Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

• Name — Canadian Volunteer Service Medal • Presenter — Canada • Eligibility — 18 Months of voluntary service • Campaign — World War II • Clasps — Maple leaf for Overseas Service Hong Kong Dieppe Bomber Command • Established — October 22, 1943 • Total Awarded — 650,000 medals 525,000 bars. • Higher — Defence Medal • Same — Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal • Lower — War Medal • Image2 — Ribbon barRibbon bar with silver maple leaf, denoting Overseas Service bar

Members of the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada are eligible for this medal if they voluntarily served on Active Service and honourably completed eighteen months (540 days) total service from September 3, 1939, to March 1, 1947. On March 14, 2001, the Governor General extended the eligibility to individuals who served, but not as members of the military forces. Those granted eligibility were Canadian World War II merchant mariners; Auxiliary Services personnel, engaged and paid by the Canadian Legion, Knights of Columbus, Salvation Army and the YMCA; The Corps of Canadian (Civilian) Fire Fighters who served in the United Kingdom and helped fight the fires during the Blitz; Overseas Welfare Workers and the Voluntary Aid Detachments; Ferry Command pilots and aircrew under contract to deliver aircraft from North America; and British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Instructors. On June 6, 2003, eligibility was extended to members and reserve constables of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who voluntarily served during the Second World War. The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal was awarded in addition to the standard British Commonwealth campaign awards for World War II, being worn after the Defence Medal and before the War Medal.

A silver bar with a maple leaf at its centre is awarded for 60 days service outside Canada; Newfoundland counted as outside Canada. A silver maple leaf is worn on the ribbon in undress. This bar was instituted in October 1943, at the same time as the medal.

The Dieppe Bar, instituted in April 1994, is awarded to those who participated in the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942. The bar bears the word Dieppe in relief on a pebbled background, below the Combined Operations emblem – an anchor surmounted by an eagle and a Thompson sub-machine gun.

The Hong Kong Bar, instituted in April 1994, is awarded to those involved in the Battle of Hong Kong during the period of December 8–25, 1941. Two Canadian battalions, totalling 1,982 men, were present in Hong Kong and took part in the battle.

The Bomber Command Bar, awarded for minimum one day service with Bomber Command during World War II, was announced by Minister of Veterans Affairs Steven Blaney and National Defence Minister Peter MacKay on June 25, 2012. On April 15, 2013, the design of the bar was unveiled. It is silver and depicts a four-engined Second World War–era bomber in the centre, superimposed on a pebbled background. The first bars were presented on August 26, 2013, by Minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino in a ceremony at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. Bomber Command Veterans, their families, and families of deceased veterans entitled to the bar were in attendance.