• Elizabeth II issue: uncrowned effigy of Elizabeth II circumscribed by the legend ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID: DEF:.
Suspender: A pair of extended wings joined in the centre by a bomb in the style of the First World War.
Ribbon: A white ribbon 32 mm wide displaying red stripes on a 45 degree angle, 2 mm apart. Until 1919 the stripes were horizontal.
Bars: A 33 mm wide silver bar with a flying eagle centred; the bar slips over the ribbon.
Naming: Impressed around the rim, number, rank, surname, and given initials, or hand-engraved around the rim number, rank, given initials, surname, and RCAF.
Postnominals: AFM.
Other: Two King George V types, one other King George VI type (without IND IMP), and another Elizabeth II type of this decoration also exist; however, none of these were bestowed upon Canadians. In 1993 the British replaced this decoration with the Air Force Cross.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 46.
• Second World War: 42.
• Postwar: 2.
• Korean War: 2.
The Edward Medal in Silver and the Edward Medal
Edward Medal in silver Edward VII obverse.
Origins: The Edward Medal was established by King Edward VII in 1908 to recognize “the many heroic acts performed by Miners and Quarrymen and others who endanger their own lives in saving or endeavouring to save the lives of others from the perils in Mines and Quarries.”[5] The medal was unusual in that it came in two classes, 1st and 2nd, and by 1909 the criteria had been expanded to include heroism displayed in the course of industrial employment. In effect, the medal had two divisions — one for mines and one for industry with two classes of recognition for each. By 1917 the designations of 1st and 2nd class were dropped, the 1st class becoming the Edward Medal in Silver and the 2nd class simply as the Edward Medal.
The last award of the Edward Medal in Silver to a Canadian was made in 1916, and it was discontinued in 1917. The Edward Medal was only awarded posthumously from 1949 until it was discontinued in 1971. The modern Canadian equivalent of the Edward Medal in Silver is the Star of Courage, while the Medal of Bravery is the modern equivalent of the Edward Medal.
Criteria: The criteria varied depending on the setting. For Mines and Quarries the medal was bestowed to recognize those saving or endeavouring to save lives in mines and quarries. For Industrial Employment the medal was bestowed to recognize those saving or endeavouring to save lives in an industrial setting. Unlike the Albert Medals, there was no requirement that the probability of death exceed the likelihood of survival.
Edward Medal in silver mines reverse.
Insignia: For the Edward Medal in Silver, two types of obverses were issued to Canadians who earned this medal; both were a circular silver medal 36 mm in diameter:
• Uncrowned effigy of Edward VII circumscribed by the legend EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F:D: IND:IMP:.
• Uncrowned effigy of George V circumscribed by the legend GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND:IMP:.
For the Edward Medal, only one type of obverse was issued to Canadians: a circular bronze medal 36 mm in diameter bearing the uncrowned effigy of King George V and circumscribed by the legend GEORGVS V D.G.BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND:IMP.
There were three reverse types awarded to Canadians, which was dependent on whether the medal was awarded for Mines and Quarries or for Industrial Employment:
• Mines and Quarries depicts a miner rescuing a comrade in a collapsed mine shaft with the text FOR COURAGE near the upper left.
• 1st type Industrial Employment depicts the upper torso of a bare-chested man with his left arm reaching up for help, and in his right arm a limp companion. On the left side an industrial town is depicted, and the upper right carries the text FOR COURAGE.
• 2nd type Industrial Employment displays a female figure holding a wreath in each of her outstretched hands, with an industrial town in the background and the text FOR COURAGE.
Edward Medal in bronze George V reverse.
Edward Medal in bronze, industry reverse.
Suspender: Claw-footed suspender with an oval ring 9 mm by 14 mm.
Ribbon: A dark blue ribbon 35 mm wide edged on each side by 5 mm of yellow. The same ribbon was used for both honours.
Bars: A bar could be awarded with this medal, though none were awarded to Canadians.
Naming: Hand-engraved capitals, given name, and surname in full.
Postnominals: EM.
Other: In 1971 the living recipients of the Edward Medal were invited to exchange their medals for the George Cross. There were no Canadian exchange awards. Only the versions of those medals earned by Canadians are listed herein.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 5.
• 1 Edward Medal in Silver (Mines and Quarries).
• 1 Edward Medal in Silver (Industry Employment).
• 3 Edward Medals (Industry Employment).
The King’s Police Medal
King’s Police Medal George V 1st type obverse.
Origins: As the police services throughout the British Empire became increasingly professionalized and important in the maintenance of peace and order, it became necessary to institute an award to recognize the brave acts and/or distinguished services rendered by keepers of the King’s peace. While those serving in the various constabularies were eligible for such decorations as the Albert Medal for gallantry, there were no official honours to recognize distinguished service. The Royal Irish Constabulary had established the Constabulary Medal in 1842, but it was limited to service in Ireland. In Canada some members of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP) and the Dominion Police were awarded the Imperial Service Medal, while a very few senior officers were appointed to the Imperial Service Order. However, the breadth of recognition available to the police was very limited.
In 1909 King Edward VII established the King’s Police Medal, which could be awarded for gallantry or for distinguished services. The name of the decoration was changed to the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal in 1940, though members of the fire services had been eligible for the medal from its inception.
Beginning in 1950, the medal for gallantry was only awarded posthumously, the George Medal being better suited for this sort of recognition. In 1954 this medal was restructured into two separate awards — the Queen’s Police Medal and the Queen’s Fire Services Medal — none of which were ever awarded on the advice of the Canadian government, though the offer was extended by the British government. The modern Canadian equivalent for KPMs awarded for gallantry is the Medal of Bravery, and for distinguished service the equivalent is an appointment to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces or an awarding of a Meritorious Service