Megan

Despite gaining independence from France in 1962, it was not until 1984 that the Algerians got around to establishing much in the way of any decorations of their own. There is a single order, the National Order of Merit (Ordre du Mérite National) which is awarded for all manner of services to the country. It was instituted 2 January 1984 and is quite complex, with three classes of 'Dignity' - each with collar, sash with badge and star - as well as Commander, Officer and Knight grades. Only one of Dignity classes is an actual award - for foreign heads of state - while the other two are the insignia of the President of Algeria and the Chancellor of the Order. Each Dignity is subtly different in insignia, however. All I have found thus far is a picture of the Knight: [Picture credit: Eric Semon] The reverse is plain.

'dewan majlis' is 'council chambers' in Malaysian....

Or here: http://www.medals.org.uk/canada/canada001.htm

British...

The Accumulated Campaign Service Medal was insituted in January 1994 and since then has been awarded for 36 months of repeat operational service for which the General Service Medal 1962 with appropriate clasp or the Operational Service Medal is awarded. It has just been announced (1 July 2011) that the amount of service required for award will be reduced to 24 months. Anyone serving on or after 1 January 2008 who has appropriate qualifying service will be eligible. Service marked by the following medals qualifies: General Service Medal with clasps: Northern Ireland, Dhofar, Lebanon, Mine Clearance Gulf of Suez, Gulf, Kuwait, N Iraq & S Turkey, or Air Operations Iraq OSM Sierra Leone OSM Afghanistan OSM Democratic Republic of Congo The Iraq Medal Multinational campaign medals - approved since 1 April 2000 The ribbon is being changed to one with a double gold stripe instead of the single one currently used. Bars will be awarded for each additional 24 months' qualifying service.

As the UK prepares for HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, I've started musing on which milestones various nations commemorate by issuing medals. In the UK, it is the events relating to the Sovereign's reign: Coronations and Jubilees (along with a few state visits and Durbars, back when foreign travel, even if you happen to be a King, was a very big deal). In Sweden, another constitutional monarchy, they have a different approach. The milestones they mark with a medal are very personal - significant birthdays of their monarch, weddings and wedding anniversaries... and even funerals. There's nothing about their monarch's connection with the nation. The award of such medals is also more personal: family members and people who organise or attend celebrations for whatever milestone is being marked being the only recipients. Norway does both: there are birthday AND reign anniversary medals! Medals were issued to mark King Haakon VII's Coronation (1906), Silver Jubilee (1933), Gold Jubilee (1955) and his 70th birthday. Thailand too marks a mixture of State and personal milestones in their Royal Family's lives with the issue of medals - adding such occasions as the investiture of a Crown Prince to the expected coronations, jubilees and birthdays; along with one to mark 'The Longest Reign' in 1988. As well as a fine memorial of Royal history, these series of medals give a fascinating insight as to the role of the monarchy in different countries around the world... and probably scope for a whole book not just a blog entry!

Everyone has their own reasons for liking or disliking a particular period, and there are several downchecks to contemporary Russian ODM. Some folks don't like modern. Some do not like to have to come to grips with what is quite a challenging language (any one where you have to learn an alphabet as well as the words is that bit harder...). Some are daunted by the sheer number of pieces they're putting out. Me, I already get by in Russian, am happy cataloguing away, and as interested in present-day as historical. But you know that already Drat, came here to start a blog and got sidetracked. Now I have to go out... maybe later!

Fascinating... not seen these before. Er, Jeff, any chance you'd give permission to use the images on my site?

Handy hint: if all else fails copy'n'past the text into a text editor, then copy'n'paste it back again into GMIC. This removes ALL formatting apart from paragraph breaks.

Thank you, Emmanuel, for confirming what I'd been working out from the physical evidence. Scurrying off to update the site forthwith! ELM are already looking at what they are able to share with me in the shape of images and information, I guess I'd better start talking to Spinks as well. (They already permit me to use their auction catalogues, kind souls!)

Thanks, Hugh - so possibly civilian service rather than military?

Reverse: [Picture credit: Liverpool Medals]

Pingat Idah Kerja Baik Unfortunately I have no further details on this one, yet Obverse:

Reverse: [Picture credit: Liverpool Medals]

Pingat Bakti Laila Jasa Ikhlas Instituted in 1975, I haven't yet found the terms of award but think it's probably a meritorious service award. Obverse:

Pingat Hassanal Bolkiah Sultan Darjah Pertama Instituted in 1968 and awarded in 2 classes (Gold Medal and Silver Medal). The post-nominal letters are PHBS, irrespective of class. I cannot find anything about the terms of award, but it seems to be for meritorious service in civilian life, judging by those who have received it. Here is the Silver Medal:

Unknown, the Liverpool Medals catalogue just says "Most Distinguished Order of Merit Commander neck badge" However, looking through my archives I have found 2 dated badges for the Order of Loyalty to the State of Brunei, which was instituted in 1959. The first, dated 1968, has the same centre as the 3rd Class badge I've posted above, the other is tagged 'Post 1984' and has the same centre as the 2nd Class insignia above (and that shown for the Order of Loyalty elsewhere on here...). So perhaps there was a major change in insignia, possibly coinciding with Brunei's full independence from Britain. Fun, isn't it!

For Indonesian Army ceremonial dress insignia, this link refers: http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1681

Here is a 3rd Class badge: However, the centre is somewhat different from that shown in the 2nd Class insignia above - I wonder if it varied over time... and if so, what the dates were! [Picture credit: Liverpool Medals]

Darjah Paduka Sri Laila Jasa Yang Amat Berjasa Instituted February 1964 by Sultan Muda Haji 'Omar 'Ali Saif ud-din III, and awarded for distinguished or meritorious service in 3 classes (Dato Paduka Sri Laila, Dato Laila Jasa, and Third class). The post-nominal letters are: Dato Paduka Sri Laila - PSLJ, Dato Laila Jasa - DSLJ, and Third class - SLJ. Here is the 2nd Class Badge and Star: [Picture credit: UBS]

You never know until you ask... spurred on by this I wrote to Eng Long, who have just replied that whilst some of the governments for whom they make ODM have requested that information not be released without their express permission, that does not apply to all of their contracts, and that as the boss likes my site he will be willing to help supply such information and images that he may! Megan is now bouncing up and down! (Cannot remember the code for that...)

And a somewhat better one, I think the Companion:

Darjah Sri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia Instituted 1 March 1954 by Sultan Muda Haji 'Omar 'Ali Saif ud-din III and awarded for services to the Sultan of Brunei, or which are worthy of recognition by the state in 3 classes (Grand Commander or Dato Seri Paduka, Commander or Dato Paduka, and Companion or Third Class). The post-nominal letters are: Grand Commander or Dato Seri Paduka - SPMB, Commander or Dato Paduka - DPMB, Companion or Third Class - SMB Here is the Grand Commander Collar: And the Grand Commander Star: (Apologies that they are not very good images)

Darjah Pahlawan Negara Brunei Yang Amat Perkasa Instituted 28 November 1959 by Sultan Muda Haji 'Omar 'Ali Saif ud-din III, and awarded for acts of gallantry by members of the armed forces and civilians acting in support of them in 4 classes (Dato Seri Pahlawan, Dato Hamzah Pahlawan, Third Class, and Fourth Class). The post-nominal letters are: Dato Seri Pahlawan - PSPNB, Dato Hamzah Pahlawan - DHPNB, Third Class - PNB, Fourth Class - PJB. Alas I only have a picture of the Third Class:

Do you have the address of the Congo Chancellery site, please, Emmanuel?