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Gentlemen, Further to my post of 16 June 2023 I have obtained an example of the Flying Bull Lodge jewel. Obverse - "Flying Bull Lodge No. 8903" Reverse - Blank A nice silver gilt piece, marked by F.C. Parry of Birmingham, with date letter 'M' for 1961. It has the RAOB monogram device on the ribbon. Further to the 1958 Revolution in Iraq and the departure of British Forces this Lodge appears to have continued for at least a few years elsewhere. The flying bull or 'lamassu' is a mythological hybrid from ancient Mesopotamia (now Iraq), and was a protective deity warding off evil persons and is made up of the body of a bull, the wings of a bird and sometimes a human head. Regards, Owain

Thanks Megan - Nuri and Jaafar have featured in my OMRS/OMSA articles on Royal Iraqi awards - Sobhy is the grandfather of a friend. Owain

Good morning. As far as I am, or was, aware the British Victory Medal could not be awarded as single unlike like British War Medal. I have photographic evidence of two soldiers from the Middle East Theatre who wear a single Victory Medal as part of their groups: Nuri Saeed, later Prime Minister of Iraq - see image - also bearing a MiD oakleaf device - not found in the London Gazette Sobhy Al Omary, later Jordanian then Iraqi soldier - see image They were awarded their respective DSO and MC in the UK War Office List No. 53 of 19th December 1919 - but not published in the London Gazette. A search of the Medal Cards at the National Archive has, to date, been unsuccessful. Of course the many possible transliterations of Arabic names means that perhaps they exist under a different spelling. During my research I came across medal cards for two other Arab officers who received both the War & Victory Medals: Name Tahsin Ali, M.C. (War Office List No. 53 of 19th December 1919). Corps Hedjaz Army. Rank Rais Awal (Senior Captain), 1st N. Inf. Bn. Qaid (Colonel), Camel Battalion. Theatre of Service Palestine Name Abdul Razzak. Corps Hedjaz Army. Rank Commandant, Telegraph and Telephone Company. Theatre of Service Semnat between Aquaba and Mahmal. Another recipient of a pair was Ja'afar Al Askari, later Prime Minister of Iraq - see image - also bearing a MiD oakleaf device - not found in the London Gazette. So two queries: Where do I look to find awards of single Victory Medals to non-British/Empire nationals? Where do I look to find WW1 MiD awards to non-British/Empire nationals? Many thanks, Owain

John, I suspect that when you compare in any cemetery gravestones numbers to burials there is a vast discrepancy and even taking into account multiple inscriptions the number of unmarked burials significantly out number the names recorded on headstones. Thus the cemetery records and maps are essential research. As a case in point I knew my great great grandfather is buried at Nunhead in south London - some 250,000 burials - if it was not for the detailed plot map and register I would not have found the location of his 1878 grave. He is buried with his youngest son and his brother in law - three burials no headstone. Why? I have no idea as his son my great grandfather was not short of money. All sorts of reasons for no stones - expense, poverty, no relatives, family disputes, conscious decision, re-use of grave, destruction or relocation or reuse (as paving) of headstone, etc. Regards, Owain

John, This morning I walked to the cemetery - about 30 minutes walk. Alas I could find no gravestone to Burk and a I looked at every single one. As you can see from the attached pictures the cemetery is not very large and there are not many gravestones. A number of stones are in situ and others are around the perimeter wall. A few stones have fallen over and a number are illegible - these appear to be 19th century. As Burk died in 1929 and headstones from this period appear to be holding up against the elements, I would suggest that it is more than likely his grave may not have been marked by a headstone. Somewhere in some London archive will exist a plot map of the cemetery - if this can be found then the precise location of Burks grave can be identified. Owain PS I also attach a picture of the Commonwealth War Grave memorial - even the three men mentioned here do not have individual headstones. And two more images, Owain

John, What are his dates of birth and death? Owain

John, I know where the cemetery is and have walked though it in the past - it is not large and also not looked after but we shall see. I shall try in the next couple of weeks to make a visit. As you will appreciate SR Burk is not going anywhere! Regards, Owain

John, Good morning from Ealing London, Acton is 'next' to Ealing and if your man, from Acton, is buried in Acton I could go on a walkabout and try to find his grave. Let me have the details. Trust all is well, Owain

Gentlemen, Further to my posts of 1/11/22, 25/5/23 and 11/12/24 I attach images of a RAOB RAF Aboukir No. 3739 jewel recently acquired. A nice chunky gilded base metal jewel - well made by Parry of Birmingham. The clasp is for a 60th Anniversary. I am assuming it is a later issue as it has a standard buffalo horns suspension and a generic RAF colours ribbon. Owain

