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Antonio, The ribbons are differentiated by the colour of the embroidery of the palm and crossed swords - yellow (gold), grey (silver) and brown (bronze) - the one you illustrate is the Third Class and the Arabic on the certificate I can see confirms this. Kind regards, Owain

Antonio, This is the Saudi Medal of Merit - comes in three classes - you can earn the Third Class by blood donation! Regards, Owain

Luka, The outside reads something along the lines of "Air Force Headquarters" and the inside, "The Socialist Peoples Lybian Arab Jamahariya". The box probably held a presentation item rather than an order. BOMISA, an Italian company, made many of the awards and presentation pieces for the Qaddafi regime. Regards, Owain

Linas, Whilst Paul is indeed correct, the Arabic translates as "National Merit". Regards, Owain

Dan, The dates are indeed 1947 - 1997 - thanks for noting my mistake. The Ba'ath flag is identical to the Palestinian flag. On checking the image it is, to my mind, Michael Aflaq, the founder of the Ba'ath party. Regards, Owain

Danio, In the centre it reads "Al Ba'ath" (and the ba'ath flag) "Unity Freedom Socialism" At the bottom "The Gold Anniversary of the Ba'ath Arab Socialist Party" The uppermost dates read "1948 -1998" with "one Arab Ummah " and "One Eternal Message" and I think the profile is that of Michael Aflaq the founder of the Ba'ath Party. Working on the rest of the Arabic. Kind regards, Owain

Jose, Thanks for the correction Lebanon reads better! Owain

Dear Colin, I believe it is the South Korea, Korean War medal. Ethiopian troops saw active service in Korea.Regards, Owain

Good for you Brian, When I received the catalogue I had noted the group as one I was interested in, but budget dictated my focus was elsewhere. It is good to know it went to a good home and your research has proved that knowledge is indeed king. In Arabic "Alf Mabruk!" (A thousand congratulations!) Owain

Brian, Tthe format of this medal was retained by the Arab Republic of Egypt - eagle instead of crossed swords and slightly changed eagle by the United Arab Republic. Lybia in 1969 also adopted the design. Regards, Owain

Brian, A very nice group indeed - Lot 1869 at the DNW auction on 21 June - estimated at 500-600 and hammer at 1,900 then plus 20% plus VAT - ouch. There must have been two very keen bidders - commiserations to the underbidder and congratulations to the winner. Owain

Dear Brian, I attach a image of the award which is on display at the Abdine Palace in Cairo - this one was worn by King Farouk. The medal on the right is the one for Meritorious Acts. My notes on this medal, taken from my article on Egyptian awards publised in JOMSA, are as detailed below. Kind regards, Owain This award was instituted by a Royal Decree on 6 December 1919 as the Order of the Military Star of Sultan Fouad and was re-designated the Order of the Military Star of King Fouad on 15 March 1922 and amended by Decree 95 of 1922 dated 25 December. This Star was awarded to officers mentioned in Despatches by the Commander of the Armed Forces either for merit, or for distinguished service on the battlefield, or in the face of the enemy. The star consists of a five-pointed white enamel star with a gilded border. In the centre, on a blue and red enamelled background, a pair of crossed swords hilts lowermost surrounded by a laurel wreath and surmounted by a crown. The obverse bears the Arabic inscription, “Military Star of King Fouad”

Brian, Lovely group - it is missing the Military Star of Sultan Fouad (instituted 1922 - tbc) and as scarce as hen's teeth. I have an image somewhere and I will post later. Regards, Owain

Megan, I have this one from an old Spink (?) catalogue. I did have the catalogue but misplaced it may years ago and this image aquired later is slightly cropped Regards, Owain

Dear Megan, Nice pictures of this very incredibly scarce award - Spink had a cased set for sale in the late 1980's hallmarked 18ct gold, 1973, and engraved, "Algernon Asprey Ltd. 27 Bruton Street London." The star differs slightly as the central red circle on this later example reads, "Order of Al Nahyan the Great 1969". Your star must be the only example of the 1st Type, and then after the rush of getting it ready for the Queen, a 2nd Type was manufactured at more sedate pace. From my notes I have recorded awards to Sultan Qaboos in 1973 and also to President Zulfiqar Bhutto of Pakistan - date unknown. KInd regards, Owain

