Megan

Could have sworn I'd posted my images of this order, but cannot find it, so here goes... Orden jugoslovenske zastave Instituted 26 November 1947 and awarded for outstanding contributions to the development and strengthening of peaceful cooperation and friendship between Yugoslavia and other nations in five classes. 1st Class: Badge (Obverse)

ՀՀ զինված ուժերի «Գարեգին Նժդեհ» մեդալ Instituted 20 July 2001, and awarded for meritorious services towards military education and improvments in service life. Oddly, this is exactly what it says for the Medal of Drastamat Kanayan... but my source is the Armenian Ministry of Defence, surely they know what they hand out their own medals for! [Picture source: Armenian Ministry of Defence]

Orden al Mérito de la Policia Nacional, in the Commander (Comendador) class, for meritorious service. It can also be awarded for 'distinguished actions' in which case the ribbon is half red, half green with white edges. Instituted 1945, and believed to have been superceded in 1990 by the Civil Guard and Police Order of Merit... but as Jeff says, sources are few and far between.

ՀՀ զինված ուժերի «Դրաստամատ Կանայան» մեդալ Instituted 20 July 2001 and awarded for meritorious services towards military education and improvments in service life. [Picture credit: Armenian Ministry of Defence]

CB-OBE does work, because the Order of the Bath ribbon is in first place. What would not work is CB-KBE, as he'd then have the Order of the British Empire ribbon first...

If a woman is awarded the MBE or other chest/neck worn orders, she receives the insignia on a bow rather than as a straight chest ribbon or neck ribbon. However, if she wishes to wear her gongs in uniform, they are worn 'male' style. A black backing to a court mount might be police or St John's Ambulance. The Guards Brigade uses scarlet because that's the colour of the full dress tunic.

My father received a US Bronze Star for 'meritorious service' - he claimed it was for dusting an American general's desk! - whilst serving in an Anglo-American joint intelligence unit in Italy. He was a Major in the Intelligence Corps. They were analysing Ultra decodes concerning troop movements in Italy, and he was there because he was fluent in German. The medal is not named, although there's a piece of paper stuck down on the case with his name and rank. (His full wartime group is: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star (no clasp), Italy Star, War Medal 1939-45 and the US Bronze Star.)

ՀՀ զինված ուժերի «Անդրանիկ Օզանյան» մեդալ Instituted 20 July 2001 and awarded for acts of bravery, meritorious services or noteworthy contributions towards the organisational development of the armed forces. It is awarded to both military personnel and civilians. [Picture credit: Armenian Ministry of Defence]

ՀՀ զինված ուժերի «Մարշալ Բաղրամյան» մեդալ Instituted 11 May 1997, to mark the centenary of the birth of Hovhannes Khachaturi Baghramyan, an Armenian who rose to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union and commanded with distinction during World War II. It's awarded to members of the Armed Forces of Armenia for participation in combat operations, for training young people and for border protection duties, and to those who served in World War II. [Picture credit: Ilya Repetski]

ՀՀ զինված ուժերի «Անբասիր ծառայության համար» քառաստիճան մեդալ Instituted 13 August 2001 and awarded for excellent service in the Armenian Armed Forces for 5, 10, 15, or 20 years, hence 4 classes. Very difficult to find anything about this one... I think I have the first 3 classes correctly identified (by peering at numerals on the medal) although the ribbons are a bit unusual. Another oddity - the medal's name actually translates to 'for fair service' rather than the more conventional long, or excellent, service most people use! 1st Class: 2nd Class: 3rd Class: [Picture credit: Armenian Ministry of Defence]

Further delving suggests that 'National Recognition' seems more likely given the inscription on the beast... even if the same ribbon was used for something else at some time.

Ed Emering shows the medal in #12 as the Medal of National Recognition. However Antonio Pieto Barrio shows that ribbon as the Medaille d'Or de Independence, 1963.

Interesting... Emmanuel's Order of Civic Merit 'Officer' above is a silver chest decoration with rosette on the ribbon. Elvis has just presented a gold chest decoration with rosette as the '1st Class' - Emmanuel having told us it's a 3-class order, so Commander, Officer, Knight. Meanwhile Liverpool Medals have 2 items from this order: a gold chest decoration presented as 'officer' and a silver one as 'knight' - neither with rosette... not that you can believe dealers' lists, although LM are better than most. So what's going on? Most Commander-grades are a neck badge. Is that not the case here?

Thank you for sharing... and for distracting me from working on a presentation for my next job interview!

Մովսես Խորենացու մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993 and awarded for significant creative achievements in Armenian culture, art, literature, education and humanities. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]

This is the Grand Officer class of The Most Puissant Order of the Gurkha Right Arm or (transliterated from Nepali) Gorkha Dakshinabahu. It was instituted in 1895 by King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Dev, and awarded for valuable service to Nepal in five classes. There is also a medal associated with the order.

Fascinating, Emmanuel, thank you for sharing! Now I must scamper off and update the sadly neglected corner of my site that covers Benin/Dahomey...

Անանիա Շիրակացու մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993 and awarded for notable contributions to economics, engineering, architecture, science and technology. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]

Oops... I seem to have stuttered in the heading, it's just Medal of Mkhitar Heratsi, only I cannot find a way to edit the heading :(

Մխիթար Հերացու մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993 and awarded for contributions to the development of healthcare in Armenia and services to medicine. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]

Thank you, cimbineus :)

OOOH! That's interesting... so the one I posted is your 'Type D' - yes? Would you be willing to permit me to use your images of the earlier versions on my website? Full acknowledgements given, of course (but I'll be asking for your real name, PM if you prefer).

Actually there is a Type 1 in the latest Auktionhaus Andreas Thies catalogue, but Andreas has requested that he be asked about every image I wish to use individually... it's on the list I am putting together of East German material I want to request permission to use :)

Ehrentitel Held der DDR Instituted 28 October 1975 and awarded for extraordinary achievements and contributions through heroic deeds for the GDR, which have developed and strengthened the nation, promoted its international recognition and authority and to secure its military protection. It's always worn entire. This is the 2nd Type (1976-87): [Picture credit: Auktionhaus Andreas Thies]

Մխիթար Գոշի մեդալ Instituted 26 July 1993, and awarded for notable service to the state in public and political activities, as well as significant services in the areas of diplomacy, law and political science. [Picture credit: President of Armenia]