Meritorious Service Cross
Encyclopedia
The Meritorious Service Cross is a decoration
that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy
-in-Council
. Created in 1984, the medal is intended to recognize individuals both Canadian and foreign who have carried out meritorious acts bringing benefit and honour in either of two categories: military and civilian. Award of the medal grants recipients the ability to use post-nominal letters
; in English: MSC, and in French: CSM.
visible between them, and a St. Edward's Crown
, as a symbol of the Canadian monarch's role as the fount of honour
, capping the top arm. At the cross' centre, on the obverse, is a roundel bearing a maple leaf, and on the reverse is two concentric circles, the inner one containing an etched Royal Cypher
of the reigning monarch, and the outer one engraved with the words MERITORIOUS SERVICE MÉRITOIRE.
This medallion is worn on the left chest, on a 31.8 millimetres (1.3 in) wide, blue and white ribbon; however, that for the military division has only two white stripes, each 6mm wide and centred on the outer third of each side of the ribbon, while that for the civilian division has an additional 1mm wide white stripe centred between the other two. For men, the cross is hung from a bar, and for women, on a ribbon bow, both pinned to the left chest. Should an individual already possessing a Meritorious Service Cross be awarded the medal again, he or she is granted a medal bar
, in silver and bearing a central maple leaf, for wear on the ribbon from which the original medal is suspended.
under Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
, created the Meritorious Service Cross to recognize highly professional acts that are of considerable benefit to the Canadian Forces
; the civilian division was then added on 6 June 1991 (though applicable retroactively to 1984), honouring similar acts whether in athletics, diplomatic relations, humanitarian activities, etc. that benefit the nation. Any person, living or deceased, may be nominated for the medal: the military division is awarded to members of the Canadian Forces, or of any foreign military allied with Canada, and nominations come from commanding officers; the civilian division is open to both Canadians and foreigners, and nominations may be submitted by any person. In all cases, however, the event being recognized must have taken place in Canada or involved Canadian citizens.
An award permits recipients to use the post-nominal letters
MSC (in French: CSM). As of August 2009, the Meritorious Service Cross has been presented to 170 people 138 in the military division and 32 in the civilian though only one bar has ever been awarded, on 1 July 1993.
State decoration
State decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....
that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
-in-Council
Queen-in-Council
The Queen-in-Council is, in each of the Commonwealth realms, the technical term of constitutional law that refers to the exercise of executive authority, denoting the monarch acting by and with the advice and consent of his or her privy council or executive council The Queen-in-Council (during...
. Created in 1984, the medal is intended to recognize individuals both Canadian and foreign who have carried out meritorious acts bringing benefit and honour in either of two categories: military and civilian. Award of the medal grants recipients the ability to use post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
; in English: MSC, and in French: CSM.
Design
The Meritorious Service Cross, for both divisions, is in the form of a Greek cross with the arms 38 millimetres (1.5 in) across, the ends splayed and rounded, a laurel wreathLaurel wreath
A laurel wreath is a circular wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the bay laurel , an aromatic broadleaf evergreen. In Greek mythology, Apollo is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head...
visible between them, and a St. Edward's Crown
St. Edward's Crown
St Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels, being the official coronation crown used in the coronation of first English, then British, and finally Commonwealth realms monarchs...
, as a symbol of the Canadian monarch's role as the fount of honour
Fount of honour
The fount of honour refers to a nation's head of state, who, by virtue of his or her official position, has the exclusive right of conferring legitimate titles of nobility and orders of chivalry to other persons.- Origin :...
, capping the top arm. At the cross' centre, on the obverse, is a roundel bearing a maple leaf, and on the reverse is two concentric circles, the inner one containing an etched Royal Cypher
Royal Cypher
In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown. In the case where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called...
of the reigning monarch, and the outer one engraved with the words MERITORIOUS SERVICE MÉRITOIRE.
This medallion is worn on the left chest, on a 31.8 millimetres (1.3 in) wide, blue and white ribbon; however, that for the military division has only two white stripes, each 6mm wide and centred on the outer third of each side of the ribbon, while that for the civilian division has an additional 1mm wide white stripe centred between the other two. For men, the cross is hung from a bar, and for women, on a ribbon bow, both pinned to the left chest. Should an individual already possessing a Meritorious Service Cross be awarded the medal again, he or she is granted a medal bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, in silver and bearing a central maple leaf, for wear on the ribbon from which the original medal is suspended.
Eligibility and presentation
On 11 June 1984, Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of her CabinetCabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
under Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, created the Meritorious Service Cross to recognize highly professional acts that are of considerable benefit to the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
; the civilian division was then added on 6 June 1991 (though applicable retroactively to 1984), honouring similar acts whether in athletics, diplomatic relations, humanitarian activities, etc. that benefit the nation. Any person, living or deceased, may be nominated for the medal: the military division is awarded to members of the Canadian Forces, or of any foreign military allied with Canada, and nominations come from commanding officers; the civilian division is open to both Canadians and foreigners, and nominations may be submitted by any person. In all cases, however, the event being recognized must have taken place in Canada or involved Canadian citizens.
An award permits recipients to use the post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
MSC (in French: CSM). As of August 2009, the Meritorious Service Cross has been presented to 170 people 138 in the military division and 32 in the civilian though only one bar has ever been awarded, on 1 July 1993.
See also
- Meritorious Service Medal (Canada)Meritorious Service Medal (Canada)The Meritorious Service Medal is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...
- Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)Canadian order of precedence (Decorations and Medals)The following is the Canadian order of precedence for decorations and medals. Where applicable, post-nominal letters are indicated.-Awards of valour:-National orders:-Provincial orders:-National decorations:-National medals:...
- State decorationState decorationState decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....