Richard, Medals 1, 2 & 3 are Governate medals Shabwa (1st & 2nd Class and Abyan respectively). Medal 4 is an award to note a literacy campaign in 1984 and I detail my notes below. Kind regards, Owain, Obverse - circular medal bearing a sixteen pointed star of alternating large and small rays in the centre of which a radiant five pointed star above a crossed hammer, to the left, and sickle which surmount an open book. To the left of the book and hammer a cog rim, representing industry and to the right a sheaf of wheat representing agriculture. Above the uppermost half of the star the Arabic inscription, “The Elimination of Illiteracy is a Question of Honour for Our People and the Road to Advancement.” At the base of the star the date 1984. Reverse - Blank. Size - 39mm diameter in gilded base metal of unknown manufacture. Ribbon - There is no ribbon however the medal is suspended from a 50mm by 15mm plaque bearing the Arabic inscription, “The Superior Council for the National Comprehensive Movement to Eliminate Illiteracy”. Suspension -By a ring and a loop affixed to the top of the medal, and by a brooch pin at the rear of the plaque. This medal was awarded to those who took part in the national drive to eliminate illiteracy in 1984. This movement was led by the President Ali Nasser Mohammed. The movement affected all levels of society and included the army, the police and the public sectors. The President headed the Supreme Council and a certificate bearing his signature accompanied each medal. Recommendations for the medal were made by sub-committees at Governate level and the medal was sparingly awarded and held in high esteem.

Good morning from Riyadh, Thanks - there is www.hararacademy.org and this interesting site gives a good history of the Academy, 1957-77, but no mention of a medal. A note to the website contact may elicit a response. I will drop a line later today and see what response I get. The logo of the site appears to be different from the medal. From elsewhere, I attach a close up of the badge on a graduation certificate from the academy, which is similar to the medal. Regards, Owain

Paul, I'll try and get a translation tomorrow - once obtained I'll post it. Owain

Paul, The cross is a Lalibela cross and the trophy of arms WW2 or into the 50's or 60's. I am tempted to believe it to be a Selassie piece but am wary of allowing the desired end conclusion to manufacture arguments to support such a conclusion. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Recently obtained - a silvered base metal (bronze?) medal weighing about 18 grammes, 35mm x 25mm approx. The obverse reads in Amharic and French "Haile Selassie Military College" - in the centre possibly the badge of the college. I have yet to get a translation of the reverse eight line inscription. The ribbon on this piece is the traditional Ethiopian tricolour, but I have seen examples with a white and red or green and gold ribbon. From a search of the internet this medal appears to have been instituted to commemorate the opening of the college in 1960 - to be confirmed. I have no evidence to suggest it was an offical award - it was not worn by Haile Selassie. Regards, Owain

Ulsterman, Yes, as far as I can find out, or rather not find out, it is an undocumented award. My gut feeling is that it is an older piece -: Quality manufacture. Use of a cross as a design. Weapons of an older era. But at the moment no other information. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Recently obtained at auction as part of a mixed lot. The award is well made, some 45mm in diamenter, and of gilded bronze or base metal weighing about 18gms. There appears to be a manufacturers/makers mark on the reverse below the suspension loop, but not clear even under high magnification. Whether the ribbon is original or not is unknown. The reverse inscription reads, according to one of my staff, literally as, "On the field of battle who sheds his blood and broken bones" - this may, no doubt, be rendered, in a more elegant manner. Any suggestions? A late imperial piece? The background of cross may support this suggestion. A quality Derg issue? The obverse design of weapons - rifle, rocket, cannon and bomb, may support a post imperial design. However the rifle does appear to be similar to a Lee Enfield bolt action - not a more appropriate modern assault weapon such as an AK-47. Not, I think, post Derg. Thanks & regards, Owain

Ilja, The UAE award is one from the Ministry of the Interior - where did you find this? Regards, Owain

Dear Ilja, The medal on the right is the U.A.E. Medal of Employee Distinction dating from 2009 - this award may be for Ministry of Interior staff but I am unsure. The group of four medals from last years Bene Merenti auction are Palestinian and are the Order of Endurance of Beirut and date from the early 1980's when the PLO was forced to leave Lebanon for Tunisia. I am unsure as to whether they are trial or prooof pieces or were actually issued. I suspect they were not issued as there are two designs, different suspensions and ribbons. Kind regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Paul Wood in his research found that Amulree was a member of a British Parliamentary Delegation to China from September to November 1947 - this information gives the period of the presentation of the award. Can the translation of the reverse be confirmed as "Wang (??) Department of National Government, the Red Cross Badge"? Many thanks, Owain