Hugh

Does anyone know if the Ushakov medal is being awarded to U. S. veterans of the convoys? Thanks, Hugh

Also: PORTUGAL - Cruz do Valor Militar (Military Cross of Valour) PORTUGAL - Cruz do Merito Militar, 2nd Class, w/ Distinto Cruz (Cross of Military Merit w/ cross emblem), Mint PORTUGAL - Cruz da Guerra, w/ Distinto Valor (War Cross w/ Bravery emblem) PORTUGAL - Medalha Servicos Distintos, w/ Distinto Ultramar (Medal for Distinguished Services w/ Overseas emblem) PORTUGAL - Comportimento Exemplar, w/ Distinto Ultramar (Good Behavior w/ Overseas emblem) PORTUGAL - Promocao por Distincao (Star for Promotion for Bravery w/Star) PORTUGAL - Mutilados e Invalidos (Star for Wounded and Disabled) PORTUGAL - Vitoria (Victory Medal), 1914-18, PORTUGAL - Campanhas Ultramar, Combatante (Overseas Campaign Medal with Combatant ribbon), w/ bars, "Angola "70-72", "Angola "72-75" PORTUGAL - Campanhas Ultramar, Non-combatante (Overseas Campaign Medal w/ Non-combatant ribbon), w/ bar, "Norte de Angola "60-62", EF w/ slight corrosion-reverse These are all mid- to late 20th century and may be same as or follow on to some of the ones you have listed above. Please let me know which (if any) pictures you want. My inventory says I also have a thing called PORTUGAL – Imperial Order (Ordem do Imperio), neck badge, Grand Officer gold w/ enamels, w/ full cravat , and I have a vague recollection of it, but can't find a picture in my files. If it's important, I'll root around in my treasure locker. Just let me know.

You may want to add: PORTUGAL - Order of Infante Dom Henrique, 3rd Class (Commander), Neck badge, Mint Best, Hugh

Thanks to both you for providing a context to this medal. I had hoped for traceability, but understand that's a tall order with this many items in circulation. Best, Hugh

As some of you know, I'm a complete novice with US medals, but have recently acquired a number of interesting pieces from my nephew. He acquired them over many years through talking with veterans. Unfortunately, he's had health issues, so I haven't gotten any biographical data from him. I'll post some of them here in the hope of information from more knowledgeable members. From the number, I assume this is a WW II or later issue. (Box is consistent with WW II) I'm not convinced that the two lapel devices are original issue with this cross - both are clutch back, and one is what I believe to be an unofficial plastic piece. USA – Distinguished Service Cross, wrap brooch, numbered (lower arm) “17653”, in box of issue with two lapel emblems for civilian wear and extra piece of full-size ribbon Hoping for your comments? Thanks, Hugh

Never heard of this, but it makes good sense. (I never had the problem with multiple awards.) Best, Hugh CAPT, USN, Ret. so you'd think I should know

Information like this is a reminder of how greatly we are privileged to belong to a company of ladies and gentlemen with such a breadth and depth of knowledge and such generosity of spirit to share it so willingly with the uninformed. Many thanks, James.

This one's easier - Italian campaign, 1944. Best, Hugh

H

I have this same medal hanging from the same (faded) ribbon in a frame on my wall, along with an assortment of other French awards. But...surprise...I have no record of it in my inventory list! For some reason, I have placed it immediately preceding the more current Service Militaire Volontaire medals in my collection. But I don't know what it is nor whether my decision on precedence is correct. I can't wait to see the replies you get. I have catalogues (Monnaie de Paris and Arthus Bertrand) from circa 1988 which in both cases show a series of round medals (gold, silver, bronze) with Marianne in her Phrygian cap facing left for this award.

Yes, gaudy and immodest in the extreme. Still, there is something about it... I could grow to love it over time. H

Aha! I was hoping you'd see this. Now that I think about it , of course this is too late for the King. The set was a gift, so it's not as though I paid too much for a mistaken attribution. When you say "son of his Great Grandfather...", I assume you mean son of King Hussein's Great Grandfather - correct? Thanks for you insight, and thanks to Brett and Bernhard for comments. Best, Hugh

I coudn't open my own attachments for the documents, so here they are again in a different format. Still trying to figure out "Rotate" so it will stick.

