JPL

Try this link: http://users.skynet.be/hendrik/index.html Jean-Paul

Just came across an article on this medal, which appears to be new. The article states that the medal was awarded to Fidel and Raul Castro, along with the 16 founders of the organization. Here is the link to the article, which is in French: http://www.granma.cu/frances/2009/diciembre/juev24/MINREX.html Just found an English link: http://emba.cubaminrex.cu/Default.aspx?tabid=30095 Jean-Paul

Hi Brian, Congratulations on obtaining a 19 Set. Yes, you'll need to get a licence to operate this radio if you decide to make it operational. Your best option would be to obtain an amateur radio licence. The regulations have been relaxed over the years, and there is no longer a requirement to pass the morse code (CW). BTW, CW stands for "Continuous Wave" and not "Carrier Wave)". Refer to the Radio Amateurs of Canada website for licensing details: http://www.rac.ca/en/amateur-radio/beginner-info/ There are a number of amateurs who have restored old military radio equipment and regularly talk to each other with them. I see that you are in Ontario, which has quite a few active amateurs operating 19 sets and other boat anchors. One amateur in New Brunswick, turns on his 19 set every Nov 11th and anyone making contact with his station receives a nice commemorative certificate. I was able to make contact with him this past Nov 11th. This link contains old information on their activities, but it'll give you an idea of what these amateurs are doing with their 19 sets: http://lists.tempe.gov/admin/WA.EXE?A2=ind9712&L=boatanchors&P=11221 As well, they should be able to help you find spare parts and eventually get your 19 set on the air, should you decide to go that route. For anyone interested in Canadian Military Communications, from the Boer War until the present, a visit to the Communications and Electronics Museum at Canadian Forces Base Kingston is a must. Here is a link to their website: http://www.c-and-e-museum.org/eng_foyer.html Jean-Paul VE9BK

Thanks for this info. Jean-Paul

Did not know that Yugoslavia was part of this mission. Learn something every day. It's interesting to note that the ribbon suspending the medal was manufactured in the US (corded edge on the ribbon). Do you know if there is a Yugoslavian version of this ribbon? Jean-Paul

Hi, I've been asked to see if I someone can identify the medal being worn by this gentlemen. Appears to be a WW2 era Chinese medal. Thanks in advance. Jean-Paul

Hi, The ribbon bar shown is actually backwards. The correct sequence is the two UN medals and then the Canadian Decoration. The recipient would later also have qualified for the Canadian Peacekeeping Medal which would become the first ribbon before the two UN ribbons. Canada decided to be a bit different from other countries when it comes to UN, NATO and other International Organization medals (IE ICCS, ICSC, Interfet). Rather than spend money creating specific Canadian medals to denote this type of service, it decided to adopt these "foreign medals" as "quasi Canadian" and gave them a higher precedence than foreign medals would normally get. So in the Canadian Order of Precedence, UN, NATO, etc. medals are worn right after Canadian service medals, but before Commemorative and Long Service medals. Here is a link to the Canadian Order of Precedence: http://www.gg.ca/honours/pdf/wearing_e.pdf I've attached a modern Canadian Medal group to show this Hope this helps. Jean-Paul

Thanks/Merci Jean-Paul

Hi Antonio, Thanks for this information. Would it be possible to also include the original decree in french? Thanks Jean-Paul

In regards to the Zimbabwe Medal, I found this on Wikipedia: The Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF) was created in September 1964, as a result of the disbandment of the Tanganyika Rifles after a mutiny. The TPDF was one of the front line National Armies during the struggle to liberate Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Uganda. TPDF officers also trained African National Congress fighters in Morogoro. TPDF officers also participated in the training of the new Democratic Republic of Congo army, but were later withdrawn because of the war in the Congo. The most significant TPDF involvement in the Uganda-Tanzania War following a Ugandan invasion of Kagera in 1978. Idi Amin with the help of Libya, accused Julius Nyerere of being at the root of his troubles and of waging war against Uganda. Amin invaded Tanzanian territory on 1 November 1978 and annexed Kagera. Julius Nyerere told the nation that Tanzania had the reason to fight Amin, was intent on fighting Amin and had the ability to defeat him. The war effort was not for the army alone on 22 November 1978, but for the entire population, the nation understood him and the reaction was predictable. In April 1979, Tanzania took Kampala and Amin fled the country to Libya. Jean-Paul

