Medals of the Order

 The Order currently has two medals that it can award to members in recognition for their service. Note that "Medals" indicating a members rank in the order are in the strictest sense NOT medals.

The Service Medal of the Order of Saint John

                                                        Obverse                         Reverse

TERMS
In Canada, the medal is awarded for twelve years of service to the St. John Ambulance organization. Also, service in both the St. John Ambulance Brigade and the St. John Ambulance Association qualify and the two service times may be combined but only one may be counted per year.

BARS
A bar is awarded for each additional five years of service. The bars are of the slip-on type, silver, laurelled with a St. John Cross in the centre. After three silver bars are awarded, a gilt bar is worn (thirty-two years of service) and additional gilt bars are awarded for each five years. Once a gilt bar is awarded, only that gilt bar and subsequent gilt bars are worn.

DESCRIPTION
A circular, cupro-nickel, rhodium-plated medal (silver in colour), 1.5 inches (38 mm) in diameter.

OBVERSE
A crowned, veiled effigy of Queen Victoria, facing right, is displayed on a circular field with a beaded edge. The legend: VICTORIA + 1 + G + BRITT + REG + F + D + IND + IMP appears between the beaded circle and the raised edge of the medal.

REVERSE
The reverse shows the Royal Arms within the Garter bearing the legend HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL ·Y · PENSE. Above this is an Imperial Crown and below it the Prince of Wales' Feathers. On each side is the badge of the order, each bearing a shield, one on the left charged with the arms of the order and that on the right with the arms of the Prince of Wales. The whole device rests upon a sprig of St. John's Wort. This central motif is surrounded by a border bearing the words: · MAGNUS · PRIORATUS · HOSPITAL · SANCTI · JOHANNIS · JERUSALEM · IN · ANGLIA.

MOUNTING
A single-toe claw with inward scrolls attaches to a straight bar.

RIBBON
The ribbon is 1.5 inches (38 mm) wide, and consists of five equal stripes: black, white, black, white and black. A single stitch of white appears at each edge. A miniature silver St. John Cross is worn in undress for each bar up to three. At four bars, one cross of rolled gold is worn.

NAMING
The medal is currently issued unnamed, but prior to 1970, the recipient's name was engraved on the rim.

DATES
The medal has been awarded in England from 1898 to the present, and in Canada since 1955.

ISSUED
There have been 5,063 medals awarded to Canadians to 06 May 1993, but the number of bars awarded is unknown.

Information Compiled from the Department of Veterans Affairs

The Life-saving Medal of the Order of St. John

                                                        Obverse                           Reverse

 
The Life-Saving Medal may be bestowed on those who, in a conspicuous act of gallantry, have endangered their own lives in saving, or attempting to save, life.

 It may be awarded either in gold, silver, or bronze, as may be determined in each case by the Grand Prior on the recommendation of the Grand Council. It is worn on the right breast suspended from a watered silk riband with 1 inch (2.54 cm) black centre and one-twelfth inch (0.21 cm) white and two-twelfth inch (0.42 cm) scarlet stripes at each end. A bar to the Medal may be awarded in each of the three categories for any subsequent acts meriting reward.

Information compiled from the Order of Saint John

Ranks of the Order

Coming Shortly!

Donat of the Order

Obverse

The title and "medal" signifying the Donat may be given to any person not being a Member of the Order who from an appreciation of the objects or work of the Order makes a worthy contribution to its funds. They may be appointed by the Grand Prior, on the recommendation of the Grand Council, a Donat of the Order and his/her name shall thereupon be recorded in the List of Donats of the Order which shall be maintained by the Secretary-General.