Topic: Medals
Will Soon Issue Medals to 1,000,000 Veterans
Ottawa Citizen, 10 September 1949
By the Canadian Press
At long last the stars and medals for service in the Second World War are ready for distribution.
The Veterans Affairs Department announced yesterday that it will begin Oct. 1 mailing the campaign medals and stars to more than 1,000,000 men and women who served in the Canadian armed forces and merchant navy.
Distribition will involve a total of 3,100,000 stars and medals with an additional 524,000 clasps signifying at least 60 days service outside of Canada.
In most cases the veterans will have to write into the department for their medals.
"The reason for this is we do not have up-to-date addresses for thousands of veterans," Veterans Affairs Minister [Milton Fowler] Gregg said.
"There are many thousands who have gone quietly back into civilian life and have not been in contact with the department since their discharge. As a result we must have these applications to have accurate addresses."
Easy to Apply
To make it easy for application, special postage-free cards will be placed in all Canadian post offices. These cards will also be available in all branches of the Canadian Legion.
Merchant seamen and former members of the merchant navy are advised to apply to the Department of Transport at Ottawa, submitting with their application their certificate of discharge. From this, the department will decide what awards they are entitled to, and forward the medals they have earned.
As for members of the permanent force, they'll receive their decorations through the Department of National Defence. Application will not be necessary in their case. Nor will it be necessary for certain reserve units, for which arrangements have already been made.
To Next-Of-Kin
Mr. Gregg said the next-of-kin of deceased veterans will be eligible to receive the stars and medals which would have been awarded to the veteran.
"There will be no necessity for applications from the next-of-kin of veterans who died on active service or as a result of a service connected disability," he said.
"The department has accurate addresses for these people. However, the official next-of-kin of those who have died since discharge of a non-service disability should make application in the same way as the veteran."
All told the department will distribute 11 different stars and medals.
The largest number will be of the War Medal 1939-45 which goes to all members of the forces with 28 days service. A total of 1,060,000 of these have been ordered.
Next is the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, of which 900,000 will be distributed. These go to all who volunteered for active service. To 524,000 of the recipients will go clasps signifying at least 60 days service outside Canada.
Following are other medals and stars to be distributed:
- Defence Medal, 460,000;
- 1939-45 Star, 288,000;
- France and Germany Star, 250,000;
- Italy Star, 102,000;
- Atlantic Star, 40,000;
- Africa Star, 12,000;
- Pacific Star, 10,825; and
- Burma Star, 5,200.
In addition, 25,870 clasps to stars will be awarded.
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