Medals Database > By Country > Great Britain

The Canadian Memorial Cross

Time Period: World War I
Institution: 1 December 1919
Country: Great Britain, Canada

The Canadian Memorial Cross was first instituted by Order-in-Council 2374, dated December 1, 1919, and awarded to mothers and widows of Canadian soldiers who died on active duty or whose death was consequently attributed to such duty.

This gift of Canada was issued as a memento of personal loss and sacrifice on the part of widows and mothers of Canadian sailors, soldiers and airmen who died for their country during the war.

The crosses could be worn by the recipients anytime and were engraved with the name, rank and service number of the son or husband.

The Canadian Memorial Cross Design

The medal is in the form of a cross pattee, struck in silver and measures 32 millimeters in diameter.

The obverse shows, at the end of the upright, a crown. At the foot and the end of either arm is a maple leaf and in the center, within a wreath of laurel, is the royal cipher of the reigning monarch: GRI for King George the Fifth, GVIR for King George the Sixth, or EIIR for Elizabeth the Second. The reverse of the Cross is engraved with the name and service number of the individual commemorated.

The medal is suspended by a bar brooch, although prior to 1945 it was suspended from a light purple ribbon 11 mm wide.

More Medals from Great Britain

Explore the rich history of British military honors through a captivating display of medals from different periods. Use the images below to learn more about the diverse array of decorations that have adorned the uniforms of British servicemen and women throughout history or use the button at the end to visit the entire UK medals database.