There isn't a year go by that I do not think about tracking my father's whereabouts though his overseas deployment and how his war momentos were stolen from my bedroom when Mother and I lived on Islington Avenue. It was that heart shaped box (full of uniform medal-bars, buttons, crests, vintage photos of him and his tank crew and the medals he had refused for years to retrieve from Ottawa but had fianlly recieved (only the year before he died) that had originally spawned the idea to investigate his deployment. These things just disappeared and by the time I recognized them missing I didn't know when it happened or to whom to point a finger. Although I vividly remember the contents of that box. I have used this memory to obtain photos of the six medals that were awarded to him from the list of seventeen WWII medals possible. These are:

The 1939-1945 Star was awarded for active armed forces operations service between 02 September 1939 and 08 May 1945 (Europe) or 02 September 1945 (Pacific). The ribbon consists of three equal stripes: dark blue, red, and light blue (representing the navy, army and air force). There were 305,000 1939-1945 Stars issued.

The Italy Star was awarded for operational service in Sicily or Italy between 11 June 1943 and 08 May 1945. The ribbon consists of equal stripes of red, white, green, white, and red. The colours represent the colours of the Italian flag. There were 91,000 Italy Stars issued.

The France & Germany Star was awarded for active service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between 06 June 1944 (D-Day) and 08 May 1945. The ribbon consists of equal stripes of blue, white, red, white, and blue. The colours represent the Union flag and those of France and the Netherlands but not of Belgium. There were 230,000 France-Germany Stars issued.

The Defense Medal awarded to Canadians for service in areas subjected to air attack or closely threatened, providing such service lasted for three or more years. Service overseas or outside the country of residence, providing that such service lasted for one year, except in territories threatened by the enemy or subject to bomb attacks, in which case it was six months prior to 02 September 1945. Those awarded the GC or GM for civil defense received this medal. The light green ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with a central stripe of orange (0.5" wide) and a narrow black stripe in the middle of each green stripe. The orange (flame colour) represents the enemy attacks on the green land of England and the black represents the black-outs. This is a circular, silver (.800 fine) medal, 1.42 inches in diameter. There were 325,000 Defense Medals issued.
Obverse Description: The bareheaded coinage effigy of King George VI, facing left, and the legend: GEORGEIVS VI D: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:
Reverse Description: The Royal Crown rests on the stump of an oak tree, flanked by a lion and a lioness. At the top left is the date 1939, and at the top right, the date 1945. In exergue, though not ruled off, is the wording: THE DEFENCE/MEDAL.

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal is granted to persons of any rank in the Armed Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service and have honourably completed eighteen months (540 days) total voluntary service from September 3, 1939 to March 1, 1947. A silver bar (often called a clasp), a maple leaf at its centre was awarded for 60 days service outside Canada. A silver maple leaf is worn on the ribbon in undress.

The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with a royal blue centre (0.5") flanked by two equal stripes of scarlet and dark green, the dark green being on the edges. The ribbon was issued during the war; the medal after the war. This is a circular, silver medal (.925 fine silver), 1.42 inches in diameter. There were 1,183,00 eligible but only 650,000 CVS medals issued.
Obverse Description: Seven marching figures are depicted, representing men and women of the army, air force, navy and nursing service; and around the rim, the inscription 1939 CANADA 1945 VOLUNTARY SERVICE VOLONTAIRE.
Reverse Description: The Coat of Arms of Canada.

The War Services Medal 1939-1945 was awarded to all full-time personnel of the armed forces and merchant marines for serving between 03 September 1939 and 02 September 1945. A single bronze oak leaf emblem is worn to signify a Mention-in-Dispatches and the silver oak leaf signifying a King's Commendation for Brave Conduct is worn on this medal. The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide and consists of 7 coloured stripes: red, dark blue, white, narrow red (centre), white, dark blue, and red. This is a circular, (.800 fine) silver medal, 1.42 inches in diameter. There were 700,000 War Services Medals issued.
Obverse Description: The crowned coinage effigy of King George VI, facing left, and the legend GEORGIVS VI D : BR : OMN : REX ET INDIAE IMP :
Reverse Description: A lion standing wanton on the body of a double-headed dragon. The dragons heads are those of an eagle and a dragon to signify the principal occidental and oriental enemies. At the top, just right of centre are the dates 1939/1945 in two lines.