Megan

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.

Grand Cross insignia:

What an excellent idea to share your passion with the local community like that. Did you get any more enthusiasts?

A fine photo-tour, thanks. Reminds me of a visit to the Central Museum of the Soviet Armed Forces in Moscow, January 1991. In those days, I didn't dare take a camera but had a sketchbook. And indeed there was a little old lady who followed me around... but after checking that there was nobody else there, she gave me a big hug - she was a covert Christian and had spotted my cross! Had a long conversation with a Colonel from Georgia (the Russian one), who had brought his 2 teenage sons to see the displays of the battles that Dad had participated in when not much older than them. We mostly spoke French, as his English was even worse than my Russian! Nothing much in the shop, but bought a fabulous book from a fellow in a subway nearby, who had a big cardboard box of copies... which he was selling for less than a pound sterling. It's Russian and Soviet Military Awards by V.A. Durov, fully illustrated in colour and based on the collection of the Order of Lenin State History Museum, although some of the items come from the Central Museum of the Soviet Armed Forces.

Unofficial adornment I reckon. Does look Air Force, though, so the recipient may well have been in it... but he put the pin on himself!

Nice - this is the 'Participation Medal' which Norway awards to Norwegian military personnel who have participated in special military operations whether abroad or at home. The medal may also be awarded to foreign military personnel who have made meritorious contributions to the Norwegian Armed Forces. The medal remains the same in each case, but a different ribbon is used depending on where you have served - so you get several medals if you take part in more than one operation, provided that you serve the qualifying period for each one, normally 90 days, but less if involved in special operations, get wounded, etc. The ribbon is 33mm wide If you make a special/meritorious contribution to the operation, a silver metal rosette may be awarded, which is worn on the ribbon both when the full medal is worn or on a ribbon bar. It is not normally awarded if your service could be recognised by a UN or NATO medal.

Nice. You will find a few more at http://www.medals.org.uk/ethiopia/ethiopia.htm Will post some in the morning but I am about to crawl off to bed!

The wearing of the Civil insignia on the Military ribbon (or vice versa) is a "tailor's error" and not part of the correct structure of the Order. However, if your aim is to reproduce what these particular individuals wore, you may prefer to mimic their mistakes and perhaps make a note in your accompanying documentation/labelling that it is in fact incorrect but is what the chap in question actually wore.

Why thank you, Ibrahim. The pictures were no problem, only took a short time... Er, any chance that you would be kind enough to permit me to use one or two of your medal pictures on my site?