Hi, The Arabic reads 'Al Jaish Al Arab' - The Arab Army. It is a Jordanian cap badge - whether it is the pre-1948 Arab Legion or post independence Jordanian Army is difficult to attribute but it appears to be an old white metal badge. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, I now detail, in brief, the accompanying jewels of David Brown's group - almost all are unnamed (two are named to him) and I suspect most are souvenirs of visits to other lodges. I was tempted to start another RAOB thread for German/BAOR lodges but I have resisted (am resisting) the temptation to start collecting them! Trio - Pied Piper (Rattenfanger) of Hameln Lodge No.9168 by Parry of B'Ham - this uses a WW2 France & Germany Star ribbon ; RAOB Primo neck badge reverse named Bro. D. T. J. Brown C.P. by Parry of B'ham; Chieftain & Stag Lodge No. 9549 - no makers name (this may be lodge based at the then training ground of BATUS (British Army Training Unit Suffield) in Alberta Canada. Four A - Royal Jubilee Lodge No. 10175 - bearing a Royal Artillery badge and the Latin motto "Ubique" (everywhere) - no makers name - it may be that this lodge dates from the year of EIIR Silver Jubilee in 1977 - the significance of the palm tree device is unknown unless it represents attendance at meetings held in the Middle East - the ribbon is the same as that used for Mark Master Mason jewel; Western Germany Province No. 5 - the significance of the image is unknown - no maker's name - ribbon in the FRG flag colours; Prince Elector Celle (No lodge number given) by Parry of Birmingham - ribbon in the FRG flag colours; Germany Minden Lodge 8381by Parry of B'Ham. Four B - Loyal Swan Lodge No. 9443 by Parry of Birmingham - ribbon in the FRG flag colours; Ye Olde Cleveleys Lodge No. 7059 - 50 Anniversary 1931-1981 by Parry of Birmingham - uses ribbon of the Royal Victorian Order; Vice President 1992 RAOB - reverse engraved "Presented to Brother David T.J. Brown C.P. AD 6986 by the Germany No. 5 Examining Council for services rendered as Vice President 1992" by Parry of B'Ham; Catterick Brough Lodge No. 6728 by Parry of B'Ham. Over the years I have seen numerous RAOB jewels relating to lodges in Germany (BAOR) and Berlin - I will continue to resist the temptation to collect. Owain

Gentlemen, This time the Jerboa Lodge trio: Obverse - Jerboa Lodge No. 8776 Reverse - Bro. David T. J. Brown AD 6986 Initiated 23-1-89 Jerboa Lodge No. 8776 - maker's mark Parry B'ham Obverse - Jerboa 8776 with clasp 25th Anniversary Reverse - David Brown 23-1-89 Obverse - Primo - Jerboa Lodge No. 8776 Reverse - Bro David T. J. Brown AD 6986 Raised 26-9-90 Jerboa Lodge No. 8776 - maker's mark Parry B'ham Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Further to the image posted 31 May 2023 I have obtained as part of a larger group an example of the Jerboa Lodge No 8776 - this example bears a "25th Anniversary" clasp. The reverse is engraved, "David Brown 23 - 1 - 1989". The accompanying jewels all appear to relate to RAOB Lodges based in Germany as part of BAOR. Accordingly I believe that the Jerboa Lodge is/was a Germany based Lodge with its motif of a jerboa being a homage to the badge of the 7th Armoured Division in North Africa in WW2, which subsequently was based in Germany, and has continued to use the badge. Owain

Good morning Megan, These pictures are of the pieces I sold in the recent Spink auction - nice examples of a beautiful order, although the 4th and 5th classes are quite impractical when seen in a British group - they are too big to fit or lie tidily in a mounted group. I am in the process of reviewing a draft book on the awards of the Kingdom of Egyptian - some 120 pages and similar in format to my Somalia book and based upon my 2024 OMRS exhibit. It should see the light of day by the summer. Kind regards, Owain

Megan, Many thanks indeed for taking the time to compose this review - it is most kind of you and thank you for your kind words too. Owain PS A few typos have sneaked in and you may wish to tweak them.