Hi Rob, My main interest is in the WW1 Campaign in German East Africa, in which Belgian troops from the Belgian Congo took part. I've always wondered what a group to a Belgian soldier would look like, so thank you for sharing this nice miniature group. I'd be interested in seeing images of any other such groups. Jean-Paul

Hi Megan and the group, Nice to see images of the seldom seen Tanzania awards. Being a ribbon collector, over the years I've kept notes on the awards and more specifically the ribbons from various countries worldwide. I had a look at my Tanzania notes and see that there is information that might be of interest to this group. Please note that these notes were stated some 30 odd years ago and I did not keep track of sources, since this was going to be for my own personal use, so my apologies for that. I will try to scan the ribbons, as I'm sure Megan would be interested in order to add them to her website. Orders, Decorations and Medals of Tanzania Order of Kilimanjaro (1977) · 1st Class – sash (88mm) · 2nd Class – neck (45mm) · 3rd Class – ribbon (38mm) · Ribbon is 88mm watered, blue (17mm), dark green (15mm), yellow (7mm) black (10mm), and reverse. Other widths of ribbons identical, but propertied accordingly. Order of Arusha (DSO) (1977) · 1st Class – neck (44mm) · 2nd Class – ribbon (38mm) · 3rd Class – ribbon (38mm) · Ribbon is 44mm watered, blue (14mm), yellow (3mm), black (10mm), yellow (3mm) dark green (14mm). Medal of Bravery Ribbon is 38mm watered. Equal stripes of green/yellow/black/yellow/blue/red and reverse. Medal of Valour Ribbon is 38mm watered. Centre stripe is red. On each side equal stripes of green/yellow/black/yellow (reading inwards). Medal of the Republic Ribbon is 38mm watered. Blue (7mm), yellow (3mm), black (20mm), yellow (3mm), and green (7mm). Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Ribbon is 38mm watered. Dark green (4mm), black (5mm), blue (10mm), yellow (10mm), black (5mm), and dark green (4mm). Victory in Uganda Medal (1978-79) Ribbon is 33mm wide, orange-red with two 2mm black stripes each 10mm from each edge. Kagera Medal (1979) Ribbon is 27mm wide, green/black/red equal. Zimbabwe Medal (1981) Ribbon is 35mm, black (8mm), red (4mm), white (2mm), yellow centre (7mm), and repeat in reverse. Note 1: This list appears to cover the timeframe of 1977-1981 Note 2: The ribbon I have in my collection for the Medal of Valour has a blue centre vice being red. I have the following ribbons in my collection. They were obtained from the OMRS Ribbon Section and appear to be of recent issue. · Medal of Valour - As described above, but with a blue centre vice red. · Bravery Medal – As described above. · Medal of the Republic – As described above. · Nishani Ya Utumishi – Civil (Also Tanganyika – Nishani Ya Jamhuri – Mark of Republic · Nishani Ya Muungano – Civil (Mark of United) · Nishani Ya Uzalishaji Mali Bora (Mark of to be born riches good) · Nishani Ya Utumishi – Prisons (Mark of Worker) · Nishani Ya Utumishi Mrefu – Prisons (Mark of Worker Long) · Nishani Ya Utumishi Uliotukuka – Prisons (Mark of Worker Come From) · Nishani Ya Muungano – Army (Mark of United) · Nishani Ya Utumishi Mrefu – Army (Mark of Worker Long) · Nishani Ya Utumishi Uliotukuka – Army (Mark of Worker Come From) · Nishani Ya Muungano – Police (Mark of United) · Nishani Ya Utumishi – Police (Mark of Worker) · Nishani Ya Utumishi Uliotukuka – Police (Mark of Worker Come From) · Nishani Ya Utumishi Mrefu – Police (Mark of Worker Long) Note: The prison ribbons are green with a series of white stripes, the army ribbons are red with a series of white stripes, and the police ribbons are blue with a series of white stripes. As well, the Republic Service Medal - Instituted in 1962, this gilt and enamel medal has the arms of Tanzania on the obverse, in a blue circle lettered NISHANI YA JAMHURI TANZANIA, all within a scalloped border. The reverse is plain, with the name of the recipient engraved. Ribbon is 38mm wide, black flanked by 2mm yellow stripes, and 6mm edges of green (left) and blue (right). (Reference: Ribbons and Medals by H. Taprell Dorling) Jean-Paul

