Megan

If a woman is awarded the MBE or other chest/neck worn orders, she receives the insignia on a bow rather than as a straight chest ribbon or neck ribbon. However, if she wishes to wear her gongs in uniform, they are worn 'male' style. A black backing to a court mount might be police or St John's Ambulance. The Guards Brigade uses scarlet because that's the colour of the full dress tunic.

My father received a US Bronze Star for 'meritorious service' - he claimed it was for dusting an American general's desk! - whilst serving in an Anglo-American joint intelligence unit in Italy. He was a Major in the Intelligence Corps. They were analysing Ultra decodes concerning troop movements in Italy, and he was there because he was fluent in German. The medal is not named, although there's a piece of paper stuck down on the case with his name and rank. (His full wartime group is: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star (no clasp), Italy Star, War Medal 1939-45 and the US Bronze Star.)

ՀՀ զինված ուժերի «Անդրանիկ Օզանյան» մեդալ Instituted 20 July 2001 and awarded for acts of bravery, meritorious services or noteworthy contributions towards the organisational development of the armed forces. It is awarded to both military personnel and civilians. [Picture credit: Armenian Ministry of Defence]

ՀՀ զինված ուժերի «Մարշալ Բաղրամյան» մեդալ Instituted 11 May 1997, to mark the centenary of the birth of Hovhannes Khachaturi Baghramyan, an Armenian who rose to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union and commanded with distinction during World War II. It's awarded to members of the Armed Forces of Armenia for participation in combat operations, for training young people and for border protection duties, and to those who served in World War II. [Picture credit: Ilya Repetski]

ՀՀ զինված ուժերի «Անբասիր ծառայության համար» քառաստիճան մեդալ Instituted 13 August 2001 and awarded for excellent service in the Armenian Armed Forces for 5, 10, 15, or 20 years, hence 4 classes. Very difficult to find anything about this one... I think I have the first 3 classes correctly identified (by peering at numerals on the medal) although the ribbons are a bit unusual. Another oddity - the medal's name actually translates to 'for fair service' rather than the more conventional long, or excellent, service most people use! 1st Class: 2nd Class: 3rd Class: [Picture credit: Armenian Ministry of Defence]

Further delving suggests that 'National Recognition' seems more likely given the inscription on the beast... even if the same ribbon was used for something else at some time.

Ed Emering shows the medal in #12 as the Medal of National Recognition. However Antonio Pieto Barrio shows that ribbon as the Medaille d'Or de Independence, 1963.

Interesting... Emmanuel's Order of Civic Merit 'Officer' above is a silver chest decoration with rosette on the ribbon. Elvis has just presented a gold chest decoration with rosette as the '1st Class' - Emmanuel having told us it's a 3-class order, so Commander, Officer, Knight. Meanwhile Liverpool Medals have 2 items from this order: a gold chest decoration presented as 'officer' and a silver one as 'knight' - neither with rosette... not that you can believe dealers' lists, although LM are better than most. So what's going on? Most Commander-grades are a neck badge. Is that not the case here?

Thank you for sharing... and for distracting me from working on a presentation for my next job interview!

Մովսես Խորենացու մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993 and awarded for significant creative achievements in Armenian culture, art, literature, education and humanities. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]

This is the Grand Officer class of The Most Puissant Order of the Gurkha Right Arm or (transliterated from Nepali) Gorkha Dakshinabahu. It was instituted in 1895 by King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Dev, and awarded for valuable service to Nepal in five classes. There is also a medal associated with the order.

Fascinating, Emmanuel, thank you for sharing! Now I must scamper off and update the sadly neglected corner of my site that covers Benin/Dahomey...

Անանիա Շիրակացու մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993 and awarded for notable contributions to economics, engineering, architecture, science and technology. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]

Oops... I seem to have stuttered in the heading, it's just Medal of Mkhitar Heratsi, only I cannot find a way to edit the heading :(

Մխիթար Հերացու մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993 and awarded for contributions to the development of healthcare in Armenia and services to medicine. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]

Thank you, cimbineus :)

OOOH! That's interesting... so the one I posted is your 'Type D' - yes? Would you be willing to permit me to use your images of the earlier versions on my website? Full acknowledgements given, of course (but I'll be asking for your real name, PM if you prefer).

Actually there is a Type 1 in the latest Auktionhaus Andreas Thies catalogue, but Andreas has requested that he be asked about every image I wish to use individually... it's on the list I am putting together of East German material I want to request permission to use :)

Ehrentitel Held der DDR Instituted 28 October 1975 and awarded for extraordinary achievements and contributions through heroic deeds for the GDR, which have developed and strengthened the nation, promoted its international recognition and authority and to secure its military protection. It's always worn entire. This is the 2nd Type (1976-87): [Picture credit: Auktionhaus Andreas Thies]

Մխիթար Գոշի մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993, and awarded for notable service to the state in public and political activities, as well as significant services in the areas of diplomacy, law and political science. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]

Հասարակական կարգի գերազանց պահպանման համար մեդալ Awarded for courageous or meritorious service in support of law and order. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]

Հայրենիքին մատուցած ծառայությունների համար մեդալ Awarded for meritorious service in defence, protection of law and order, national security or other distinguished services to the Republic of Armenia, in 2 classes. 1st Class: 2nd Class: [Picture credit: President of Armenia]

Մարտական ծառայության մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993 and awarded for meritorious performance of military duties, or in protection of the country's borders. [Picture credit: Armenian Ministry of Defence]

Արիության մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993 and awarded for personal bravery shown in the course of the defense of the Motherland, the protection of public order, during salvage operations and when carrying out official or civil duty in conditions dangerous for life. [Picture credit: Wikipedia Commons]

Վարդան Մամիկոնյան շքանշան Instituted 20 May 2002 and awarded for exceptional bravery in the field or meritorious services to the armed forces. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]