History

The Gulf and Kuwait Medal was instituted to recognize members of the Canadian Forces deployed or in direct support of the operations against Iraq during the Gulf war. The medal is awarded to those employed in preparation for the hostilities, with an additional bar awarded to those deployed during the actual conflict.

Any individual associated with the Canadian Forces who served in any capacity to defend and liberate Kuwait may be awarded this medal, if the person served a minimum of 30 cumulative days between August 2, 1990, and June 27, 1991,

Those who served for one day or more during actual hostilities, between January 16, 1991, to March 3, 1991, were awarded the Medal and bar.

The theatre of operations was the area of the Persian Gulf including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and some neighbouring states.

The medal is a circular medal of copper and zinc alloy. The obverse features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II circumscribed "ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA CANADA".

The reverse features the inscription "THE GULF / AND KUWAIT / 1990 - 1991 / LE GOLFE / ET KUWAIT" within a laurel wreath, with a maple leaf at the bottom.

The medal shall be worn on the left breast, suspended from the ribbon, after the Royal Victorian Medal and before the Somalia Medal. A silver maple leaf is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote the award of the bar.