Wearing of a relative's medals is not allowed in Canada.
This from the DND Directorate of History and Heritge:
Question
May I wear a relative's medals?
Answer
Article 419 of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibits the wearing of orders, decorations and medals by anyone other than the individual who was awarded the honour.
This from Veteran's Affairs:
Can I wear my father's (brother's, relatives') medals?
Medals may only be worn by the veteran. It is a criminal offense to wear military medals that someone else has earned.
Legion Magazine published the following in their Sept/Oct 2001 issue:
"The Legion firmly believes that whenever a Canadian is seen wearing a medal, he or she will be recognized for the contributions to the country that earned the honour. A move to let others wear the medals--even if meant as a gesture of respect--would compromise the high standards of Canada's relatively new honours system."
And another editorial in Legion:
http://www.legionmagazine.com/frontl...ials/01-05.asp
Here is a link to discussion of the issue in a Private Member's Bill (C-300 I think) in Hansard in 1999, but as far as I know, the Bill was withdrawn and above rules still stand.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/36/2/parlbus/c...099_1900-e.htm
The practice of relatives wearing medals is allowed in Australia:
http://www.dva.gov.au/commem/commac/...ance_facts.pdf
And New Zealand:
http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/medals/info/wearingmedals.html
I don't have a reference to the official policy in the UK at this time.
Gord Crossley