This star was awarded to Army personnel who had served at least six months between 1939  and 1945.  My grandfather joined up in 1942 I believe making his duration of service about four years.   Three hundred, five thousand Canadians received the Star.  Learn more.

This medal is my favorite.  The France and Germany Star was given to Canadian soldiers for service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between the Sixth of June and VE Day.  My grandfather landed at Normandy and fought in all of these countries until his capture in Germany six months before the end of the war.  I love the ribbon, which is red, white and blue, and symbolizes the Union flag and the flags of France and the Netherlands.  Learn more.

The Defence Medal was given to Canadians who had been stationed in Britain prior to the invasion.  Once my grandfather had joined up, he trained a little in Canada before he was shipped to England where he trained for a year and a half or so.  During that time he also experienced London during the Blitz.  About three hundred thousand Canadians were awarded the Defence Medal. Learn more.

If you had volunteered for service and completed eighteen months total service you would get this medal.  Anyone who has this medal must be pretty proud of it.  I'd be.  There's a big difference between those drafted and those who volunteered.  This picture also shows a silver Maple Leaf bar on the ribbon.  This was awarded after sixty days of service outside of Canada.  As you can see in my picture above, my grandfather received this bar.  There was another bar awarded to those who participated in the Dieppe raid.  Thankfully my grandfather had just arrived in England when that raid took place and so he wasn't called to participate.  Learn more.

This medal was awarded after a month of service in the armed forces between 1939 and 1945.  There are two bars that could be awarded with this medal:  an oak leaf to signify a Mention-in-Despatches, and a silver oak leaf signifying King's Commendation for Brave Conduct.  The reverse of this medal is absolutely gorgeous.  It shows a lion standing on top of a two headed dragon.  One head is that of an eagle's and signifies Germany, and the other is  that of a dragon and signifies Japan.  Of course, the lion signifies Britain.  Learn more.