oamotme

Nick, A problem indeed. If the period of this award is 1940/45 then you are right it can't have been awarded then. Could it have been kept on as an award by a post 1945 government? Could it be possible that he received it some time between 1945 and 1949 whilst working with the Ministry of Health? Reaching for ideas! Owain

Nick, Good question. As the 1st Lord Amulree died in 1942 it is highly unlikely he receieved this awrd. It was more likely an award bestowed upon his son he 2nd Lord Amulree. He was a Liberal Peer and Whip between 1955 and 1977 and spoke in the House of Lords on a variety of issues in relation to the care of the elderly. Amulree was born at South Kensington, London. Upon graduating from Cambridge Amulree joined theMinistry of Health, initially working on the delivery of cancer services, but left in 1949 to become physician in charge of the geriatric department at Uiversity College Hospital in London. He was governor and president of a number of organisations including the Britsih Geriatric Society, the Society for the Study of Medical Ethics and the Association of Occupational Therapists. He was made KBE in recognition of his service to public health and welfare. He died, unmarried, in 1983 Kind regards, Owain.

Megan, Greg, Many thanks for your assistance. Regards, Owain.

Greg, Thank you for you advice. This medal, as noted with no documentation, was with a lot which included a Chinese Red Cross Order/Medal (see specific post under China / SE Asia). The other medals in the lot included a 1935 Jubilee Medal which appears to relate to the 1st Baron Amulree (formerly Sir William Mackenzie) and thus the St. John's medal could be that of his wife or another close female relative. The other medals (1953 Coronation & 1977 Jubilee) related to his son, the 2nd Lord Amulree, who was a distinguished physician. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Many thanks again for your input. This medal, as noted with no documentation, was with a lot which included a Lady's issue Order of St. John's medal named and dated to "Mrs G.M.M. Mackenzie, 23rd February 1904". (See specific post under UK Orders, etc.). The other medals in the Lot included a 1935 Jubilee Medal which appears to relate to the 1st Baron Amulree (formerly Sir William Mackenzie) - other medals (1953 Coronation & 1977 Jubilee) related to his son the 2nd Lord Amulree who was a distinguished physician - the mounted miniatures (KBE, WWII Defence, 1953 Coronation, 1977 Jubilee & Ethiopia Order of Star) did not inclued the Chinese medal. In view of the dating of the Chinese award I am inclined to infer that it does not belong with 2nd Baron Amulree's awards. Regards, Owain

.....and the three lions. Owain

...and the reverse with a nice makers plate. Owain

...and finally a civil badge of European manufacture - Wolfers. Regards, Owain

....and the reverse. Owain

....and another military issue - a small breast star. Owain

.....and the reverse. Owain

Gentlemen, Whilst not a focus of my collecting I have three examples to add to this topic. The first missing its green rays but nonetheless a nice military lion. Kind regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Many thanks for your invaluable input. I presume that this award is now obsolete and if so do you have any suggestion as to the period that the award existed? (I note Hugh suggests 1920's to 1949.) Would it have lapsed with the communist takeover of China? Kind regards & thanks, Owain

Hugh, I attach an image of the top of the reverse of the ribbon - this, is I believe all original issue - I think the family recipient was involved in medical matters. Kind regards, Owain

......and the case label - somewhat unclear. Owain

......and the reverse. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Recently obtained in a family lot, this medal came in its Carrington case. The reverse is engraved, G.M.M. MacKenzie 23rd February 1904 Is this a scarce medal and is there any way in which the recipient could be researched? Many thanks, Owain

....and the reverse. Owain

Gentlemen, I recently obtained, in an assorted lot of British family medals - father and son, a Red Cross medal - unfortunately no documentation. Can any of you identify this for me? Is it a scarce piece and what is the period of issue? Many thanks, Owain

Thanks for a most informative post - I had thought Rothe's had closed during or after WW2. All of our posts have been quite effective at closing off possible avenues of research - how frustrating. You remark that quality of workmanship can be used as an indicator of the period of production. The workmanship to me looks excellent and I would suggest pre-WW2. Similarly I believe the medal design also to be pre-WW2 and thus perhaps we can agree on the period of the award and move forward on this basis. James's image of a breast badge of the award with the crescent and star suspension to my mind further validates an Arabic source. The triangular ribbon if correct is a challenge, or is the green sash with red side stripes correct, or indeed the black, red, black ribbon of the medal? Kind regards, Owain

