Canada General Service Medal
The Canada General Service Medal is a campaign medal that was awarded by the Canadian Government to both Imperial and Canadian forces for duties related to the Fenian raids between 1866 and 1871. The medal was initially issued in 1899 and had to be applied for. The application period was later extended to 1907, then to 1928.
Canada General Service Medal

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- Name
- Canada General Service Medal
- Field
- military awards and decorations of Canada
- Period
- 1899
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Documentary summary
The Canada General Service Medal is a campaign medal that was awarded by the Canadian Government to both Imperial and Canadian forces for duties related to the Fenian raids between 1866 and 1871. The medal was initially issued in 1899 and had to be applied for. The application period was later extended to 1907, then to 1928.
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In this article
Overview
Overview
The medal, 1.4 in in diameter, is silver and has a plain straight swivel suspender. The obverse bears the head of Queen Victoria with the legend "Victoria Regina et Imperatrix" (Latin for 'Victoria Queen and Empress'), while the reverse depicts the ensign of Canada surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves with the word "Canada" above. The recipient's name, rank and unit appear on the rim of the medal. A number of different impressed and engraved styles were used, reflecting that the medal was awarded over a long period of time. The 1 + 1/4 in ribbon consists of three equal stripes of red, white and red. In 1943 the same ribbon was adopted for the Canada Medal.

Canada General Service Medal, 1866-1870. Reverse
Hsq7278
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Canada General Service Medal • Presenter — * Canada • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland • Type — Campaign medal • Eligibility — Imperial and Canadian Forces • Awarded For — Campaign service. • Description — Silver disk 36 mm wide • Clasps — * Fenian Raid 1866 • Fenian Raid 1870 • Red River 1870 • Established — 1 January 1899 • Total Awarded — 17,623 • Image2 — Ribbon: 32mm: Three equal stripes of red-white-red
Clasps
Clasps
The medal was always awarded with a clasp, with 12 medals awarded with all three clasps. The number of clasps indicated below includes those that appear on multi-clasp medals. • Fenian Raid 1866 • For services related to the Fenian raids of 1866. 13,000 clasps were awarded. • Fenian Raid 1870 • For services related to the Fenian raids of 1870. 5,925 clasps were awarded. • Red River 1870 • For services related to the suppression of the Red River Rebellion. 502 clasps were awarded.
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
The full dated record · 2 entries
1899
Canada General Service Medal first recorded.
1899
Canada General Service Medal is recorded from 1899.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Canada: General Order (7) 1 January 1899.
- 2.Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America. Volume 48, number 7. Aug-Sept 1997, pp 28-30.
- 3.Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. British Battles and Medals. 146-149. Published Spink, London. 1988 ISBN.
- 4.William Spencer. Medals - The Researcher's Guide. 53. Published by The National Archives, Richmond, Surrey, England. 2006 ISBN.
- 5.Veteran Affairs Canada. War Medals (1866-1918) - Canadian General Service Medal (1866-1870).
- 6.Captain H. Taprell Dorling, Ribbons and Medals, p 65. Published A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956.
References
Citations
References
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1,069 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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