| Added by |
 Alain Martineau
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| General Description : | 1. The Somalia medal recognises the participation of CF members that have taken part in the coalition mission in Somalia to help stabilise the country from civil war, and to help deliver humanitarian aid. A person enrolled in, attached to or working with the Canadian Forces may be awarded this medal if the person served a minimum of 90 cumulative days of honourable service in the theatre of operations during the period beginning on November 16, 1992 and ending on June 30,1993 provided that this service has not been recognized by another medal. 2. General Campaign Star – SOUTH-WEST ASIA (GCS-SWA) This general service award has been created as a means to recognize - in a timelier manner - those who serve in operations in the presence of an armed enemy. Rather than creating a new honour for each new Canadian Forces operation as it arises, the General Campaign Star and General Service Medal - with their theatre or service specific ribbons - can be awarded in future to honour participation in any operation that meets the criteria. 3. The Canadian Forces' Decoration is awarded to officers and Non-Commissioned Members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of service. The decoration is awarded to all ranks, who have a good record of conduct. The decoration is awarded to the regular forces, reserve forces, officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC), Canadian Rangers and holders of honorary appointments in the CF. Service in the regular and reserve or auxiliary forces of the British Commonwealth of Nations will be counted towards the medal if the final five years have been served with the Canadian Forces and no other long service, good conduct or efficiency medal has been awarded for the same service. The medal may be awarded to persons in possession of any long service, good conduct or efficiency decoration or medal clasps, provided that the individual has completed the full qualifying periods of service for each award and that no service qualifying towards one award is permitted to count towards any other. The service need not be continuous. This award supersedes all other long service awards for members joining the Canadian Forces after 01 September 1939. |
| Front Description : | 1. The medal is a circular gold-plated bronze medal, 36 mm diameter. In the centre of the obverse appear three maple leaves, in fess and overlapping, above which is inscribed the word "CANADA" and below which appear two sprigs of laurel leaves 2. The GCS is a gold-coloured four-pointed star, 44 mm across, representing the cardinal points of a compass bearing on the obverse, built-up in order from the back: a wreath of maple leaves terminating at the top with the Royal Crown, two crossed swords, the blades and hilts forming four additional points to the star, an anchor and a flying eagle. The wreath represents honour, the maple leaves represent Canada, the anchor, crossed swords and eagle represent the three services of the Canadian Forces and the Crown represents the Queen of Canada and her role as the fount of all honours. 3. It is a decagonal (ten-sided, representing the ten provinces) gold plated brass medal, 36mm across the flats, bearing: on the obverse a youthful effigy of Her Majesty the Queen wearing a wreath of laurel leaves in her hair and facing right, circumscribed with the legend "ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA - CANADA" |
| Back Description : | 1. On the reverse appears the Royal Cypher surrounded by the inscription "SOMALIA SOMALIE 1992-93". The ribbon is 32 mm in width and United Nations blue in colour, with a central white stripe 22 mm in width on which are superimposed and centred five stripes, one each of, from left to right, sand, navy blue, scarlet, air force blue and sand, each stripe being 2.5 mm in width. The blue is the official colour of the United Nations, white is the colour of peace, the sand colour represents the theatre of operations while the dark blue, scarlet and light blue represent the navy, army and air force. 2. On the reverse appear within a raised circle, from top to bottom: the Royal Cypher ensigned by the Royal Crown, a plain space for engraving, and three maple leaves on one stem. The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a central stripe of green (12 mm), on either side of which are stripes of white (2 mm) and red (8 mm). Red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921 and green represents service. 3. on the reverse appears, from top to bottom a naval crown, three maple leaves and an eagle representing the Navy, Army and Air Force. The word "SERVICE" appears on a scroll at the bottom and two fleur-de-lis are depicted on each side of the crown. The suspension consists of a small bar between two scroll arms emerging from a natural maple leaf at the top of the medal. The ribbon is 38mm wide, red with three equally spaced thin white lines, red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921. The clasp (bar) for the Decoration is 6 mm high, has the shield of the Canadian coat of arms in the center surmounted by the Crown, and is gold in colour. |
| Material | -I do not know- |
| Catalog prices | No catalog prices set yet |