Good morning, Two more images from an Ebay multi lot sales RAF Aboukir Lodge - see my post of 25 May 2023 - this new image has a RAF colours ribbon. Reverse not seen. A jewel which appears to be a perhaps a merged Lodge, of Cyprus & Egypt being the Aphrodite / Bitter Lake Lodge No. 8418 with an outline of the island of Cyprus, the statue of Aphrodite and an Ibis. Reverse not seen. Owain

Thank you Megan. My books of earlier this year - on Ethiopia and Somalia, were published by TFL Publications on a print on demand basis - the former a hardback and the latter a softback, and I am delighted with the quality of both. The UAE book was a project sponsored both by Spink and Fattorini - both manufacturers of various series of UAE awards, and thus is a historical record for both companies. As a researcher and writer my view is that once something is in the public domain via, for example, a book or the Journals of the OMRS or OMSA or even via posts on the GMIC website, then the information is open to all. Owain

Megan, Enjoy - the book will fill up the UAE part of your website! Owain

Good Morning, I am delighted to announce that Spink have published my latest book - see link below. In A4 hardback format with over 350 pages, some 220 plus awards and some 500 images. I hope it allows those interested a decent overview of the honours system of the UAE, its various ministries, constituent Emirates and charitable foundations. I attach a flier of the same. Owain https://spinkbooks.com/products/the-orders-decorations-and-medals-of-the-united-arab-emirates-by-owain-raw-rees Spink UAE Raw-Rees 1124.pdf

Gentlemen, With reference to my very first post of this thread of 26 May 2020 I detail below a further image of a Point Lodge jewel - an EBay offering. As with the earlier image this is a silver hallmarked example - damaged enamel on the obverse, but it does have a clasp, "Gulf". It may be that after the British withdrawal from Aden in 1967 this particular RAOB Lodge was relocated elsewhere in the region hence the clasp. Regards, Owain

Rusty, Your research into the Courts Badge - its variations, manufacturers and recipients is admirable and to be applauded. Some may regard the badge as a niche topic but much of what is posted on GMIC is niche. The sharing of your research and indeed elsewhere on GMIC by other enthusiasts and their topics provides an invaluable service not only to us as collectors but to all who have an interest in history of how people have been recognised for their service and how their roles are designated or marked. As I have noted before your should publish an illustrated book on the topic. Thank you for your research and importantly for sharing it with us all. Owain

Gentlemen, Further to my post of 31 March 2023, from the internet, another example of the "Jerboa 8776" jewel and this time with a "25th Anniversary" bar - reverse not seen. The jewel is part of a large auction lot of 14 related or unrelated jewels. As previously noted two possible origins: 1. A post WW2 related jewel - possibly in Libya or Egypt - 7th Armoured Brigade - Desert Rats. 2. A post Gulf War related jewel - possibly in Saudi Arabia - 7th Armoured Brigade Operation Granby. However the evidence of the 25th Anniversary clasp on the ribbon would indicate an older provenance and thus it is highly unlikely that it is a post Gulf War jewel. Regards, Owain

Good morning from London, Further to my post of 17 December 2020 I have obtained an example of the second Libyan RAOB Lodge jewel medal illustrated. The badge consist of a central depiction of ruins superimposed upon a flaming torch (Royal Army Education Corps?) and crossed swords (Army Physical Training Corps?). I remain unable to ascertain the significance of Sha'araan. Obverse - "RAOB / Arabic script (Sharaan) / Sharaan / Lodge 9197" Reverse - "FCP" (Parry) Birmingham silver mark - letter "M" for 1961 In addition I have obtained an example of the gilt base metal Batinah jewel - my post of 8 July 2020. Obverse - "Batinah Lodge No. 9898" - depicting a part of the coast line of the Sultanate of Oman and the flag of Oman - named after the Batinah coast north of Muscat the capital of Oman Reverse - Blank other than the makers name "Parry B'Ham" Regards, Owain

Jan These are the 1945 Malaria (silver) and 1948 Cholera (gilt) medals - official recognition for service during these two campaigns but not state awards to be worn. The should have a green or green and white ribbon with a small suspension brooch. Is the Malaria medal actually silver or just silvered base metal? All the examples I have seen are gilded base metal although a gold example does exist in the Alexandria Jewellery Museum. Owain

Antonio, I'm of the view that the red and white ribbon is correct - see photo. On other matters you include in your list : 1941 Tigre Expedition Medal 1957 Restoration Medal 1960 Military College Jubilee Medal In all my years of collecting Ethiopian awards I have never come across these. With regard to the Asmara Expo Medal this is, I believe, a souvenir piece without a ribbon. Asmara Municipality issued various such pieces. One, a medallion, was issued in 1964 to commemorate President Lubke of West Germany's visit, another with a ring suspension in 1965 for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and another, similar, in 1969 for the visit of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. In 1972 a medallet was issued for the Asmara Expo. None were issued with ribbons and none were for wear. I hope that this assists your continued and much appreciated research. Kind regards, Owain