Megan

I shall try to catch some of our African-heritage students when they come back to college mid-September (term for 2nd years starts on the 14th...). I'm not sure which languages they all speak but someone might know Swahili although they mostly speak Zulu and what they call 'Zimbabwean.'

Medal of Perseverance & Endurance Nishani Ya Ushupavu

Medal of Bravery Nishani Ya Ujasiri

I appreciate everyone's efforts to expand my knowledge. I found the official Djibouti online legal database, which is in French - I speak it fluently but have to work at reading it! - and its search facility is not very good. But as Emmanuel says, what has been legislated is not always quite what happens once the award actually gets made and given out. As an example, there was a discussion recently on the OMSA site about a growing tendency for senior officers awarding medals which are worn on the breast according to regulation suspended on any old length of neck ribbon (often not even the right ribbon). We concluded that they either didn't like fiddling around pinning medals on chests or just thought that hanging something round the neck, sports medal style, made for a better photo opportunity!!! But to those who did not know that the medal should be worn on the chest, the photos from the award ceremony would give incorrect information, especially if you didn't have access to a picture of the recipient wearing the award correctly on his uniform under normal circumstances.

Where did you find that, François? I've been looking for a good picture of the star for ages...

Actually, I believe most if not all of Tanzania's awards are made for them by Spink & Son...

Here is the 3rd Class.

Order of the Torch of Kilimandjaro Mwenge Wa Kilimanjaro Awarded in 3 classes to heads of state, heads of government and governmental ministers - apparently more by position held than accomplishments or services rendered. This is the 1st Class, which is worn as a sash badge. There is no star.

Thanks, Dragomir - yours is more literal a translation, but I was trying to get the feel of how it would actually be best represented in English. (Only I didn't know the word 'равноапостольного'... not something you often encounter!)

Vanuatu General Service Medal Instituted: 1988. This one bears the clasp 'SANTO' - I don't know to what that refers, or what other clasps may exist. Obverse:

Thank you, Roman. If you'd like the magazine credited (as well as your good self), could you tell me the title?

Here's my take:- * Орден святого апостола Андрея Первозванного - Order of St. Andrew the First-Called * Орден святого равноапостольного великого князя Владимира - Order of St. Vladimir * Орден святой равноапостольной великой княгини Ольги - Order of St Olga * Орден святителя Иннокентия, митрополита Московского и Коломенского - Order of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna * Орден преподобного Сергия Радонежского - Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh * Орден святого благоверного князя Даниила Московского - Order of St. Daniel of Moscow * Орден святого мученика Трифона - Order of the Holy Martyr Trifon * Орден благоверного царевича Димитрия, Угличского и Московского - Order of the Tsarevich Dimitri (Tsarevich is more than mere 'Prince,' more Heir to the Throne) * Медаль святителя Иннокентия, митрополита Московского и Коломенского - Medal of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna * Медаль преподобного Сергия Радонежского - Medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh * Медаль святого благоверного князя Даниила Московского - Medal of St. Daniel of Moscow These are very interesting, Roman. Any chance you'd grant permission to add those pictures to my website?

This is an Israeli bar. 1. Sinai Campaign Ribbon (service against Egypt between 29 October to 6 November 1956) 2. Six Day War Ribbon (service 5-10 June 1967)

Order of Vanuatu Very curious one, this... Instituted in 1987, and awarded to citizens and others for achievements or distinguished service in 4 Classes. And this is where the fun starts, the classes are: Badge of Honour, Badge of Distinction, Vanuatu Distinguished Service Medal and Vanuatu Meritorious Service Medal! Here's the Badge of Honour: The curly white bit is supposed to represent the tusk of a wild pig.

Vanuatu Independence Medal 1980

Orden Slobode Instituted 1994 in a single class.

Reverse:

Medal of Defence of the Territory Instituted: 1994. Awarded: To military personnel who served for 180 days or in a major combat during civil unrest 1991-93. Obverse:

And the reverse:

National Medal of Honour About all I know is that it comes in 3 classes. Here's the 3rd Class, obverse:

2nd Class, reverse:

Star of Bravery Etoile de la Vaillance Comes in 3 classes, & seems to be a military award. The 1st Class has a palm on ribbon, 2nd Class a silver star & the 3rd Class a bronze star. Here's a 2nd Class, obverse:

Thanks, Antonio. Will go & update my site accordingly.

Star of Devotion Etoile du Devouement I'm told it comes in 5 classes, and appears to be a military meritorious service (also wounded in action) award. Here's the Officer:

More fragments.... this is the Officer of the National Order of Education.