Genealogy and Family History

What to Search: Topics

Military - Medals

The Veterans Affairs Canada Web site provides descriptions and illustrations of Canadian Military Medals and Decorations [www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/cmdp/mainmenu].

Research at Library and Archives Canada

Medal Registers (RG 9 IIA5)

Library and Archives Canada holds the registers of medals awarded to individuals who saw active service in the:

• Fenian Raids (1866, 1870) and Red River Rebellion (1870): Canada General Service Medal Registers.
• North West Rebellion (1885): North West Canada Medal Register.

The index and digitized images of these medal registers are available online.

Medals, Honours and Awards database

The names of the recipients of the Queen's South African Medal are indexed in our Soldiers of the South African War database.

Other Medals

Library and Archives Canada holds other medal registers, citation cards and records of various military awards.

• War of 1812, Lower Canada, RG 9 IIA5, volume 1
• War of 1812. Upper Canada, RG 8, C series, volume 1202, microfilm C-3519
• War of 1812, Medals to Aboriginals, RG 10, volume 264, microfilm C-12650
• Egypt Medal, 1882-1889, MG 13, WO 100, volume 68, microfilm C-12585
• Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, 1902-1950, RG 9 IIA5, volume 16
• Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal,1913-1916, RG 9 IIA5, volumes 18 and 19
• Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration; Victoria Decoration, 1902-1945, RG 9 IIA5, volume 20, microfilm C-6770
• Citation Cards, 1900-1969, mostly Army; including First and Second World Wars, Accession 2004-01505-5

Those records have been indexed and can be searched online.

Medals, Honours and Awards database

Service files for those who served in the First and Second World Wars indicate which medals were awarded.

Research in Other Institutions

For information about medal entitlements and replacements, contact the appropriate office:

Second World War (1939-1945) and Korean Conflict (1951-1953):

Veterans Affairs Canada
Honours & Awards Section
Room 1711, 66 Slater Street
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0P4
CANADA
Telephone: 1-613-995-5003 or 1-877-995-5003 (toll free in Canada and the US)
Fax: 1-613-947-3844

Note that Veterans Affairs Canada no longer issues replacement medals for the First World War. You might be able to purchase replicas or miniatures from a militaria dealer.

Merchant Marine:

Veterans Affairs Canada
Merchant Navy Registry
P.O. Box 7700
Charlottetown, PEI  C1A 8M9
CANADA
Telephone: 1-888-289-8512
Fax: 1-902-368-0564

United Nations and Long Service Medals:

Directorate of History and Heritage 4-3
Building 347, Uplands Site
National Defence Headquarters
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0K2
CANADA
Telephone: 1-877-741-8332

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea, 125th Anniversary Medal, Jubilee Medals, Civilian Bravery Awards, Protocols for Wearing Foreign Awards:

Government House Chancellery of Orders & Decorations
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A1
CANADA
Telephone: 1-613-993-3538 or 1-800-465-6890 (toll free in Canada and the US)

British Forces:

Ministry of Defence Medal Office1
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency1
Building 25011
RAF Innsworth
Gloucester, UK1
GL3 1HW

Murmansk Run Medal:

Embassy of Russian Federation1
285 Charlotte Street1
Ottawa, ON  K1N 8L51
CANADA1
Telephone: 1-613-235-4341

All Canadian Veterans of the Persian Gulf War (2 August 1990 - 27 June 1991):

The Embassy of Kuwait has commenced the distribution of the Liberation of Kuwait medal. To determine if someone qualifies for the medal and to complete the application form, the client should visit www.embassyofkuwait.ca and fax or email the application and proof of service to:

Embassy of Kuwait1
333 Sussex Drive1
Ottawa, ON  K1N 1J91
CANADA1
Fax: 613-780-99991
Email: info@embassyofkuwait.ca.

Research Online

Air Force Honours and Awards
[http://airforce.ca/honours-awards/search-awards-database]

Awards to the Royal Canadian Navy
[www.rcnvr.com/]

Canadian Army Honours and Awards (1939-45)
[www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/gal/cao-aco/index-eng.asp]

Dutch Awards to Canadians for World War II
[http://onderscheidingen.nl/decorandi/wo2/cdn.html]

Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients
[www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/cmdp/mainmenu/group01/cdn_vc]

London Gazette
[www.london-gazette.co.uk/search]

WW1 Campaign Medals (British Forces)
[www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=10&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1]

Use AVITUS to find other Web sites about military medals, including Victoria Cross winners.