C Force Medals - Images and Descriptions

Standard Medal List

All ‘C’ Force soldiers should have these medals. Family and friends of ‘C’ Force soldiers should check to see what medals were received. If there is any question about eligibility, then they should contact Veterans Affairs Canada.

Image Description
1939-45 Star

The 1939-1945 Star

The Star was awarded for six months service on active operations for Army and Navy, and two months for active air-crew between 02 September 1939 and 08 May 1945 (Europe) or 02 September 1945 (Pacific).

Pacific Star

The Pacific Star

The Star was awarded for one day or more of operational service in the Pacific between 08 December 1941 and 02 September 1945

 
Defense Medal

The Defence Medal

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 conditions for the awarding of this medal as it applies to ‘C’ Force soldiers are:  between 03 September 1939 and 08 May 1945, the exact terms were: 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 six months in Hong Kong were also eligible.

The condition that applied to service in Hong Kong was put in place after 1985. Those soldiers who served in Newfoundland (The Royal Rifles of Canada) and the British West Indies (The Winnipeg Grenadiers) from the day they arrived to the day they returned to Canada would have been eligible to receive the medal under the original terms.

Those who arrived while the regiment was overseas would not have been eligible.

All members of ‘C’ Force Brigade Headquarters would probably not have been eligible for the medal.

Canadian 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.

Hong Kong Bar

The Hong Kong Bar is awarded to those involved in the Battle of Hong Kong during the period December 8 - 25, 1941. It was awarded to all members of ‘C’ Force. Some veterans who died prior to the date of awarding the bar may not have received the bar.

War Medal 1939-45

The War Medal 1939-1945

The War 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.