Megan

Орден Ушакова Instituted: 3 March 1944 as an award of the USSR, confirmed in the current order of precedence on 20 March 1992. Awarded: To naval commanders for outstanding merit, in 2 classes plus a medal. The insignia is virtually the same as the USSR version, except the hammer & sickle has been removed. 1st Class:

Reverse:

Republic Medal 1966 Instituted 1966 to mark the establishment of the Republic of Malawi.

Reverse:

Nacala Campaign Medal 1988-93 Obverse:

Malawi Medal of Bravery Instituted: 1967. Awarded: For acts of great bravery.

Backups are vital. I have: - 1. Medal Archive - where 'raw' scans are filed according to a) where they came from and b) subdivided by country. 2. Medals - which is the fullsize images on black background, ordered by country. 3. Medals-Web - which is the local version of the full website with the reduced images as used there. Then there is the website itself on a remote server, and that gets backed up nightly. Hmm. Maybe I should burn off to DVD as well.... :)

Republic of Malawi Cross Instituted: 1967. Awarded: For eminent acts of valour, self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty.

Medal of the Order of the Lion:

Grand Officer Star:

Order of the Lion Instituted: 1967. Awarded: For distinguished and outstanding services to the people of Malawi. Grades: 5 (Grand Commander, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Member) plus a Medal. Here is the Grand Commander Star:

Yes - but the rest is very similar. That picture on my site has been there a VERY long time, not sure where it came from even (and I'm generally meticulous about sources, there's a big archive file on my hard drive with the original images filed under where I got 'em from, but it predates that!). Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the collar of the Order of Skandebeg It's all fascinating though, and worth exploring further.

Isn't Arton Lame's picture a better version of the b&w one on my site?

Official Russian award site - http://award.adm.gov.ru/orden/orden_14.htm

Inclined to agree... Interestingly it's the only 'new' award that comes in the Soviet style of a pin-on breast badge (although they hung onto a few of the old ones with the red stars, hammers & sickles etc. ripped off). Hopefully they'll ditch it.

Here's the Soviet version for comparison:

Government one. But that does not guarantee that they'll design things to your taste...

Dearly beloved is waving a beer at me. More tomorrow.... :beer:

Reverse:

Орден Дружбы Instituted: 2 March 1994. Awarded: For strengthening friendship and cooperation between the Russian Federation and other countries in areas of science, culture, economics and peace. Obverse:

Орден Дружбы народов Instituted: 1992, to replace the USSR Order of Friendship of People. Discontinued: 1994 (replaced by the Order of Friendship). http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237055284.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237055317.jpg

Орден Почета Instituted: 2 March 1994. Awarded: For meritorious services to the country in fields such as economics, culture, arts and sciences. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237053982.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237054008.jpg

Орден "За морские заслуги" Instituted: 27 February 2002. Awarded: For naval merit and contributions to maritime studies.

Орден "За военные заслуги" Instituted: 2 March 1994. Awarded: For distinguished service or acts of valour in the armed forces. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237050812.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237050841.jpg

Орден Мужества Instituted: 2 March 1994. Awarded: For acts of courage or self-sacrifice performed while saving life, protecting public order, fighting crime or fire, or similar emergency situations. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237050499.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237050559.jpg