Megan

Rooting out my Dorling - which is dated 1974 & was bought hot off the press! - there is no mention of clasps in the BWM 1914-20 entry at all! Not even that they had been considered but rejected on grounds of cost. In R.W. Gould Campaign Medals of the British Army 1815-1972 Arms & Armour Press 1972, it says "No bars were issued, although the subject of battle clasps was considered in 1919 by both a Naval and Military committee. The idea was finally shelved on grounds of cost, but it is interesting that the final Admiralty proposals were approved by H.M. The King and printed in an Admiralty Order of 1920. This gave a substantial list of actions and operations, totalling 49 in all."

Thought so, thanks. Just about to settle down to work on the site so I'll sort that out.

Thank YOU, Lorenzo - you were kind enough to share your picture of the 1st Class Military badge! Think the ribbon's about right. But I think I am still confused about the name - is it that both Order of Abd al-Karim Qasim and Order of the Republic refer to the same thing?

I can do one for the ribbon chart, yes, based on the one in the picture Owain sent you.

As Lorenzo has kindly provided me with a picture of his specimen for my website, I am now full of questions. Is the ribbon shown in Owain's picture used for both civil & military awards, and for both classes? And does anyone have pictures which I might use apart from Lorenzo's 1st Class Military badge, which I shall be posting tonight?

Federative Republic of Brazil: National Order of the Southern Cross Grand Cross Star:

Royal Family Order of George VI:

Royal Family Order of George V

This is based on observations at UK Investitures - your picture comes from an Australian one. Canadians appear to give the recipient the choice - I have seen a 'group photo' of Order of Canada recipients at their investiture where some ladies wear neck badges and some wear bows!

You may also have noted the pale blue and pale pink ribbon bows on Her Majesty's shoulder. These are the Royal Family Orders of her father and grandfather, normally worn by close female relatives of a Soverign and consisting of a miniature portrait of the monarch in question. My master goldsmith friend did send me a picture of the order in wear, which I will dig out for you.

Your 'unknown' is the Canadian Order of Military Merit. I shall add pictures of the orders depicted for you when I get home tonight - all are on my website apart from the collar of the Brazilian National Order of the Southern Cross but I do have a picture of it, just haven't got around to posting it yet. You might like to check out the Jordanian Qeladet Al Hussein ibn Ali (both here in the appropriate section and on my site) as that is not only an order Her Majesty holds, the picture is of the set that was made for her! I was sent the picture by the Master Goldsmith who made it.

Note however that female members of the armed forces and police actually receive their awards - if getting, say, an MBE - mounted female style, even if they are then expected to wear them male-style when in uniform.

I remember buying that aged about 12... ... and it's still on the shelf at home!

Here you go: - 1st Type 2nd Type Sorry they are not very good pictures!

Military Merit Medal, instituted 1948, 1st type. I think I have pictures of both types tucked away, give me a moment...

I take it you are familiar with the Wikipedia entry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Carl_von_Slatin - and the German links therefrom? From that, he held a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael & St George and was a Companion of the Batn (both UK), but no other medals are mentioned.

See http://www.medals.org.uk/finland/finland128.htm Anyone know more about it?

Ethiopean Commemorative Medal for the Korean War: -

For those interested, I recently did quite a lot of work on the Russian Federation section of my site. Several medals, especially in the early days, looked extremely similar to their USSR equivalents, while the Orders of Suvarov, Ushakov, Kutuzov, Nakhimov and Alexander Nevsky were retained unchanged, being confirmed in the Federation's order of precedence in 1992.

Lovely. Tang Si, would you be willing to permit me to use the images on my website, please?

Thanks for that... will add it to the website when I get home.

Fascinating background to your extensive collection, Lorenzo. Looks like he was rather good at Tae Kwon Do (I did some when younger, but not that well!). Does he still keep in practice?

In whimsical mood, is it preferable to have a medal for being shot at or one for failing to duck? Yet the 'Enemy Marksmanship Award' known as the Purple Heart is a highly-regarded award high in the US order of precedence.

Thank you - most appreciated :-)

Star: This pictures have an interesting story - they were sent to me by one James Miller, the master goldsmith who made them! This set were made to be presented to HM Queen Elizabeth II of the UK.