Hi James, I had a look through my copy of Distinctions Honorifiques de la Belgique by Andre Charles Borne and could not find anything on this medal. There is a reference to a "Insigne des agents Belges des services de renseignments de la guerre 1914-1918" which is a crown on a round medal, but it was only awarded as a lapel pin. The book has images of crowns from the various periods, so if you can get a good closeup of the crown, I may be able to at least give you a timeframe. In any case, this medal does not appear to be an official one. Jean-Paul

Hi Megan, Great stuff as usual. Particularly love the fact that some of the medals are suspended from an elephant's trunk. Very unique. Jean-Paul

According to the Stars and Stripes, an Army sergeant from Massachusetts has been awarded the Medal of Honor three years after he died trying to rescue wounded comrades during a battle with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama called the family of Sgt. Jared Monti of Raynham this week to inform them of the honor. A ceremony will be held at the White House on Sept. 17. It is the first Medal of Honor awarded under the Obama administration. Here is a link to the complete article: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section...p;article=63865 Jean-Paul

Peter, Prior to deployment, Canadian soldiers fill out a form naming the 3 recipients that will receive the Memorial Cross, should they become a casulty. Jean-Paul

According to the UKDF DefenceWebsite - http://ukdf.blogspot.com/2009/07/hm-queen-...beth-cross.html The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll will not just be granted to families who have lost loved ones in the recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Queen?s recognition will also be available to the families of those who died in conflicts dating back to 1948, including the Korean War, the Falklands conflict and operations in Northern Ireland. Hopefully, they won't do like the Canadian Memorial Cross, which can now be awarded to 3 next-of-kin. We now have a situation where there probably will be 3 Memorial Crosses to the same recipient. Adds a new dimension to the collecting of this award. Here is the link: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/c...-eng.asp?ref=MC Jean-Paul

Thanks Megan for the high quality images of these seldom seen awards. Jean-Paul

Hi RobW, Thank you for the information and the excellent images. I was not aware that there were 2 types. I've had a look at the 7 South African Victory medals that I have in my collection and all of them are Type 1. So, is it safe to assume that the Type 2 medals are not as plentiful as the Type 1 medals? I noticed that you state that "both are unnamed as issued". All of my medals are named. Jean-Paul

Since I have a number of South African Victory Medals in my collection, can anyone tell me the difference between the Official Type 1 and Type 2. Any information on the 2 Repro Types would also be appreciated. Pictures/images also welcomed. Thanks in advance. Jean-Paul

Just found a news article giving details of the first award of the Cross of Honor for Bravery. Here is the link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090706/ap_on_...y_bravery_medal Here is another link which contains images of the Cross of Honor for Bravery that was awarded, along with the recipients: http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/ph...2566f231656c4b/ Jean-Paul

Hi Bob, What an obscure but yet interesting medal. The construction of the medal reminds me of IVV Medals when I was stationed in Germany. Jean-Paul

Since they copied the Canadian Memorial Cross, they could also copy the Canadian Sacrifice Medal, which is still on hold due to an ongoing review of who should qualify for this new medal. Here is the link: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/c...-eng.asp?ref=SM Jean-Paul

Yes, looks really nice. Obviously based on the Canadian Memorial Cross as can be seen here: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/c...-eng.asp?ref=MC Jean-Paul

Here is a link to an excellent and comprehensive website on Rhodesian Awards by John Vollaire: http://www.rhodesianforces.org/HonoursAwards.htm Jean-Paul