North West Canada Medal

The Northwest Canada Medal is a British campaign medal issued to the soldiers, volunteers, and North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) personnel who participated in putting down the North-West Rebellion in 1885.[3]

North West Canada Medal
Obverse and reverse of the medal
Awarded by
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Country Dominion of Canada
TypeCampaign medal
EligibilityCanadian local forces, attached British Army officers and members of the North-West Mounted Police
Campaign(s)North-West Rebellion
ClaspsSaskatchewan[1]
Statistics
Established18 September 1885
Total awarded5,650[2]

Ribbon bar of the medal

Eligibility

The medal was established by the Canadian Government in September 1885 after consultation between the Governor General of Canada and the British Secretary of State for the Colonies.[4]

It was awarded to those who took part in the suppression of the North-West Rebellion of 1885 and who served west of Port Arthur, Ontario. Recipients included a number of volunteers, including the crew of the steamer "Northcote" for service at the Battle of Batoche, and members of the Prince Albert Volunteers for service at the Battle of Duck Lake. Initially, members of the NWMP were not eligible. However, a Canadian Order in Council of 13 December 1886 recommended that the NWMP receive the medal, this being accepted by the British Government on 16 February 1887.[2] A total of 920 medals were then awarded to the NWMP.[2]

No British Army units took part, although seventeen British Army officers were attached to Canadian units.[4]

All those who received the medal, except for members of the NWMP, also received a grant of 320 acres of land, or scrip of $80 in lieu.[5] During the 1930s, surviving NWMP recipients were each granted $300.[2]

Appearance

The medal is a circular, silver and 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter.
The obverse, designed by L. C. Wyon, bears an effigy of Queen Victoria, facing left and wearing a diadem and veil. Around the edge is the inscription "VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX".
The reverse, designed by Thomas Brock, has the inscription "NORTH WEST 1885 CANADA" in three lines surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves.[4]

The medal is suspended from a ribbon in slate grey 32 millimetres (1.3 in) wide, with crimson 6 millimetres (0.24 in) stripes, 3 millimetres (0.12 in) from each edge.[2]

The clasp "SASKATCHEWAN" was awarded to those present at any of the three main encounters during the rebellion; along the Saskatchewan and Fish rivers and the Battle of Batoche. Approximately 1,760 medals were awarded with the clasp.[4] A number of veterans of the Battle of Batoche added an unofficial "BATOCHE" clasp to their medal.[5]

Medals were issued unnamed, although many recipients had their name and unit engraved on the rim.[4]

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References
  1. Robertson, Megan C. (12 April 2008). "United Kingdom: North West Canada Medal 1885". Medals of the World. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
  2. "North West Canada Medal". War Medals (1866-1918). Veterans Affairs Canada. 2017-07-10. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  3. Duckers, Peter (2004). British Campaign Medals 1815-1914. Buckinghamshire: Shire Publications Ltd. p. 25. ISBN 0-7478-0465-6.
  4. Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin (1988). British Battles and Medals. London: Spink. pp. 165–6. ISBN 0907605257.
  5. Joslin, Edward C (1973). Observer Book of British Awards and Medals. London: Frederick Warne & Co. pp. 117–8. ISBN 0723215383.
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