(SM) Sacrifice Medal Miniature

If you require your medals to be mounted before they are shipped to you, please select the option for miniature medal mounting on the 1st page of the miniature medal collection. The fee is per medal.

The Sacrifice Medal was created in the context of increased casualties in overseas operations to fulfill the desire of Canadians and the Government to provide formal recognition, through the award of an official medal emanating from the Crown, to those who die as a result of military service or are wounded by hostile action. This honour replaced the Wound Stripe.

Eligibility and Criteria

The Medal may be awarded to members of the Canadian Forces or members of an allied force working as an integral part of the Canadian Armed Forces—such as exchange personnel, civilian employees of the Government of Canada or Canadian citizens under contract with the Government of Canada—on the condition that they were deployed as part of a military mission under the authority of the Canadian Armed Forces, that have, on or after 7 October 2001, died or been wounded under honourable circumstances as a direct result of hostile action on the condition that the wounds that were sustained required treatment by a physician and the treatment has been documented.

The Medal may also be awarded posthumously to any member of the Canadian Armed Forces who served on or after 7 October 2001 in the Regular Force, Primary Reserve, Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service or Canadian Rangers, or any member of the Supplementary Reserve who served in or with one of the components aforementioned on or after 7 October 2001, and died under honourable circumstances as a result of an injury or disease related to military service.

When a death is obviously related to service, the Medal will be issued immediately. When the cause of death is not clear, the Medal will only be issued once Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has officially determined that the death was related to military service. In such a case, delays are to be expected before the Medal can be awarded.

Bars
Each subsequent award of the Medal shall be indicated by a bar, which shall be attached to the ribbon from which the Medal is suspended, and where two or more bars are attached, those bars shall be equally spaced on the ribbon.

Where the undress ribbon is worn, a silver maple leaf shall be worn centred on the ribbon of the Medal to indicate the award of a Bar, a gold maple leaf shall be worn to indicate the award of a second Bar, a red maple leaf shall be worn to indicate the award of a third Bar and a combination of these devices may be worn to indicate the award of more than three bars (e.g. a red maple leaf and a gold maple leaf representing 5 bars, etc.).

Image shows front and back face of medal.