Megan

Had a look at Somalia ODM today, started tearing hair out. Little documentation or references to be found. It appears that once idenpendence was gained there was a short-lived Republic of Somalia (1960-61?) followed by a Democratic Republic of Somalia (1969-1991), which had different medals entirely. If there was something inbetween, apart from a lot of brawling, I've not found it yet. The Order of the Somali Star, which pops up all the time when you start searching, apparently belongs in the first Republic of Somaila. I don't think it survived past then. Of course, after writing this I then turn up a pile of medals from both the Republic and the Federal Republic, as well as the Italian Protectorate that preceeded them, in a couple of recent Spinks catalogues. As the dear souls at Spinks allow me to use their images, I shall sift through them and try to make head or tail of them in due course. But dearly beloved is waving beer at me so not right now 🍺

First medal pic: Cross of Valour (Хрест доблесті) - first one I've seen! Red ribbon with green edges: Military Cross (Воєнний хрест) - again, first actual one I've seen. The 2 stars beside it are the Badge for Exemplary Service (Нагрудний знак За зразкову службу) Next medal pic: 2 specimens of the Medal "For Assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine" (Медаль "За сприяння Збройним Силам України") Then the Badge of Honour (Відзнака Знак пошани) Thanks for some good images, Antonio.

Leaving it a bit late, aren't they? The event's only, what, 3 weeks away. Monst such 'commemoratvie' medals are instituted 6-12 months before the event they are supposed to celebrate.

Gracias, Antonio.

Happily vanishing down this rabbit-hole of Cameroon medals... it's just as well that I can read French! Read "ORDER NO. 72/24 OF 30/11/1972 Reorganizing the National Orders and the Great Chancellery of the United Republic of Cameroon" last night. That's some help on the structure/names of orders but doesn't say beans about what they look like. Just found "Loi N° 2019/007 du 25 avril 2019 portant régime des ordres nationaux" - at a quick scan it's an update of the 1972 one, still no descriptions. Anyone know of any other laws or regulations dealing with Cameroon stuff - especially medals, the above 2 deal primarily with the orders only?

Wish more people went for Print on Demand or PDF distribution - usually less expensive and moreover protects against going out of print!

There were some other awards (all in the Royal Victorian Order, which as you probably know, is in the gift of the Monarch rather than going through the political Honours system): The Queen's Dresser, Angela Kelly, becomes a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, as does her page Paul Whybrew and her groom Terence Pendry. Aircrew involved in the flight of Her Majesty's corpse from Scotland to London were also included, and a couple of Ladies in Waiting were made Dame Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order as well. The full list is here: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64008/supplement/D1

The final gallantry awards list approved by the late Queen has been announced, with 15 people being awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal or Queen's Commendation for Bravery. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/civilian-gallantry-list-march-2023 gives the names and citations. It will be interesting to see if the medals, when awarded, still bear the Queen's head (the Commendation, being a spray of laurel leaves, won't need to change design). It is expected, however, that the names of the awards will change to King's Gallantry Medal and King's Commendation for Bravery for future awards. The Queen's Gallanry Medal was instituted on 20 June 1974, so has only borne the head of Queen Elizabeth II so far.

35 Years Service Medal:

Great resource, thank you!!!

Fine collection. "cannetille" is a close relative of filigree, fine work done with delicate gold wire - it may be embroidery, as here, or in jewellry.

By doubting we come to questioning, by questioning we come to perceive the truth Is a 'replacement' a 'copy'? When the original awardee wants another piece of insignia, perhaps having lost the original or because they like wearing it and don't want the original to get battered and worn out, that's more of a replacement. Especially in those countries where you are expected to purchase insignia once an award has been made. When a particular insignia is rare and hard to come by, copies may appear. Some are honest about it and come marked as a 'copy', Others are intended to deceive collectors, and those are 'fakes'. Or at least, that's how I see it. Your opinion may vary.

I had one... it fell off somewhere in Turkey (literally, it was on the jacket I was wearing on holiday!). Maybe I shall replace it...

Magic, thank you very much Karhu!

So sorry to hear this. It's all to easy to lose sight of the real cost of war when looking at medal pictures.

The purpose of the 1957 issue awards was to allow those who'd received awards for gallantry or war service during WW2 to wear their awards without displaying a swastika, which was (and still is) illegal to wear in Germany. As pre-1933 awards - including, of course, those issued during WW1 - did not bear the swastika, no design change was required for them to be worn in public.

Thank you for this useful information.

Current Grand Cross, in use since 1939.

Medal "For the Defence of Ukraine" (Медаль "За оборону України") Instituted on 5 August 2022[1] and awarded for self-sacrifice and significant personal contributions to strengthening the defence of Ukraine, the protection of the safety of the population and the interests of the state in connection with the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Nice to see a picture of the beast... I have only seen the design drawing in the Decree establishing it. [1] Decree of the President of Ukraine dated 5 August 2022 No. 559/2022 "On the award of the President of Ukraine "For the Defence of Ukraine""

I once bought a poster in the shop at the Guards Museum in Wellington Barracks that depicted all the Grenadier camp colours. Not sure where it is now, though!

Interesting that some life has just been blown into this thread, 'cos I've been working on my Philippines section too! A quick question: Emmanuel shows 2 types of the Philippines National Police Medal of Valour. Yet all the documentation I can find only describes the second type (on a neck ribbon/cravat), and claim as the date of institution for this award 23 September 1993, citing a document NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 93-018, dated September 23, 1993, concerning honours and awards of the police.... in which the Type 2 as shown by Emmanuel is described! Needless to say I have an image of the Type 1 which I am just about to put up, but I am confused. When was it instituted? And was 1993 when it was replaced by Type 2 rather than when the actual award was instituted? At the moment the only Type 1 images I've seen are Emmanuel's and the one I have - source Spinks Auction 21001 lot 1132 (Spinks have given me the run of their catalogues, the darlings!).

The King appears to be going for simplicity in his official iconography. The new stamps have just been released: No crown, not on his head or even anywhere on the stamp. It's the same portrait as on what coinage has so far been seem... so it seems likely that it will also be used for medals.

Thank you for the decrees... where are you finding them?

Proud service indeed. Thank you.

Useful chart: bookmarked for future reference Thanks, Antonio.