King's Medal for Champion Shot

Context

The King's Medal for Champion Shot was originally created under the British Honours System. In June 1968, after the unification of the Canadian Forces, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II gave her approval to the granting in Canada of the British Queen's Medal for Champion Shot. It wasn't until 1991 that the Privy Council for Canada advised that there should be created and instituted in Canada the Queen's Medal for Champion Shot. On August 28, 1991, Letters Patent were signed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to create the Queen's (now King’s) Medal for Champion Shot in Canada. Note that although this is a military honour, the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall is responsible for its administration.

Eligibility and criteria

Two medals are awarded annually since 1991: one to a member of the Canadian Forces (Regular) and one to a member of the Canadian Forces (Reserves) or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who obtains the highest aggregate score in stages one and two of the King's Medal Competition.

Description

The medal is circular in form, made of silver, 1.42 inches (36 mm) in diameter with a thin raised edge.

On the obverse: The effigy of the Sovereign of Canada, circumscribed with the inscription in capital letters of the Canadian Royal Title and the word "CANADA".

On the reverse: A figure of Fame rising from her throne, a horn in her left hand, facing left, and crowning with a laurel wreath in her right hand a warrior facing right, who is standing on his right foot with his left foot raised and resting on the dais, supporting on his left knee a target having three arrows in the centre and holding in his right hand a bow and quiver full of arrows.

Until 2002, a single-toe claw joined the medal to a plain, straight non-swivelling suspender. Since 2002, the suspension has been changed to a straight slotted bar ornamented with a fleur-de-lis, similar to that of the Exemplary Service Medals.

The ribbon which is 32 mm in width and dark crimson in colour is bordered on each side with a black stripe 9 mm in width with a beige stripe 3 mm in width centered on the black stripes. The ribbon of this medal is identical to its British predecessor.

Until 2002, the "date bars" were riveted to the suspension of the medal like on its British predecessor. Since 2002, the bars are sewn onto the ribbon and worn centered on it.

Bar(s)

The Medal is awarded with a plain bar with the year of the competition inscribed thereon, and any subsequent award of the Medal shall be indicated by the award of another bar only.

Wearing

The King's Medal for Champion Shot shall be worn in sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive, and in the following manner: on the left breast, suspended from the ribbon described above, after the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal and before the Service Medal of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

Post-nominals

The use of a post-nominal is not authorized for this medal.

Historical notes

Until 1991, the medals issued in Canada were similar in design to their British counterparts.

The current medal was designed by Captain Bruce Wilbur Beatty, CM, SOM, CD (Retired).