Megan

Handy hint: if all else fails copy'n'past the text into a text editor, then copy'n'paste it back again into GMIC. This removes ALL formatting apart from paragraph breaks.

Thank you, Emmanuel, for confirming what I'd been working out from the physical evidence. Scurrying off to update the site forthwith! ELM are already looking at what they are able to share with me in the shape of images and information, I guess I'd better start talking to Spinks as well. (They already permit me to use their auction catalogues, kind souls!)

Thanks, Hugh - so possibly civilian service rather than military?

Reverse: [Picture credit: Liverpool Medals]

Pingat Idah Kerja Baik Unfortunately I have no further details on this one, yet Obverse:

Reverse: [Picture credit: Liverpool Medals]

Pingat Bakti Laila Jasa Ikhlas Instituted in 1975, I haven't yet found the terms of award but think it's probably a meritorious service award. Obverse:

Pingat Hassanal Bolkiah Sultan Darjah Pertama Instituted in 1968 and awarded in 2 classes (Gold Medal and Silver Medal). The post-nominal letters are PHBS, irrespective of class. I cannot find anything about the terms of award, but it seems to be for meritorious service in civilian life, judging by those who have received it. Here is the Silver Medal:

Unknown, the Liverpool Medals catalogue just says "Most Distinguished Order of Merit Commander neck badge" However, looking through my archives I have found 2 dated badges for the Order of Loyalty to the State of Brunei, which was instituted in 1959. The first, dated 1968, has the same centre as the 3rd Class badge I've posted above, the other is tagged 'Post 1984' and has the same centre as the 2nd Class insignia above (and that shown for the Order of Loyalty elsewhere on here...). So perhaps there was a major change in insignia, possibly coinciding with Brunei's full independence from Britain. Fun, isn't it!

For Indonesian Army ceremonial dress insignia, this link refers: http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1681

Here is a 3rd Class badge: However, the centre is somewhat different from that shown in the 2nd Class insignia above - I wonder if it varied over time... and if so, what the dates were! [Picture credit: Liverpool Medals]

Darjah Paduka Sri Laila Jasa Yang Amat Berjasa Instituted February 1964 by Sultan Muda Haji 'Omar 'Ali Saif ud-din III, and awarded for distinguished or meritorious service in 3 classes (Dato Paduka Sri Laila, Dato Laila Jasa, and Third class). The post-nominal letters are: Dato Paduka Sri Laila - PSLJ, Dato Laila Jasa - DSLJ, and Third class - SLJ. Here is the 2nd Class Badge and Star: [Picture credit: UBS]

You never know until you ask... spurred on by this I wrote to Eng Long, who have just replied that whilst some of the governments for whom they make ODM have requested that information not be released without their express permission, that does not apply to all of their contracts, and that as the boss likes my site he will be willing to help supply such information and images that he may! Megan is now bouncing up and down! (Cannot remember the code for that...)

And a somewhat better one, I think the Companion:

Darjah Sri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia Instituted 1 March 1954 by Sultan Muda Haji 'Omar 'Ali Saif ud-din III and awarded for services to the Sultan of Brunei, or which are worthy of recognition by the state in 3 classes (Grand Commander or Dato Seri Paduka, Commander or Dato Paduka, and Companion or Third Class). The post-nominal letters are: Grand Commander or Dato Seri Paduka - SPMB, Commander or Dato Paduka - DPMB, Companion or Third Class - SMB Here is the Grand Commander Collar: And the Grand Commander Star: (Apologies that they are not very good images)

Darjah Pahlawan Negara Brunei Yang Amat Perkasa Instituted 28 November 1959 by Sultan Muda Haji 'Omar 'Ali Saif ud-din III, and awarded for acts of gallantry by members of the armed forces and civilians acting in support of them in 4 classes (Dato Seri Pahlawan, Dato Hamzah Pahlawan, Third Class, and Fourth Class). The post-nominal letters are: Dato Seri Pahlawan - PSPNB, Dato Hamzah Pahlawan - DHPNB, Third Class - PNB, Fourth Class - PJB. Alas I only have a picture of the Third Class:

Do you have the address of the Congo Chancellery site, please, Emmanuel?

Darjah Kerabat Mahkota Brunei Instituted 15 August 1982 by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and awarded in a single class. There do not seem to be any specific terms of award, it's generally given to other members of royal families. The post-nominal letters are DKMB. Collar: Badge:

Here is the 4th Class: [Picture credit: Liverpool Medals]

Darjah Setia Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bahagia Instituted 29 November 1959 by Sultan Muda Haji 'Omar 'Ali Saif ud-din III and awarded for loyal, faithful and distinguished service in 4 classes (Dato Seri Sitia, Dato Sitia, Third class, and Fourth class). Post-nominal letters are: Dato Seri Sitia - PSNB, Dato Sitia - DSNB, Third class - SNB, Fourth class - PSB. Here is the 3rd Class:

The BBC has put up a rather nice interactive display showing how Olympic medals have developed over the years. Find it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14291544 The design for next year's medals is due to be announced sometime today.

Excellent pictures, thank you for sharing.

I only have 2 VC stories, but both concern genuine holders... Sometime in the mid-to-late 1970s, I attended a service for the legal profession in Wales, at Llandaff Cathedral. In attendance was Tasker Watkins, who was at the time a judge, and was in full robes plus medals... including a VC. He was very tolerant of a teenage girl who walked up to him during the reception after the service and started talking about medals! Tasker Watkins's citation reads: "On 16 August 1944 at Barfour, Normandy, France, Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with booby traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his men, but decisively influenced the course of the battle." He was an enthusiastic club rugby football player in his younger days, and one coach to the Welsh international team had the habit of pinning a copy of the citation on the dressing room wall prior to matches! The second time I met a VC holder, he again was actually wearing it at the time. This was Peter Wright, who was attending a service in the Guards Chapel when I happened to be visiting the Guards Museum which is just across the courtyard. A large number of bemedalled gentlemen came out of the Chapel so of course I scuttled over, and was introduced to him. This was, I think, January 1990, just a few months before he passed away.

Rather than make ungentlemanly comments about fellow members' computer skills, I thought it more useful to put my own to use... Canadian VC (detail):

And another, the Officer class of the Empire period (1976-1979) of the Order of Operation Bokassa: [Picture credit: Liverpool Medals]