Topic: Medals
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| 1939-1945 Star | Italy Star | France and Germany Star | Defence Medal | Canadian Volunteer Servce Medal | 1939-1945 War Medal |
| Awarded for six months service on active operations for the Army and Navy and two months for active air-crew service. | Awarded for one day operational service in Sicily or Italy between 11 Jun 1943 and 8 May 1945. | Awarded for one day or more of service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between 6 Jun 1944 (D-Day) and 8 May 1945. | Usually awarded to Canadians for six months service in Britain between 3 Sep 1939 and 8 May 1945. | Granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who have voluntarily served on Active Service. | Awarded to all full-time personnel of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines for serving for 28 days between 3 Sep 1939 and 2 Sep 1945. |
Why no Normandy Clasp?
There are always those soldiers who want their service to be distinctly recognized, or to ensure they receive as many identifiably separate awards for their service as they see others receiving. The following letter, published in the Second World War Canadian Army newspaper The Maple Leaf in 1945, shows that this is not a new consideration.
Ribbons
The Maple Leaf; 18 July 1945
Editor, The Maple Leaf:
A lot of discussions have been going on here over the awarding of Campaign Stars, and everyone seems agreed on one point. Why is there no recognition of service in the Normandy Campaign? First and Fifth Divisions, quite deservedly, receive the Italy Star for their wonderful work in that country, and they receive the France and Germany Star for their part of the fighting in NW Europe. We all agree that they should receive the France and Germany Star, but we also think that there should be some recognition for the Normandy action which was part of the NW European fighting. Why not a clasp on the campaign ribbon for all those who were in the Normandy beachhead battles. This would put us more on par with the other two Divisions, and would be greatly appreciated by all those who saw action in France.
Sgt T.G. Lynch
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