Christopher McCreery - Commemorative Medals of The Queens Reign in Canada, 1952–2012

T his book marks the 10th such work I have penned about honours and symbols. The collection of colleagues and friends who have assisted and supported my writing about Canadian honours over the past seven years has expanded somewhat with each new publication with the inevitable friendly offers of help and ideas. It should come as no surprise to students of the Canadian honours system that the genesis for this short work came from Major Carl Gauthier, MMM, CD, AdeC. In the weeks leading up to the launch of the diamond jubilee, Gauthier suggested that a short work, modelled on Howard N. Coles Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals, 18871977 , be written about the commemorative medals that have been bestowed upon Canadians throughout The Queens distinguished reign.

Thanks are owed to the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General for providing a number of the images that have been included in this work. Deputy Chief Herald of Canada Bruce Patterson was of great assistance in reviewing the manuscript as was Assiniboine Herald Darrell Kennedy. The author is grateful to the Department of National Defence for its ongoing assistance and support. Graham Glockling, LVO, who was intimately involved in Queen Elizabeth IIs Silver Jubilee Medal program, was very helpful with his recollections. Tanya Ursual of Eugene Ursual Military Antiquarian Inc. provided a number of photos in a prompt manner. Rennie Alcock of British Medals was generous in providing photos related to Victorian jubilee medals. Ed Haynes was helpful with photographs and details related to commemorative medals of India and Pakistan. Lindsay Bulldog Drummond was extremely helpful in locating various Cabinet documents and reports in a timely fashion.

A small cadre of other friends supported this project throughout its short period of development, notably Joyce Bryant, CM, BEM; John G. Geiger, FRCGS; Anna Laperle; Alana Blouin; Lieutenant-Commander Scott Nelson, MVO, RCN; Glen Hodgins; and Ray Novak, LVO.

Lastly, I remain grateful to Kirk Howard and Dundurn Press for continuing to support my work on the history and development of Canadian honours and symbols.

Christopher McCreery, MVO

Government House

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Appendix

Commemorative Medal Details

Formal and Colloquial Designation: Commemorative Medal for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIs Coronation

Coronation Medal, 1953

19,000 (CDN)

129,500 (Commonwealth)

Formal and Colloquial Designation: The Canadian Centennial Medal 1967

Centennial Medal, 1967

Instrument: Instrument from Prime Minister, 30 May 1966

Approved by Her Majesty The Queen, 27 June 1966

Numbers: 29,500*

Formal and Colloquial Designation: Commemorative Medal for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIs Silver Jubilee

Silver Jubilee Medal, 1977

Instrument: Canada utilized the British issue of the medal as the basis for establishing the Canadian issue of this medal. Approved by the Government of Canada, 18 May 1977

Numbers: 30,000 (CDN)

6,870 (AU)

1,507(NZ)

30,000 (UK)

Formal and Colloquial Designation: Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada

Canada 125 Medal

Instrument: Order-in-Council P.C. 1992-962, 7 May 1992

Letters Patent, 27 May 1992

Numbers: 42,000*

Formal and Colloquial Designation: Commemorative Medal for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIs Golden Jubilee

Golden Jubilee Medal, 2002

Instrument: Order-in-Council P.C. 2002-195, 15 February 2002

Letters Patent, 23 February 2002

Numbers: 46,470 (CDN)

355,000 (UK)

Formal and Colloquial Designation: Queen Elizabeth IIs Diamond Jubilee Medal

Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012

Instrument: Order-in-Council P.C. 2011-1558, 8 December 2011

Letters Patent, 13 January 2012

Numbers: 60,000 (CDN)

400,000 (UK)

Formal and Colloquial Designation: Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, 2005

Instrument: Act of Provincial Legislature, Royal Assent granted by the Lieutenant Governor, 27 May 2003

Numbers: 4,200*

Formal and Colloquial Designation: Alberta Centennial Medal

Alberta Centennial Medal, 2005

Instrument: Act of Provincial Legislature, Royal Assent granted by the Lieutenant Governor, 24 March 2005

Numbers: 8,000*

* Only applicable to Canada

Includes awards to Canadians

About the Author

Christopher McCreery has served as an adviser to Canadian and Commonwealth governments on questions related to honours policy. His books The Canadian Honours System and The Order of Canada are the principal works on the history of honours in Canada. McCreery is private secretary to the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia and is a member of the federal Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Committee. He lives in Halifax.

Bibliography

PRIMARY SOURCES

Department of National Defence, Directorate of History and Heritage

Office of the Secretary to the Governor General

Library and Archives Canada, Record Group 2

SECONDARY SOURCES

Alexander, E.G.M. South African Orders, Decorations and Medals . Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 1986.

Blatherwick, John F. Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals . Toronto: Unitrade Press, 2003.

Cole, Howard N. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals, 18871977 . London: J.B. Hayward & Son, 1977.

Dirks, Nicholas. The Hollow Crown: Ethnohistory of an Indian Kingdom . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987.

Dorling, H. Taprell. Ribbons and Medals . London: George Phillip & Son, 1963.

Fearon, Daniel. Spinks Catalogue of British Commemorative Medals, 1588 to the Present Day . London: Spink and Son, 1984.

Galloway, Peter. The Order of the British Empire . London: Austin and Son, 1996.

Galloway, Peter, David Stanley, and Stanley Martin. Royal Service Volume I . London: Victorian Publishing, 1996.

Haxby, James A. Striking Impressions: The Royal Canadian Mint and Canadian Coinage . Ottawa, 1986.

Irwin, Ross. War Medals and Decorations of Canada . Guelph, ON: Privately Printed, 1971.

Joslin, Edward Charles. The Standard Catalogue of British Orders, Decorations and Medals . London: Spink & Son, 1976.

Maton, Michael. The National Honours and Awards of Australia . Kenthurst, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press, 1995.