Megan

Thank you, Radmilo - may I have your full name for the acknowledgement, please (PM if you prefer). I do need help with FRY - please look over that section of my site: I'd be grateful for any corrections or additional information/images that you are able to share!

Fascinating... I had the medal listed on my site (although I translated it as 'Medal of Humanity') but did not know for what it was awarded nor what it looked like. Would you be willing to permit me to use the images? (With due acknowledgement, of course.)

Thank you for all your hard work, Nick.

LOI N° 2005-14 of 30 May 2005 has in Appendix 1 an update on this medal: MEDAILLE D’HONNEUR DES DOUANES A. DESCRIPTION La médaille est ronde, d’un module de 32 millimètres. Elle présente sur l’avers, en motif central, une flèche d’argent qui surmonte le soleil d’or nigérien sur lequel sont entrecroisées deux glaives d’argent portant en exergue en lettres vermeil « MEDAILLE D’HONNEUR DES DOUANES NIGERIENNES ». Au revers : FRATERNITE – TRAVAIL – PROGRES et COURAGE AU SERVICE DE L’ADMINISTRATION DES DOUANES. Le ruban comporte cinq bandes longitudinales alternativement orange, noire et verte. B. CONDITIONS DE DELIVRANCE Pour être proposés, les candidats à l’obtention de la médaille doivent réunir au jour de leur nomination au moins 15 ans de services effectifs dans l’administration des Douanes et avoir obtenu une note moyenne au moins égale à 16/20, au cours de leurs services. Toutefois, cette distinction pourra être accordée à titre exceptionnel avec dispense des conditions d’ancienneté : a. à titre posthume aux agents de l’Administration des Douanes ayant trouvé la mort soit en accomplissant un acte exceptionnel de courage, soit dans une lutte soutenue contre les fraudeurs ou ayant succombé des suites de blessures reçues dans ces circonstances. b. à tout fonctionnaire des Douanes ou à toute autre personne ayant rendu des services signalés à l’Administration des Douanes. Les propositions pour l’attribution de la médaille d’honneur des douanes sont établies par le Ministre des Finances, sur proposition du Directeur Général des Douanes, normalement deux fois par an à l’occasion des fêtes du 3 août et du 18 décembre. Elles font l’objet d’un décret du Président de la République. La remise de la décoration est suivie le plus tôt possible de la remise d’un Brevet signé du Ministre des Finances et du Grand Chancelier de l’Ordre National. La discipline, le contrôle et l’administration de la Médaille d’Honneur des Douanes sont assurés par le Grand Chancelier de l’Ordre National.

Cheshire Police are wearing something similar already... they look more as if they are out jogging than on the beat.

As you know, I do not often sneak in here, but I got an e-mail today from one Jon Weston telling me about his police insignia website and thought you may be interested. It's at www.helmetscaps.co.uk/hc/ and he says: "I spent 12 and a half years researching and photographing all badges in English and Welsh police forces and I know that many dealers in military also deal in police items now and again. I also supply a listing of all helmet types know that were worn by each force with books. A set of two books are sold at £45 (reduced from £55) to military dealers."

Apart from it having been instituted in 1956 by King Muhammad al-Amin, not really... supposedly had 5 classes: Grand Cordon, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight. No clue as to design or ribbon colours, or even if they got that far! The Arabic name is نيشان التاج التونسي Information other than that is sparse. It is mentioned in the Dutch-language version of Wikipedia, but without references, and in the French-language Wikipedia referencing the Dutch version!

I fail to see why the services rendered by a person of 'left-wing' views are any less worthy of recognition... or is it that you suspect that they'd be predisposed to say "No, thank you," hence not much point in offering an honour to them?

I understand that there is a list of recipients at the Netherlands chancellery.

