Megan

One of the stars is the Order of Merit of the Central African Republic: -

I do not have a picture of the Victorious Cross, but here is the Distinguished Service Order, instituted 1972.

The Ugandan Victorious Cross is described as being in the form of the Victoria Cross, but the obverse bearing a bust of Idi Amin and the legend "For God and my Country", and the reverse with central Arms of Uganda and the legend "For Supreme Valour" below.

Actually, the 'Royal' medal that amuses me the most is the Canadian Forces Decoration worn by Prince Charles - awarded in 2002 for long service as an honorary colonel-in-chief of several Canadian regiments! His medal bar currently consists of: - 1. The Queen's Service Order (New Zealand) 2. Coronation Medal 3. Silver Jubilee Medal 4. Golden Jubilee Medal 5. Canadian Decoration 6. The New Zealand Commemorative Medal Another amusing one is worn by Princess Anne. In 1953 as a badly-behaved 3-year old she was not allowed to attend her mother's Coronation, while her elder brother went along and was duly awarded 'his first medal' - the Coronation one. Pictures taken at the time show the 2 of them in white outfits, him wearing the gong and her not... a bone of contention at the time, I believe. Only now, when in uniform, she wears one...

am getting VERY confused with the Bavarian Milit?r Verdienstorden. Now, I know it has 3 ribbons - White with black and blue edge stripes (Wartime awards), white with blue edge stripes (Peacetime awards) or white with black edges and a blue central stripe (Military Officials). Did wartime awards only come with swords? Could a peacetime award come with swords? Could Military Officials receive swords? Or did they always? I have some beautiful pictures from Morton & Eden, but these include a Grand Cross with Swords on the peactime ribbon - is this correct?

Commander:

Unfortunately not... don't even know the ribbon colours. Even the information on Rwandan Orders in the Guy Stair Sainty & Rafal Heydel-Mankoo book World Orders of Knighthood and Merit is very sketchy, & this order isn't mentioned at all.

Commander

I will point out that the only sporting injuries I have received were playing lacrosse. It isn't very girlie even when played by girls!!!! I played field hockey (not the ice sort) as well, to national squad level.

Lacrosse is not just a man's sport - I played at school & occasionally for my university (when they couldn't find a goalie!).

Thank you, Bob. You will, of course, be acknowledged on the Cuba Links page. GMIC is already there - it's the top one (of course!!!!) on the Society & Discussion Group page - http://www.medals.org.uk/links-societies.htm

Lovely. Bob, may I have permission to use the image on my website, please?

Given the picture - is AFL the 'Australian Rules' version of football?

Impressive! Both the VCs I've met were WW2 'hostilities only' rather than career soldiers, so did not have quite such a collection.

However, while in theory every UK citizen should have official permission to wear foreign awards, such a rule is only enforced if you are a serving member of the armed forces in uniform. There is nothing - except custom - to prevent a UK civilian from wearing whatever he pleases. Naturally, the likes of ex-service associations may choose to impose regulations (such as no commemoratives!) on people attending their events... but those don't have the force of law either. All they can do is ask you to a) take 'em off or b) leave.

Instituted: July 1949 by King Abdullah ibn Hussain. Awarded: For military or civil merit. Grades: 5 (Grand Cordon, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight) plus a medal. The ribbon is dark green with narrow purple edge stripes. You appear to have the Grand Officer in that rather nice collection. Any chance of a good picture of the badge & star that you might let me use on my site?

Do police officers wear ribbons on their uniforms? Are those metal as well? I'm going to have to derive a new way of illustrating ribbon bars if there are no cloth ones. Eeek!

Very nice, Antonio. Humberto has sent me some pictures, so I think it will be El Salvador for September's country of the month! Quick question: do the 'ribbon bars' like the Fighter one ONLY come as metal & enamel or is there a cloth (ribbon) version as well?

Likewise, I am always grateful for images and information that I can use on my site!

I now know who to turn to when the time comes to update the El Salvador section of my site! That is a beautiful award, Humberto - many congratulations on having been awarded it.

Public Service Medal of Merit Instituted: 1969. Awarded: For outstanding and meritorious service in the public services, protective services or defence. Grades: 3 (Gold, Silver and Bronze). Gold: Silver: Bronze:

Humming Bird Medal Instituted: 1969. Awarded: For loyal and devoted service beneficial to the state in any field, or acts of gallantry. Grades: 3 (Gold, Silver and Bronze). Gold...... Silver.... Bronze.. (Again, not very good ones.)

Chaconia Medal Instituted: 1969. Awarded: For long and meritorious service promoting national welfare or community spirit. Grades: 3 (Gold, Silver and Bronze). Gold:...... Silver:.... Bronze:.. (Sorry - pictures not particularly good, but they are all I have!)

Trinity Cross Instituted: 1969. Awarded: For distinguished and outstanding service to Trinidad and Tobago, in a single grade.

The other one in picture #2 (red ribbon with blue edge stripes) is the Lateran Cross, also awarded by the Vatican.