The medals (left to right) are:
1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp; War Medal 1939-45.
For details of the criteria for the award of each medal see
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations... (click on medal name to go to page with full picture (with ribbon) and more details of each)
As for the descriptions, I’ve made a stab below but I suggest you seek advice from the RCE Museum at
http://www.cmemuseum.ca/ Royal Canadian Engineer Service Branch B26044
I think the Service Branch looked after equipment repair & maintenance, including 1st line repairs in the field and I assume B26044 was his service number.
1939-1st Co Pioneer BN
1st Company Pioneer Battalion? I expect that should read, 1st Company [of] 1st Pioneer Battalion, but I suspect the battalion designation may have been omitted in original records until after a 2nd Pioneer Battalion was formed.
The 1st Pioneer Battalion was part of the VII Corps Troops Engineers in England see
http://www.orbat.com/site/uk_orbats/files/6/RE%20World%20War... and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Corps_%28World_War_II%... There’s also a short section in the introduction to an R.E. Brigade on page 30 of the Encyclopedia (sic) of the R.C.E. in WWII: Part One: The Field Units (Google Books) that briefly explains the idea of pioneer battalions at Corps level was dropped in favour of having them at Brigade level instead.
1943- Flame Thrower (Pet Warf)?? not sure what that means.
There were several types of flame throwers in use by the Canadian army during WWII, including vehicle mounted ones. I assume Pet = Petroleum; that is one for the museum.
1943- Cdn Paratrooper BN
Canadian Paratrooper Battalion, as he was already in England, I’m assuming that is the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Canadian_Parachute_Battalio... and Google that title for more.
1944- RCEME Instructor Heavyduty EQPT
RCEME = Royal Canadian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Heavy-duty Equipment would be armoured vehicles and specialist heavy equipment. Like the British REME their roll was maintenance, recovery & repair of equipment in the field and in workshops. He obviously became an instructor; that could have been in the UK or back in Canada. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corps_of_Royal_Canadian_Electri... for some background and Google for the title + ww2 for more
1945-RCEME SVG No B 26044 Potenial Trained Militiaman National Survival..
“Potential?”
I assume that is related to being placed in the Reserves (Militia) linked to Civil Defence activities associated with nuclear attack.