Let's start slowly - Here's the box it came in. And next, the insignia themselves I carefully rotated all these pictures to get them right side up, but they are defying me. Serial number 861, which accords with the presentation letter which was still in the box. And the star And the documents UK 00 - GCVO Documents.pdf UK 00 - GCVO Documents.pdf

Back in 2010, I posted my British medals, which included the group listed below which belongs to my nephew. A woman from Oregon recognized the medals as having been awarded to her grandfather, and we opened a dialogue between her and my nephew to reach an agreement on how to get the medals back to her. Unfortunately, they didn't reach a conclusion and the dialogue ended. My nephew has now authorized me to renew the conversation, but I no longer have her name or contact information. If anyone has information on how to reach her, please let me know. Thanks, Hugh GREAT BRITAIN - War Medal 1914-18, named to 6334 Pte G. W. S. Friedrichen, 16 Lond R. VF, Victory Medal 1914-18, named to 6334 Pte G. W. S. Friedrichen, 16 Lond R. VF, Defence Medal 1939-45, unnamed as issued, F, War Medal 1939-45, unnamed as issued, F, Territorial Efficiency Medal, G-V, named to 6687679 W. O. Cl 2 G. W. S. Friedrichsen, 16/Lond R. VF, Territorial Efficiency Medal, G-VI w/ top bar "Territorial" and 2 service bars (24 years service), named to Lt. G. W. S. Friedrichsen, Int. Corps., VF, - Code: UK

Pretty sure the Seaforths wore a bonnet with this dicing. I seem to remember that the shape of the cut of the end of the ribbons was (in some cases) unique to each battalion. One of the Seaforth battalions wore a swallow-tail cut. Best, H

Aha! So the "little grey cells' have not completely abandoned me yet. Many thanks. H

Going from very distant memory here, but I seem to remember that different Seaforth battalions wore the tartan differently, one diagonal, one vertical/horizontal. Not sure which was which. Perhaps some one can elucidate. H

MIght not this alternatively be a Seaforth Highlanders TOS with the MacKenzie tartan?

Perhaps...or not. I haven't read the regs, but I believe it would also be possible that he had one bravery award and two merit awards. No real way to distinguish.

We were under rocket attack one night at Camp Tien Sha, Danang. In rushing down into the bunker, one of the guys forgot to duck and smacked his head against the support timber over the door. As a scalp wound, it bled profusely, and, sure enough, the corpsman gave him a Purple Heart.

Thanks for this, Megan. This was the day before Malaysian Independence, and well before Singapore's expulsion (9 August 1965). I got my example of this medal in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, so I assume it must have been awarded to a Pakistani serving in Singapore who subsequently retired in Pakistan.

Wonderful article and your photographs are indeed terrific. They used to have a display of these ODM in the MinDef building, unfortunately not accessible to most people, and before that in the Ordnance and Defence company. SIngapore's ODM are not easy to collect, partly because they have strict rules governing distribution and partly because there just aren't very many of them. Squadron Leader O'Toole, mentioned in the article is also the author of Malayan Orders and Decorations, together with Haji Abdul Mubin Sheppard. It's a small book, but has excellent illustrations and discussion of the ODM. I've attached a picture of another early Singapore / Malaysia award, the Singapore Uniformed Services of Malaysia Medal (Independence) '63. I have no other information on this, but assume it was awarded in the period after Malayan independence, but before the kicked Singapore out of Malaysia. I'd love it if someone had more information.

Perhaps this will be old hat to the German specialists, but it was new to me. Quite an impressive list of awards at the end. Also interesting notes about the family's military history, including service in the Kings German Legion and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/the-greatest-german-general-no-one-ever-heard-of-over-1000-enemy-tank-kills.html

A great piece of history.