Lukasz Gaszewski

A bit off-topic, but may be interesting: Swedish subjects have not been eligible for orders of merit since 1975. They may receive only medals. Swedish orders are now bestowed solely upon foreign recipients. Lukasz

The mural crown is still extensively used in the Italian Republic, for example to denote ranks form Major to Colonel in the Italian Army: We still do not know what made the Italians alter the insignia of the order. Prehaps some Italian colleague on this forum did keep an eye on the work of the Italian Parliament when the issue was being discussed. Lukasz

Hendrik is right. I do not know what made Italian legislators change the design of one of the most original and neat European orders. Anyway, the new design shows closer resemblance to the Order of the Crown of Italy. Marco has put forward an interesting point: what to do when the form of an award has changed and a former awardee needs a replacement copy. Marco, you can try your luck and write to the Cnancellery of the President of the Republic. You may try this address: https://servizi.quirinale.it/webmail/ Best regards, Lukasz

I can't wait to see it! Will-iam, Will-iam, Will-iam!!! L.

Dear Christian, I think it is possible. Furthermore, I figure it was likely for a member of the k.u.k. Erzhaus to be an honorary member of it. The extended badge looks like the Matrikelzeichen too. I was trying to find a photo of this decoration on the Net, but I wasn't able to find any. I will make a scan and will post it on the forum. I think that a member of the imperial house that the Archduke was must have had a variety of foreign orders. Notice, however, that he is not wearing any other ones on his tunic. He may have chosen to wear only his Austrian decorations. Well, as I said the photo is not clear, so I am not insisting. Best regards, Lukasz

The photo is small, so I shall not insist, but I think due to its placement that #4 can be the Tirol Gentry Decoration (Matrikelabzeichen des landst?ndischen Tiroler Adels). Lukasz

1. MVK 3rd Class 2. Jubilee Medal, 1898 3. Jubilee Cross, 1908 4. ?? 5. Marianer-Kreuz The ribbon in the buttonhole of his tunic on the second picture is of Prussian EK II. Lukasz

Gentlemen, I am looking for a photo of the fern frond emblem attached to ribbon bars of NZ bravery decorations for a subsequent award. Thanks for your assistance Lukasz

Could be too... But the white stripes here are closer to each other and the ribbon has clearly seen darker edges. NJROTC Academic Award / NSCCAcademic Achievement Ribbon. CAP Gen. Billy Mitchell Award. Best, Lukasz

Ed, you are great!

It shouldn't be difficult to obtain a replacement ribbon (even an original one) for your MVK. Your swords will fit it well!

This is a medal, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Volunteer Labor Units (Доброволните Отряди на Трудещите се) - a paramilitary labor organization. Such organizations were another "all bloc" invention, present in practically all communist countries (I believe some ot these organizations still exist, but their role is marginal). This is most probably a local Plovdiv type of the medal (there is also a "national" type of a different design), probably limited in scope and therefore quite rare. It is difficult to say if the ribbon is correct - the "national" type was suspended from a plain red ribbon bar. Lukasz

Thanks! Do you have the official prcecedence list of DPRK awards? I would love to confront it with my DPRK awards web page. Lukasz

Well, it seems that each service has its own set of ribbons and they do not overlap at all. Army ROTC and Army Junior ROTC have developed ribbon patterns in several categories to cover different types of achievement. The significance of many of these ribbons though has been left to regional commanders' decision. I have tried to prepare a possibly complete rackbuilder for ROTC and other cadet corps awards. You wil find it at the http://www.medals.lava.pl site. Unfortunately the server is down for maintenance at the moment and it will probably be so throughout Easter. Best regards, Lukasz

The upper one looks like the Academic Award Ribbon, awarded to NJROTC cadets, or the Academic Achievement Ribbon, awarded to NSCC cadets (although the central stripes should be white rather than yellowish). Lukasz

Hi, Am I right it is the enameled type? Why do you think the order of wearing is incorrect? Lukasz

It looks genuine on the photo. Can you post the number from reverse? I cannot read it. Lukasz

The recipient is a colonel of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, so it is probably a relatively high-ranking medal. Unfortunately the medal itself cannot be seen.

Yep, from what I know the Azerbaijan Medal was awarded for the suppression of the 1945-46 secession. The medal was also worn by Shah Reza Pahlavi himself. I thought that the blue of the ribbon was more purplish. As far as the Rastakhiz Medal is concerned, you are probably right, but I cannot tell - the information is too scarce. Beautiful medals anyway, both of them. Thank you, Ed Lukasz

When I see an item like this, it always reminds me of an Order of the Peace Dove with Swords (!) that was once proposed by someone. Lukasz

Uwe is right! The badges are of the 4th Zaniemenski Lancers Rgt. and 66th Kaszubski Infantry Rgt. of J?zef Pilsudski. It is dangerous to judge just from the photos, but to me the VM looks like a modern copy of the pre-WWII type, too. The ribbon doesn't look genuine, either. Could you post the photo of the reverse and the dimensions of both the cross and ribbon? There should be a number on the lower arm. As of the regimental badges, the photos of the reverses would be nice too. The 4th Lancers badge is the officer type (the NCO type had no enamel). The "U4" on the lower arm is slimmer than usually found. On the reverse there was usually the number and recipient's name, but that was not always the case. Lukasz

A Distinguished Rationalizer's decoration. This kind of decoration was quite popular throughout the Soviet bloc. Lukasz

Really fantastic, Ed!!! I think I won't be far from the truth to say we all on this forum do envy you your trip. Lukasz

A peculiarity about National Guard items is that you are NOT authorized to wear them while on active duty, and when you are on state duty, you may wear them not only after ALL federal decorations and service medals and ribbons, but also after all foreign medals! Many of these NG pieces are just longevity awards, but the criteria for some top National Guard decorations are really high. Lukasz

It is the Exemplary Company Sgt. Major badge of the People's Army era. Lukasz