North West Canada Medal
| North West Canada Medal | |
|---|---|
  Obverse and reverse of the medal
| |
|
Awarded by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | |
| Country |
.svg){kind=small} Dominion of Canada |
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Eligibility | Canadian local forces, attached British Army officers and members of the North-West Mounted Police |
| Campaign(s) | North-West Rebellion |
| Clasps | Saskatchewan |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 18 September 1885 |
| Total awarded | 5,650 |
 Ribbon bar of the medal | |
The Northwest Canada Medal is a British campaign medal issued to the soldiers, volunteers, and North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) personnel who participated in putting down the North-West Rebellion in 1885.
The medal was established by the Canadian Government in September 1885 after consultation between the Governor General of Canada and the British Secretary of State for the Colonies.
It was awarded to those who took part in the suppression of the North-West Rebellion of 1885 and who served west of Port Arthur, Ontario. Recipients included a number of volunteers, including the crew of the steamer "Northcote" for service at the , and members of the Prince Albert Volunteers for service at the Battle of Duck Lake. Initially members of the NWMP were not eligible. However, a Canadian Order in Council of 13 December 1886 recommended that the NWMP receive the medal, this being accepted by the British Government on 16 February 1887. A total of 920 medals were then awarded to the NWMP.
No British Army units took part, although seventeen British Army officers were attached to Canadian units.
All those who received the medal, except for members of the NWMP, also received a grant of 320 acres of land, or scrip of $80 in lieu. During the 1930s, surviving NWMP recipients were each granted $300.
The medal is a circular, silver and 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter.
The obverse, designed by L. C. Wyon, bears an effigy of Queen Victoria, facing left and wearing a diadem and veil. Around the edge is the inscription "VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX".
The reverse, designed by Thomas Brock, has the inscription "NORTH WEST 1885 CANADA" in three lines surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves.
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Wikipedia