Megan

Decoration for Valour in the South African Prisons Service Custodi Pro Virtute Instituted: 26 February 1968. Discontinued: 1980. Awarded: For conspicuous and exceptional gallantry, or acts in which a member of the Prison Service risked or lost his life attempting to save others. Post-nominal letters: CPV

Department of Correctional Services Medal for Faithful Service (Bronze) Instituted: 1980. Discontinued: 1996. Awarded: For 10 years' irreproachable service.

3rd Class:

Today, the Kingdom's Order of Independence Instituted in 1951 by King Idris, and awarded for civilian and military service in 4 classes. This is the star of the 2nd Class:

Yep - I could see that the firefighter on the right of your picture is wearing it... May I use the medal picture (with due acknowledgement of course) on my site, please?

Is this award classed as 'official' and permitted to be worn in uniform?

3rd Class:

Thank you, IVB! Kingdom of Libya: Order of Ibn Ali al-Senoussi Instituted: 1951 by King Idris. Awarded: For civil and military merit, in 4 classes. 1st Class Star:

While a 'General Service with the UN' medal with a bunch of bars might be more tidy - consider that most of the time people display only ribbons, and so even if a number were pinned on it would give very little indication of the individual's service to a casual observer, whereas a selection of UN ribbons does show where the individual has been. And yes, apart from the UN Korea Medal all UN medals are identical, it is just the ribbon that changes with mission.

2nd Class - apparently a neck badge. I don't think it is accompanied by a star.

1st Class Star:

Order of the Republic Instituted: 1969. 1st Class Badge:

Wissam al-Jihad Instituted: 1971. Awarded: For contributions to the well-being of the Libyan people.

Star: These were sent to me by James Miller, the master goldsmith who made them! He says that he made it about 1980 and it was all hand-made - the order was for 14 sets of the insignia and the short timescale meant that there was no time to prepare steel dies!

Order of the Grand Conqueror Badge:

Thanks, Christian. In researching current Austrian awards for my website I found quite a few - but is there a definative list of what may be worn? Would you be willing to permit me to use the image of your medal (with due acknowledgement of course)? Given its rarity I'm unlikely to see another!

Well done indeed! How 'official' is it? You imply that it can be worn in uniform, is that correct?

Your information is always welcome, dear heart!

Thanks to an extremely helpful e-mail from a friend, I have now sorted out my site... and added the 2nd Class Civil Cross of Honour for Merit as well!

Interesting... How do the Honour Cross for Merit and the Order for Merit relate to each other? How was a peacetime award to a military person presented, then? (I seem to be full of questions today - but then I teach by the Socratic method, and often learn by it as well!)

This, I think, is a Commander of the actual order: I would appreciate any comments...

On 29 August 2008 the Governor-General of Canada announced, on behalf of HM The Queen, that a new medal is to be established called the Sacrifice Medal. It is to be awarded to a member of the Canadian Forces, a member of an allied force, or a Canadian civilian under the authority of the Canadian Forces who, as of October 7, 2001, died or was wounded under honourable circumstances as a direct result of hostile action. The press release is to be found here: http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=5483, unfortunately only sketches are available as yet.

Very nice. Thank you for sharing...

Speaking as a former soldier, I would prefer not to advertise that I didn't duck fast enough! Never really been in favour of "enemy marksmanship awards" although I can see why some nations/people like to mark that someone put themselves in harm's way to the extent of being, er, harmed.

I think I have slight glimmerings of how this order works... but I have just spent 2 days (with prospect of another tomorrow) putting our students' names and course choices into the timetable matrix which is possibly one of the few tasks worse that trying to figure out the complete disorganisation of South Korean orders and my brain has fried!!!! At the weekend I shall tackle it.