 The length of qualifying service required for the award of the Defence Medal varied, depending on where and in what role an individual served.The medal was usually awarded to Canadians for six months service in Britain between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945.Service by Indian Army personnel in India did not count as qualifying service for the Defence Medal, since such service qualified for the India Service Medal, awarded to members of the Indian Armed Forces instead of the Defence Medal for three years of non-operational service in India.