WW2 Canadian The Defence Medal 1939-1945 Full Size

The Defence Medal 1939-1945 was instituted by the United Kingdom in 1945 and awarded to military and certain civilian personnel who served in non-operational areas during the Second World War. This full size Canadian version recognizes those who contributed to the defense of Canada, including members of the armed forces, civil defense organizations, and other qualifying services. The medal is struck in cupro-nickel and features the effigy of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse bears the image of two lions flanking an oak sapling, symbolizing strength and renewal, with the dates 1939 and 1945. The medal is suspended from a distinctive ribbon of green with a broad central orange stripe and narrow black edges, representing the green fields of the United Kingdom, the orange of firebombing during air raids, and the black-out. This item offers a representative example of Canadian military recognition from the Second World War era.