base and a fleur-de-lis is on each side of the crown. The royal cypher is superimposed on the centre of the King George VI medal, but is omitted from the Queen Elizabeth II medal. The King George VI medal has the name and rank of the person to whom the medal was awarded engraved on the reverse of the solid bar while the Queen Elizabeth II medal has the name and rank engraved around the edge of the medal. Early Queen Elizabeth II medals had the letters stamped rather than engraved. A clasp, also known as a bar, is awarded for every 10 years of subsequent service. The clasp is tombac and is high, has the Canadian coat of arms in the centre surmounted by a crown, and is gold in colour. This is indicated on the undress ribbon by a rosette. Recipients of the Canadian Forces Decoration are entitled to use the post nominal letters "CD". This post-nominal is not affected by the awarding of clasps. Further reading Notes and references External links View Decoration Military awards and decorations of Canada Awards established in 1949 1949 establishments in Canada Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth