Lukasz Gaszewski

Hi Chris,

I do not have the royal version of the Wisam Nigam al-'Askariia / Military Star, but:

The Military Star of Fuad I was originally intended for award to Egyptian and foreign officers for mention in dispatches or distinguished service in the field or before the enemy, with courage and a spirit of self-sacrifice. In broad terms, the Military Star can be seen as having been patterned after the British Distinguished Service Order. It was, of course, redesigned with the fall of the monarchy. With the redesign and restructuring which came with the 1952 revolution, the award came to be awarded to any officer for exceptional service with courage and a spirit of self-sacrifice. Whenever possible, the award is to be personally presented by the president of the republic. The star can be awarded posthumously or to foreigners. Established: By King Ahmad Fuad I in Royal Order of 6 December 1919, revised and redesigned on 9 July 1953 and amended by Law No. 12 of 1972. Obverse: A five-pointed gilt star, enameled white. The center is enameled blue with crossed swords in gilt, surrounded by a red circlet with a gilt wreath. Above all a gilt crown. Suspended from a straight bar suspender. After 1953, the 45-mm star has been of bronze with blue-enameled points, with the center swords replaced with the Egyptian eagle (after 1971, hawk), and the suspension crown removed. Each point has two crossed swords. The suspension is a ornate enameled bar in the form of a pair of "Pharonic" falcon's wings, with a disk in the center bearing a pair of crossed swords. Reverse: Until 1953, a gold Arabic inscription on purple enamel. Afer 1953, Arabic name on white enamel. Ribbon: 37 mm, moir?, five equal 6 mm stripes of blue, yellow, black, yellow, blue, with thin (1 mm) yellow edges.

Only this b/w drawing, but I think better than nothing. The ribbon is the same as in the republican version:

Great hunting Antonio!! I saw that website a few years ago, but it has changed much since then. There are other interesting items out there. My favorite:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=15097

I think this one is Commander rather than Member.

CL

GCL

Cross of Valor and the Order of Logohu from http://www.elmint.com/ :

I have arranged as many ribbons as possible according to the photos of the ribbons worn by actual recipients, but some are still doubtful:

http://www.medals.lava.pl/ir/ir2.htm

I think Dave's medal can be the Medal of Bravery. The side stripes are dark green rather than black and the white edges may come out blue on some photos. I have spotted another ribbon bar on google, referring to an ebay auction. Unfortunately, the auction is over, so only the resized google image is available:

Look at the first ribbon. It is the same as in Dave's medal. As the remaining ribbons suggest a person in the active military service, it is unlikely that he could receive the medal for the next of kin.

Lukasz

An eye candy for you (the decoration, not the recipient ). The Order of the Islamic Republic of Iran 1st Class on Mr. Hugo Chavez. Enjoy!

A nice-looking ribon bar from the Islamic Republic (can you id the ribbons?):

Congratulations, Dave! Great site. I have always found the award system of Bavaria the best developed of all German states and Bavarian decorations the most elegant.

There is an immense (and I do mean IMMENSE) lack of reliable information on Libyan awards. Any and all identifications should be seen as tentative. Repeated promised of information have, so far, come up empty. Guess one just has to ask Colonel-Brother in person?

He has been promoted (er..., I meant promoted himself) to Major-General. No wonder that with such a lack of respect your requests remain unanswered!!!

L.

Going to The Source -- http://www.medals.lava.pl/pl/pl4c.htm#mmd -- it seems to be the Medal Za Zaslugi dla Obronnosci Kraju / Medal for Merit for Country Defense (post-1991 variety). The same ribbon was used for the 1966-91 medal.

Yes, it is! That's the pre-1991 type. The post-1991 type is this:

Cheers,

Lukasz

Fantastic information, thank you! I was unable to find any information about the medals, particularly about the Sphinx medal.

Where can I find information about other medals of the Corps of Commissionnaires?

Lukasz

Hopefully nobody takes the bait!!!

Even if just one does, the effort will pay.

Here is another horse from the same stable:

I'm putting it up here "as it is" to preserve it for the future generations. Here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...bayphotohosting

It must cetainly be the WWII type, as it was only then that they added Swedish clips to the ribbon

You can have this beauty "purchased off a very reputable seller of fine medals" for just US $115.00 (+ $10.00 shipping and handling)! Run folks and be quick!!!

Franz Josef or Karl?

Seine allerh?chste Majest?t Franz-Joseph I, von Gottes Gnaden Kaiser von ?sterreich, Apostolischer K?nig von Ungarn, K?nig von B?hmen, von Dalmatien, von Kroatien, von Slawonien, von Galizien, von Lodomerien und Illyrien, K?nig von Jerusalem, etc. ; Erzherzog von ?sterreich, Grossherzog von der Toskana und Krakau, Herzog von Lothringen und von Salzburg, von der Steiermark, von K?rnten, von Krain und von der Bukowina; Grossf?rst von Siebenb?rgen ; Markgraf von M?hren; Herzog von Ober- und Niederschlesien, von Modena, von Parma, von Piacenza und Guastalla, von Auschwitz und Zator, von Teschen, Friaul, Ragusa und Zara ; Gef?rsteter Graf von Habsburg und Tirol, von Kyburg, G?rz und Gradisca ; F?rst von Trient und von Brixen; Markgraf von der Ober- und Niederlausitz und in Istrien ; Graf von Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg etc. ; Herr von Triest von Cattaro und auf der Windischen Mark ; Grosswojwod der Wojwodschaft Serbien, etc.; Kaiserliche und Apostolische Majest?t.

This is His Majesty's fieldmarshal's uniform and the decorations are as follows:

War Medal, 1873

Officer's Decoration for 50 Years of Military Service,

Gold Jubilee Medal for the Armed Forces, 1898,

Military Jubilee Cross, 1908,

Russian Order of St. George 4th Class.

The sash is of the Military Order of Maria-Theresia.

The stars are of:

Military Order of Maria-Theresia,

Order of St. Stephen,

Order of Leopold,

Order of the Iron Crown.

The neck decoration is the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Thanks for sharing!

Right! I forgot the Desert Storm.

Do they still keep awarding TOE CdG? I thought it had been discontinued in 1950s and the Croix de la Valeur Militaire has been awarded instead. Also the star on the ribbon looks too small to me.

Lukasz

2) Corps of Commissionnaires??

I recently got these two pretty medals. I believe both to be British, but do not have much information about them. Please help!

Thanks,

Lukasz

1) Sphinx medal

OK, here are the statutes of the order. I cannot help thinking that the legislators must have been much inspired by the Soviet Order of the Patriotic War.

Article 1. The ORDER "CAMILO CIENFUEGOS" is awarded to the members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in the active military service, in the reserve and retired, as well as to the military of friendly countries, for extraordinary merit in developing and accomplishing combat actions, in defense of the achievements and sovereignty of our socialist country.

Article 2. The ORDER "CAMILO CIENFUEGOS" is made of gilt metal.

Article 3. The ORDER "CAMILO CIENFUEGOS" is conferred in recognition of the following types of merit:

a) shooting down a bomber or a fighter-bomber by the means of the Air Force;

b) shooting down two armored helicopters or three transport helicopters by the means of the Air Force;

c) shooting down three or more bombers or fighter-bombers by the means of anti-aircraft missiles or contributing to their destruction in the complex conditions of the situation in the air;

ch) shooting down two or more aircraft or helicopters by the means of the anti-aircraft artillery;

d) destroying three or more enemy tanks or armored carriers;

e) sinking three or more enemy barges or transportation or personal amphibious vehicles;

f) neutralizing an enemy artillery group;

g) destroying two or more tanks or pieces of artillery with the support of tanks or armored vehicles;

h) sinking a transportation barge for troops, combat equipment or artillery support by the means of small firearms;

i) capturing and fetching to our lines important enemy arms or equipment;

j) destroying a submarine or a supporting barge;

k) removing, under the enemy fire, damaged vital parts of equipment or arms;

l) successfully assisting, under the enemy fire, in a combat action of the unit or subunit;

ll) assisting at the risk of one's life the commander of the unit during the combat, accomplishing combat objective with him;

m) annihilating superior enemy forces while commanding the unit or subunit with its forces and means;

n) destroying at the direct risk of life the enemy equipment or arms thus securing the success of our troops;

?) saving the life of comrades at the direct risk of one's life;

o) achieving combat success resulting from participation in the planning of combat actions and distinguished commanding the troops;

p) demonstrating other deeds or acts of personal valor and bravery.

The following articles describe the physical appearance of the order and ribbon bar, the obligations of the recipients and the deeds for which the order can be revoked. Article 9 states that the order may be conferred posthumously; article 10 details to whom the insignia will be handed in such a case.

Fantastic piece. Thanks!

Lukasz

Thanks Dave, that was exactly what I needed. Interesting, that just like with UN medals, only one medal is authorized for wearing, any subsequent being denoted by star devices.

Lukasz

I have another question: would someone be as kind as to inform me which of the NATO medals are US military currently authorized for?

Thanks ,

Lukasz

I have found it, although I think it to be a modern copy:

Credit to http://www.hereditary.us/, where you can also read more about the history of the Society of the Cincinnati:

http://www.hereditary.us/cin_history.htm

http://www.hereditary.us/cin_institution.htm

http://www.hereditary.us/cin_membership.htm

http://www.hereditary.us/cin_anderson.htm

http://www.hereditary.us/cin_resources.htm

Best regards,

Lukasz

How about a medal for combat aftermath?

Don't even joke about... or they'll make it happen!