Medal Quiz

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee saw nearly 60,000 Canadians recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of various services. Never have so many commemorative medals been bestowed, and this has naturally resulted in all sorts of breeches of protocol.

Rather than simply post photos of the offenders along with explanations of what they are doing wrong it is time for you to do the actual work. Some of these are quite easy. Test your knowledge of wearing your medals correctly against the following photographs. Feel free to use the new Wearing Guide and CF Dress Manual (A-DH-265) to spot the offenders, some of whom are committing multiple errors. Not every person represented here is an offender!

Honorary Captain (N) Sona Bata  Question 1              a) nothing        b)    should be wearing a breast star        c)     wearing full size medals in mess dress        d)    should be wearing a white pique vest with RCN mess dress
The Hon. John Crosbie, former Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador Question 2        a)     too many neck badges        b)    breast star is too high        c)     medal bar not regulation length        d)    nothing
The Hon. David Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario at the Opening of Queen's Park for a Throne Speech Question 3        a)     nothing                b)    wearing Knight of St. John neck insignia on a medal bar             c)     medals mounted too high        d)    too many lapel pins
The Hon. David Onley as Hon. Colonel of the Queen's York Rangers Question 4        a)     not wearing orders, decorations and medals he is entitled to        b)    nothing        c)     wrong collar dogs        d)    needs a swagger stick
Question 5        a)     wearing Alberta Order of Excellence in a medal bar group        b)    medal bar too long        c)     medal bar not long enough        d)    wrong bar on the France and Germany Star
HRH the PRince of Wales being presented with a book during the 2009 Royal Visit by a senior officer in the Canadian Coast Guard Question 6        a)     RCMP officer in middle should be wearing medals,  not just an undress ribbon        b)    Coast Guard Officer wearing an unrecognized  medal at the end of his group        c)     A & B        d)    nothing
Former OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino Question 7        a)     Order of Ontario not included in miniature medal group        b)    Bar on the Police Exemplary Service Medal            in the wrong place        c)     Order of Ontario should be worn from a miniature           ribbon around neck        d)    A & C
Isabelle Butters, CM, SOM, being invested with the Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Question 8        a)     Investitures are an occasion when only miniatures         should be worn        b)    Recipient is wearing Saskatchewan Order of Merit on her medal bar when it should be on a bow or around neck        c)     Too many medals        d)    Swing mounting is not permitted anymore
Brigitte, Duchess of Gloucester, GCVO. Question 9        a)     nothing        b)    Wearing miniatures with full size insignia         during the daytime        c)     The insignia on the yellow bow is not recognized        d)    B & C
The great leaders of North Korea's military. Question 10        a)     Too many breast stars        b)    Not enough neck decorations        c)     Pantaloons should be covered in breast stars        d)    This is the DPRK, anything is possible!

Answer Key: c,d,b,a,a,c,d,b,b,d.