Inhuldigingsmedaille 1948 This royal commemorative was instituted on 13 August 1948 to mark the inauguration ceremonies held for Queen Juliana on 6 September 1948, following her mother Queen Wilhelmina’s abdication on 4 September 1948… the ceremony being held exactly 50 years after Queen Wilhelmina’s own inauguration on 6 September 1898. This was the first royal commemorative to be instituted by means of a formal Royal Warrant, previous ones having been established merely by court decision and thus being only semi-official. It was awarded to individuals involved in the preparations for the ceremonial, those who had an official part to play in the inauguration ceremony itself (including the military personnel on duty) and the invited guests, with some 3,240 being presented in total. The medal was designed by Nel Klaassen and made at the Royal Mint in Utrect. The medal is silver, 30.5mm in diameter. The obverse of the medal shows the portrait of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard facing left, while on the reverse a crowned J is surrounded by the text "JULIANA KONINGIN DER NEDERLANDEN (Juliana, Queen of the Netherlands) with the text INHULDIGING 6 SEPTEMBER 1948 (inauguration 6th of September 1948) in a semi-circle below the crowned J. The ribbon is orange with a double blue central stripe and narrow red, white and blue edges. It was created by Koninklijk besluit no. 49 van 13 augustus 1948 (Nederlandse Staatscourant no. 160 van 18 augustus 1948)/Royal Decree No.49 of 13 August 1948 (Dutch Government Gazette No.160 of 18 August 1948) [Picture credit: eMedals]

Tasty, but what will it cost?

Ribbon red with black edges... but you know the Imperial Russians, always a bit vague with medal ribbons!

Casteel de Goede Hoop-Dekorasie The Castle of Good Hope Decoration was instituted on 6 April 1952 as a substitute for the Victoria Cross, for which South Africans had previously been eligible. It was given formal approval by Queen Elizabeth II on 26 January 1953. It was to be awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy in wartime, the requirement for ‘wartime’ being removed in 1986 to permit for its award in other operations, although no awards were ever made. It was discontinued on 27 April 2003, being replaced by the Nkwe ya Gauta. Worn on a plain green neck ribbon, the decoration consisted of a pentagonal gold medal, based on the outline of the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town. The obverse depicts three ships sailing into Table Bay in 1652 surrounded by a band of proteus flowers and the title of the decoration in English and Afrikaans. The reverse shows the 1910-pattern South African coat of arms, and specimens struck before the country became a republic in 1961 also have Queen Elizabeth's royal cipher (E II R).

Ster vir Dapperheid in Goud The equivalent award to the Gold Star for Bravery for members of uMkhonto we Sizwe is the Star for Bravery in Gold, likewise instituted in 1996 and awarded for exceptional deeds of bravery, performed in action against an armed enemy, while in great danger of life between 1961 and 1994. It may be worn in uniform by those former members of uMkhonto we Sizwe who have enlisted in the South African forces since 1994. The decoration was discontinued on 27 July 2003[1]. The design is also similar, being a five-pointed gold star. The obverse has a white central roundel bearing a gold lion; the reverse is plain with the state arms in relief. The ribbon is red with a double white central stripe. [1] Government Gazette No 25213

Ster vir Dapperheid In an unprecedented move as part of the national reconciliation, former combatants from the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto Wesizwe were not only permitted to enlist in the South African military but acts of bravery and service against the pre-1994 South African government were recognised by awards that could be worn on South African uniforms. Both organisations had parallel but different awards. This, the Gold Star for Bravery, was the highest gallantry award for members of the Azanian People's Liberation Army, being awarded for exceptional deeds of bravery against an armed enemy, while in great danger of life. The decoration consists of a ten-pointed gold star. The obverse has a white central roundel bearing a gold lion; the reverse is plain with the state arms in relief. The ribbon is red with a wide white central stripe. The Gold Star for Bravery was instituted in 1996, awarded for acts of bravery performed between 1961 and 1994, and discontinued on 27 July 2003. (Sorry, not the best of images... if anyone has a better?)

And I am somewhere in between... at 52 my daughter is 15 But the hair is grey... we have 3 Megans in my church, and so when more than one of us is around in the same meeting, I refer to myself as 'the grey Megan' given that the other two are college students. The other folks try to be more polite, but get tangled up, so I shall probably get my way in the end... The trick is to enjoy life, enjoy the folks around you, enjoy whatever it is you are doing. I too need some improvement in the paycheck area, like I would like a job. Unemployment sucks, and job-hunting is a frustrating exercise in futility and wastes a heck of a lot of time. Everything else is wonderful!

I was speaking to a senior fire officer a couple of days ago, who was in his 'service dress' tunic with the Golden Jubilee & Fire Long Service ribbons up. He said that the Diamond Jubilee ribbon would not be added until he actually got the medal. Not sure if that was personal preference or Fire Service policy, though.

Thanks for that, Arthur. I think the HCD image that I have is probably a "collector's copy" rather than the real thing. As I seem to have made some contacts at a reasonably high level in SA, who knows, they may let me have a picture of the real thing... As for the references, they have told me that they will pass on earlier Gazettes than are available online Not sure how early they can go, and I shall have to hunt for the Royal Warrant, though.

