Megan

We can now work through the gongs (for the curious, working from the full-size image which was indeed massive, cropped each in turn then enlarged, but did not sharpen as was reaching unacceptable levels of grainyness). 1. The neck badge: 2. The miniature bar: 3. The stars: 4. The sash badge:

OK, home now. To start, the picture in more-or-less full - I trimmed the edges so as to maximise the important bits like face & medals (we can assume legs, don't need to see them!).

James has kindly sent a copy of his picture to me, I'll have at it when I get home!

If you would care to e-mail a copy to me I can put my image-fiddling skills to use...

On uniforms: during the 19th century the fashion was to dress your army like which ever one was doing well at the time on the battlefield. During the 2nd half of the 20th century the tendency was to dress your army according to which side of the Iron Curtain your political leanings were, or if non-aligned, in the style of whichever power you were most friendly with.

Nicer than the picture I've got! Thanks for showing it.

Thanks, Richard - I was going on the ribbon as I've not actually seen the full decoration before!

Interesting - not seen that before.

And the reverse - very distinctive!

Here is the obverse of the Commemorative Medal of 100th Anniversary of Patriotic War 1812 - sorry, no ribbon (it came on that of the Order of St Vladimir - red with wide black edges): Does look decidedly like your piece...

Could well be right, James - I learned those names from my father, who did in fact have a brief secondment to the Colonial Office although most of his career was in the Home Civil Service. Most civil servants, at least those with any interest in gongs, would recognise the terminology, though.

Do you have an image of the reverse, please?

Actually, the nicknames for the various levels of the Order of St Michael & St George were in common use, certainly within both the Home Civil Service and the Foreign Office, for some considerable time before Yes, Minister was aired. For those who don't know them: CMG = Call Me God KCMG = Kindly Call Me God GCMG = God Calls Me God

Thank you, Antonio - much appreciated!

Thanks for that, Antonio. I have plenty more Spanish pictures to come. You have your own images of these two, but when I find ones you are missing I will e-mail them to you so you can use them on your wonderful site.

Nice - Thanks, folks. I have little information as yet...

Sash & Star - Zimbabwe Order of Merit, Civil Division, Grand Commander or 1st Class. Medals: Red ribbon, narrow black, yellow & green edge stripes: Liberation Medal in silver (there was also a bronze one) awarded for services towards the creation of the republic of Zimbabwe in 1980. Black central stripe with red, yellow and green outer stripes: Independence Medal in silver (again there was also a bronze version), created in 1980 to celebrate formal independence as Zimbabwe and awarded as desired by the Prime Minister. Last one MAY be the Liberation Decoration, but I have no further information on that. I think the collar is the badge of office of the Presidency, but I have no reference picture to back up my opinion. Lovely pics, thanks IVB.

Thanks Ed... but that's quite interesting because your information states that the current blue, white and green flag was introduced in 2006, while IVB's picture is dated 2002. James, do you have a date for your picture? Between us we'll find out what's going on....

When instituted in 1972, this order had a dark blue ribbon edged with narrow stripes of green and red - so again there seems to have been an alteration to match the colours of the new national flag. So Arthur's suggestion of an outdated ribbon seems likely to be correct. Does anyone know the date on which the flag was changed?

I have just heard about a recent Tongan medal. Apparently 45 soldiers were sent to the Gulf in support of American forces, and have been awarded the Campaign Medal:

Fascinating stuff! Thanks, all.

The uniform would seem to support you view, Ed. It looks like a Civil Service court dress tunic.

Here is the current issue of the Grand Cross, blue distinction - awarded when the act or services were performed during peacekeeping or other international actions.

I have now turned my attention to Spain... Here from the Order of Military Merit (Orden del M?rito Militar) is the Grand Cross with yellow distinction, the current version as awarded since 2003 - the order having been instituted in 1864. The yellow distinction is awarded for death or wounds in the course of military action.

Lovely!!!!