James, Thanks for your comments. Yes, it would be wise to look further afield but I suspect your candidates may not be the answer: Ali Haidar, whilst the proclaimed Ottoman legitimate ruler of the Hijaz after the Arab Revolt to replace Hussain Bin Ali, was very much bound to the Ottoman authorities and once the Ottoman ruling house had been deposed lived in increasingly difficult circumstances - his autobiography makes no mention of any awards other than his own receipt of the Orders of the Medjide and Osmanie Yemen - the only awards for the Kingdom were two designs and a prototype by Bichay of Cairo for Crown Prince Badr in late 1950's / early 1960's - with the1962 revolution these plans came to nothing and the new Yemen Arab Republic awards - again by Bichay, were instituted for the goverment of Sallal under the "encouragement" of Nasser - Orders of Sab'a, Marib and Medals of Bravery and Liberation. These in turn became obsolete with the overthrow of Sallal and the next series commenced in the early 1970's and manufactured by Skinner of Bond Street. Lahej - all the awards I have seen were locally made and appear to be one off items - an unknown breast badge from the 1880's or 1890's, the Order of the Morning Star (breast badge), the Order of the Brilliant Sun (breast star) and two medals commemorating royal visits. In the 1990's I met in Jeddah Sultan Ali Abdul Karim Al Adbali, (deposed 1956) then in his early eighties and very lucid, who stated that as far as he was aware no awards had been instituted in his living memory. Other South Arabian States with awards were the Qu'aiti Sultanate with Orders (medals) of Distiction and Merit dating from 1948 and whilst a review of the orders was conducted in 1966 the communist takeover halted this process. The Kathiri Sultan was considering an order based on the badge of the Schlaraffia Club of Sarajevo but again the communist takover and the exile of the Sultan meant that this also came to nothing. Early Omani awards are limited to the Nobel Saeedee Order of Sultan Taimour 1913/14 and the 1932 Accession Medal of Sultan Said - the next series of awards commenced in the late 1950's with a service medal. The use of the word "Arab" may reflect the increasing nationalism and identity of the Arab world from 1920 onwards and thus our search for other candiates contiunes. Do you know when Rothe ceased manufacturing awards? Kind regards, Owain

James and colleagues, The mystery deepens - the incscription is quite clearly Arabic and formally written with all the lesser vowel signs included. If it is of pre-Great War manufacture then I still believe that it has some form of Egyptian connection but of course cannot prove this. In 1911/12 the Khedive instituted a Bravery Medal to complement the service medal instituted by Egypt. It may be that he was also considering the instituton of an Egyptian Order - the three Orders of the Egyptian monarchy were instituted by Sultan Hussein Kamel in 1915 - Mohammed Ali, Ismail and Nile. As Sultan he had also earlier instituted the Order of the Felaha (Peasant/Agricultural Worker). The style of the medal has though a decidedly Ottoman feel to it. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Just a note but as far as the Kuwaitis are concerned this is the "Order of Liberation" and not just a Liberation medal. The words "Wissam At-tahrir" (Order of Liberation) are visible on the obverse of the 1st and 4th class grades, but not on the Excellent, 2hd or 3rd class grades. With regard to the manufacture of the Order I have a letter from the Spink Medal Services Department dated 8 June 1998 where it is noted that ".......Spink did not in fact manufacture the Kuwait Liberation Medal (sic). We did supply Kuwait with the original designs along with a full quotation for manufacturing, but they then had the medals manufactured, very cheaply, somewhere in the Far East, we think Hong Kong." Spink did though, along with other manufacturers - Huguenin of Switzerland in Europe, manufacture the Saudi Liberation of Kuwait Medal. The box illustrated by Doc is a standard Spink issue box. Kind regards from Riyadh, Owain

Christer, I agre with 922F's suggestions. I attach images of the possible medal. I met with Mr Bichay a couple of times in the early 1990's and he told me his father had been the manager or similar for Lattes and took over the business from Lattes in the 1930's. IO may be that the "takeover" was more of a "makeover". Regards, Owain

Tim, Your successor in Riyadh is just back from Addis and advises that there was quite a bit for sale but as he is not a collector so he did not buy anything and was also concerned about the ban on the export of militaria, etc. A German friend who has an Ethiopian frau notes that for some time there has been difficulty in bringing out any sort of collectible items but as a diplomat he has been able to side step such problems. Perhaps the key to success is to pack items in your hold luggage and not hand luggage. (On my most recent trip to Sana'a some 18months ago all bags were x-rayed and contents inspected.) For those who are interested in Ethiopian medals there is quite a bit for sale by the various dealers and auction houses in Europe. After the Derg was kicked out there was a rush of Ethiopian items onto the market. Items marked "Made by Sevadjian" may have come from a raided or disposed of stock in Addis. Don't forget that all of the Ethiopian orders and some of the medals have been manufactured in Europe - e.g. Mappin & Webb, Bertrand, and others. Items are also available our of Addis by variosu R-Bay vendors - the one I have used have been reliable. Kind regards and to quote you, "Wales No 1 - I love you long time!" Owain