The Honoris Crux Silver insignia is identical to that of the Honoris Crux Gold save for the metal used and a second narrow white central stripe on the orange ribbon. The Honoris Crux (as in, the fourth class of the revised decoration) is made of silver but with a white-enamelled cross rather than a green one. Its ribbon has a double white edge... and I haven't found a picture yet I also have not found the regulations for the establishment of any of this, just the one of 25 July 2003 that finally discontinued it (Government Gazette no. 25213).

The Honoris Crux Gold is virtually identical, save for a gold circle around the central roundel, no diamonds and a single narrow white stripe down the centre of the orange ribbon. (Apologies for the quality of the image, it's the only one I've been able to find so far!)

Instituted on 1 July 1975 in four classes to replace the Honoris Crux, the Honoris Crux Decoration was also awarded for selfless acts of gallantry. The highest class, Honoris Crux Diamond, was never awarded and the sole specimen made was donated to the South African National Museum of Military History in 2009. The other classes – Honoris Crux Gold, Honoris Crux Silver and Honoris Crux were awarded sparingly. The top two classes were abolished in 1993, and the entire decoration superseded by the Nkwe ya Selefera (Leopard Decoration for Bravery) in 2003. The insignia was similar to that of the original Honoris Crux, being an eight pointed Maltese Cross superimposed on a wreath with crossed swords in the angles and a central roundel divided horizontally into orange, white and blue. The Honoris Crux Diamond is made of gold with the cross on the obverse enamelled green, and bears eight diamonds on a green circle around the central roundel. The reverse is plain with the national arms. The ribbon is plain orange.

Instituted on 6 April 1952, this decoration was awarded in a single class for gallantry in action against the enemy in the field. It was awarded just 5 times before being replaced by a four-class decoration titled Honoris Crux Decoration (the name ‘Honoris Crux’ referring to the lowest class of the award). The badge consists of a silver-gilt Maltese cross with eagles between the arms. The obverse is green, with an orange-white-blue centre disc framed in a red circle inscribed "Honoris Crux". The reverse displays the 1910 South African national coat of arms, with early examples (before 1961) also displaying the Royal Cipher of Queen Elizabeth II. The ribbon is green with red and white edges.

I have settled down for a good look at the orders, decorations and medals of South Africa, so I'll share what I come up with here. I am basing things on the Consolidated Table of Precedence published 11 March 2005 (Government Gazette no. 27376)... and on a fair bit of assistance from some delightful ladies in the South African government! This establishes the Order of Mapungubwe as the premier order. Instituted on 6 December 2002 by Presidential Warrant[1] this order is intended to recognise exceptional, excellent and outstanding achievements made by South Africans to the benefit of the Republic and in the international arena. The order, which is regarded as the premier South African order, is named after Mapungubwe, an ancient African nation which existed a thousand years ago in what is now the northern part of the Limpopo province. The insignia is designed to reflect this heritage. The order was originally established in three classes – Platinum, Gold and Bronze – and a fourth class, Silver, was added on 22 October 2004[2]. The first award, in Platinum, was made to Nelson Mandela for his services towards national reconciliation and nation-building. The Badge of the Order consists of a horizontal oval above an inverted trapezium. Within the oval, a rhinoceros is depicted in front of the sun rising over Mapungubwe hill. There is a beadwork pattern across the curved upper edge of the trapezium, with an ornate crucible from which molten gold flows down to a red furnace in the centre, bordered by two twisted sceptres. The reverse shows the National arms. The Badge is identical for all grades, the metal varying according to class, and it is worn on a neck ribbon which is gold, edged with a line of cream-coloured bead-like dots along each edge, and recurring cream-coloured rhinoceros silhouettes down the centre. Unfortunately, with it being a new and rarely-awarded order, finding pictures of actual insignia is a bit difficult. So for the time being I am making do with a good drawing of the thing! [1] Government Gazette No 24155 [2] Government Gazette No 26929

Thank you, dear heart. And as you know, I read Russian! Of course, now the South African government has offered to send me ALL their material... So it is likely I shall be oscillating between the two.

I am sitting down... But am thinking of going and writing about South Africa instead, last night I found where they have all their regulations! Seriously, thanks... Do you have a copy (or link to) the decree, please?