oak leaf was worn on the relevant war service medal ribbon or on the lapel in the absence of an associated medal. Civilians awarded this commendation received a silver-coloured badge composed of a pair of stretched wings with the text FOR VALUABLE SERVICE atop an Imperial Crown.
Postnominals: None.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 319.
6
IMPERIAL CAMPAIGN MEDALS
Although medals commemorating service in battle are known to date back to the time of Elizabeth I and the defeat of the Spanish Armada, tthese awards were not intended for wear. The first broadly distributed war medal intended for wear by both officers and men was the Waterloo Medal issued in 1815, which set the pattern for the various service medals awarded throughout the Commonwealth to this day. The British Naval General Service Medal and Military General Service Medal, both established in 1847, served as models for the multi-engagement war and operational service medals that came after. A few earlier issues, such as the Sutlej Medal, are of a similar design, but the former two medals were the most widely awarded.
The Naval and Military General Service Medals, though not awarded solely for service in North America, were the first modern-style medals awarded to Canadians or to others for service in what would become Canada. The first British medal awarded for service solely in Canada was the North West Canada Medal, instituted in 1885 for those who had served in quelling the North-West Rebellion. The obverse of the medal displayed a youthful Queen Victoria, while the reverse featured a wreath of maple leaves and the inscription NORTH WEST CANADA 1885. It was an austere design, but it set a precedent in Canada as the first true Canadian military service medal. It was largely a Canadian expedition, one in which few British officials were involved.[1]
The striking of the medal was initiated by Lord Lansdowne, Canada’s governor general. On May 19, 1885, Lansdowne suggested to the British government that a medal recognizing service in the rebellion should be struck, since it “would have an excellent effect upon the spirit of the Canadian forces.”
Just over a month later, on June 22, 1885, the British government agreed that such a medal could be struck on the condition that the cost was borne by the Canadian government.[2] Lansdowne was elated with this news, though much less satisfied that the Canadian government was to be saddled with the bill. He viewed the cost as incidental, given the “results which would follow from the free gift of the medal.” It was ultimately agreed that the imperial government would pay for the honour.
The governor general even took an interest in the design: “The obverse will, I assume, represent the Queen’s head, and the reverse might be engraved with a design distinctive of the Dominion.”[3] Lansdowne later suggested that the reverse of the medal “should be ornamented with a wreath of Maple leaves, in the centre of which the words ‘The North West 1885’ might be impressed.”[4] While the governor general developed the concept, it was Allan Wyon of the Royal Mint who completed the formal design.
The Canadian government, never having been involved with creating a military medal, briefly considered having the medal struck in bronze, though Lansdowne insisted that silver be used. They were unaware that bronze medals were usually reserved for non-European troops serving in India.
An
