Ribbons

[Michael Hogan]

My question is about the selection of ribbons for the various medals and decorations.  How are the ribbon colours chosen and is there a book which explains this?

 

[George Wallace]

I know Mr Beattie (please excuse the spelling) who has designed a good number of the medals and ribbons, including the Order of Canada, and he selected colours that were significant to that Medal or Operation.  The Peacekeeping Medal ribbon was to signify the three Branches, Air, Land and Sea, in order of precedence, but the template was passed upsidedown for "Royal Approval" and the order was reversed.  He is quite an expert on Heraldry and is often consulted for the design of things like Coats of Arms.  As such the various colours employed have significant heraldic meaning.  You may find more answers to this by doing some study in Heradry, a matter I really know little about.

 

[Gunner]

http://www.forces.gc.ca/hr/dhh/honours_awards/engraph/med1_e.asp?cat=3

You may have already done this but a quick look through the Canadian Forces Honours and Awards Chart, you can click on some of the campaign medals and they will tell you what the colours symbolize. 

For example the General Campaign Star

The GCS is a gold-coloured four-pointed star, 44 mm across, representing the cardinal points of a compass bearing on the obverse, built-up in order from the back: a wreath of maple leaves terminating at the top with the Royal Crown, two crossed swords, the blades and hilts forming four additional points to the star, an anchor and a flying eagle. The wreath represents honour, the maple leaves represent Canada, the anchor, crossed swords and eagle represent the three services of the Canadian Forces and the Crown represents the Queen of Canada and her role as the fount of all honours. On the reverse appear within a raised circle, from top to bottom: the Royal Cypher ensigned by the Royal Crown, a plain space for engraving, and three maple leaves on one stem.

The ribbon passes through a ring attached to a small ball at the top point of the star.

The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a central stripe of green (12 mm), on either side of which are stripes of white (2 mm) and red (8 mm). Red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921 and green represents service.

The bars to the Star are gold in colour with a raised edge and bear the name of the operation or the geographical area for which it is awarded.

Whereas some UN medals will use UN Blue combined with other colours of note.  For example UNAMSIL:

DESCRIPTION

A circular bronze alloy medal, 1.4 inches (35mm) in diameter,

on the obverse, the representation of the UN symbol surmounted by the straight letters UN, both in bas-relief.

on the reverse, Inscription bearing the words, "IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE" in English (and only in English).

A 0.5 inch (12mm) bronze ring, which holds the ribbon, passes through a small hollow ball at the top of a claw joined to the top of the medal.

The ribbon has a central stripe of UN blue flanked by stripes of green, white and dark blue.

The green white and dark blue represent the colours on Sierra Leone's flag.

Try googling heraldry as George Wallace mentions.

 

[STA Gunner]

I find it interesting that the Crest for the GCS has been designed with an eagle, while the tri-service badge was designed with an albatross.

For those that are wondering, I have been told by my air force brothers that the albatross is the emblem because it spends more time flying than on the ground.

I am looking for a cite for this, so if I can find one, I'll update later.