06/10/2026
🇨🇦 A WW2 medal that wasn't actually instituted until 1981.
During the WW2 Newfoundland was a still a separate British colony, it didn't join Canada until 1949. This meant that Newfoundlanders who volunteered for service during the war fell outside the eligibility for Canada's Volunteer Service Medal.
The Newfoundland Volunteer Service Medal was created in 1981, to recognise those who had volunteered and served in the war but didn't receive a volunteer service medal from another country. Eligible service included the British Imperial Forces, Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit, Merchant Navy and Newfoundland Regiment.
Only around 7,500 medals were awarded, including those issued to next of kin, making this a scarce medal.
The obverse features the George VI cypher with a crown surmounted by a caribou (the national emblem for Newfoundland).
The medal was struck in bronze by the Royal Mint and, unusually, each medal is individually numbered on the rim.
🇨🇦 A fascinating piece of Newfoundland's wartime history, and a great medal for collectors of Commonwealth and WW2 awards.
We have one on the website at the moment (link in comments). If you want more information or extra photos, just get in touch.
