Number of Awards to Canadians: 21 (2 sea and 19 flying). All Second World War Awards.
The Royal Red Cross
Royal Red Cross George V obverse.
Origins: Created by Queen Victoria in April 1883 to reward nurses serving in military theatres or settings, the decoration was expanded to include a junior award, known as the Associate Royal Red Cross, in 1915. In 1917 provisions were made for the bestowal of a bar to the Royal Red Cross (holders of the Associate Royal Red Cross are promoted to the RRC in place of receiving a bar). The 1st class is formally known as a Member of the Royal Red Cross, while the 2nd class is formally known as an Associate of the Royal Red Cross.
Associate Royal Red Cross George V obverse.
Throughout the late Victorian period there was a gradual professionalization of the military medical services, which had largely been attached to naval and military organizations in an ad hoc manner up to this point. The pre-eminent role of women in providing nursing services — one of the most notable being Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War — required that an appropriate reward be developed to recognize the special services and skills rendered by women in medical care provision roles. Men were, of course, eligible for a host of gallantry decorations and appointment to various orders in recognition of their service; however, women were largely omitted from the honours system, a trend that began to change with the establishment of the Royal Red Cross, and later the Order of the British Empire, which was from the outset bestowed upon both sexes.
Associate Royal Red Cross reverse.
Criteria: Awarded to those who have shown exceptional devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties over a continuous and long period of time, or who have performed some very exceptional acts of bravery and devotion at their posts of duty. The Royal Red Cross (Member) was awarded to fully trained nurses of an officially recognized nursing service, with the overall membership limited to a maximum of 2 percent of the total nurses serving, while the Associate of the Royal Red Cross (Associate) in addition to being open to fully trained nurses was also open to assistant nurses, nurse probationers, Voluntary Aid Detachment personnel, and those serving in a recognized nursing service. The overall membership of the ARRC was limited to a maximum of 5 percent of the total nurses serving. Until 1976 both awards were limited to women only. Appointments to the Order of Military Merit or the Meritorious Service Decorations are the equivalent modern awards.
Insignia: Member of the Royal Red Cross: a gold cross pattée 35 mm in width, the obverse enamelled in translucent red bearing in the centre the effigy of the reigning Sovereign. The reverse carries on each arm one of the words FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY, with the date 1883 on the lowermost arm. The reverse is plain other than the Royal Cypher of the reigning Sovereign, which is displayed in the centre.
Associate of the Royal Red Cross: a frosted silver cross pattée 35 mm in width, the obverse enamelled in translucent red bearing in the centre the effigy of the reigning Sovereign. The reverse carries on each arm one of the words FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY, with the date 1883 on the lowermost arm. The centre of the reverse carries the Royal Cypher of the reigning Sovereign.
There have been three obverse types awarded to Canadians (both RRC and ARRC):
• Victoria veiled effigy.
• George V uncrowned effigy.
• George VI uncrowned effigy.
There have been four reverse types awarded to Canadians (both RRC and ARRC):
• Victoria: VRI.
• George V: GRI.
• George VI 1st type: GRI.
• George VI 2nd type: GVIR.
Suspender: A ring is attached to an eyelet mounted on top of the insignia. Through this ring passes a sewn piece of ribbon that is affixed to the bow.
Ribbon: A garter blue ribbon 26 mm side edged on each wide with 6 mm of red.
Bars: A gold bar with red enamel.
Naming: None. Insignia awarded after 1939 are engraved with the year of the award on the reverse.
Postnominals: RRC or ARRC.
Other: All insignia awarded to Canadians were manufactured by Garrard & Co.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 124 RRC and 4 1st bars, 410 ARRC.
• Royal Red Cross
ɣ South Africa: 1.
ɣ First World War: 66, 4 1st bars.
ɣ Second World War: 56.
ɣ Korean War: 1.
• Associate Royal Red Cross
ɣ First World War: 275, 17 elevations.
ɣ Second World War: 134, 3 elevations.
ɣ Korean War: 1, 1 elevation to RRC.
The Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross George VI 1st type obverse.
Distinguished Service Cross reverse.
Origins: Originally styled “The Conspicuous Service Cross,” this decoration was created in 1901 to recognize subordinate officers and warrant officers serving in the naval forces for distinguished services in the face of the enemy. The criteria were changed in 1914 to make all officers holding the rank of lieutenant-commander and below eligible for the decoration. A bar was instituted in 1916. Until 1918 the DSC was also used to recognize those serving in the Royal Naval Air Service. The modern Canadian equivalent is the Medal of Military Valour.
Criteria: To recognize those who render meritorious or distinguished services in the face of the enemy.
Insignia: A matte silver cross pattée 40 mm in width bearing the Royal Cypher in the centre circumscribed by a raised circle. There have been three obverse types awarded to Canadians:
• George V issue: GRI in script.
• George VI 1st type: GRI in block letters.
• George VI 2nd type: GVIR in script.
• Elizabeth II issue: EIIR in block letters.
The reverse is plain, occasionally found with British sterling hallmarks impressed on the lower arm.
Suspender: An eyelet is mounted on top of the cross through which passes a heavy gauge ring 19 mm in diameter through which the ribbon passes.
Ribbon: A navy blue ribbon 35 mm wide with a central white stripe 11 mm wide.
Bars: A plain matte silver bar with ends flared in the same fashion as the DSC insignia, with a Tudor Crown in the centre.
Naming: None, though privately engraved examples do exist. Insignia and bars presented after 1940 are dated with the year of the award on the lower part of the reverse.
Postnominals: DSC.
Other: