The Government of Canada recently announced that eligible Canadian Veterans are now allowed to wear the Arctic Star in conjunction with other Second World War honours. This new medal was unveiled in 2012 by the British Government and is available to all Commonwealth Forces, including Canada.
The Arctic Star commemorates and recognizes the particular severity of the conditions experienced by those who served in the Arctic during the Second World War. Allied convoys sailed across the Arctic Ocean to deliver vital supplies to the Soviet Union. Commonly known as the Murmansk Run, during which troops endured brutal weather conditions and numerous casualties, ships departed from North American ports and sailed to the northern Soviet Union in an effort to assist them in their fight against Germany. Many Canadians bravely served on these ships.
Eligible Veterans and next-of-kin can now apply for the Arctic Star. To receive a copy of the application form or more information on the Arctic Star, contact Veterans Affairs Canada by calling, toll free, 1-866-522-2122, sending an e-mail to awards-citations@vac-acc.gc.ca or visiting veterans.gc.ca.
The Arctic Star is granted for operational service of any length, from September 3, 1939, to May 8, 1945 inclusive, north of the Arctic Circle (66 degrees, 32’N) on the Greenland Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea. The Arctic Star is intended to commemorate the Arctic convoys and is designed primarily for the ships of the convoys to the north Russia and their escorts.
The Arctic Star is a yellow copper zinc alloy in the form of a six-pointed star. The obverse has a central design of the Royal and Imperial cypher, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words "THE ARCTIC STAR." The Arctic Star ribbon has stripes of light blue, dark blue, red and white.
– 30 –
