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Gentlemen, With the overthrow / exile by the British of Khedive Ismali in 1914 he was succeeded by Hussain Kamel and the title changed from Khedive to Sultan. With the accession of Sultan Hussein and during his brief reign he instituted the Order of the Felaha, Mohamed Ali (plus two medals), Ismail and Nile.(The last award instituted by the Khedive was a bravery medal in 1913.) Sultan Hussein died in 1917 and in turn was succeeded by Sultan Fouad who became king in 1922 and shortly afterwards instituted more orders - Agriculture, Art & Literature, Industry and a Bravery Star....but I have digressed from the Judge's badge!. Kind regards, Owain

Success at Euro300 / US$440 - thank you for your input. Owain

Success at Euro450 / US$660 - both parties content - thank you for your input. Owain

Gentlemen, Some further information: In Sir Harry Sinderson's, the physician to the Iraqi Royal Family. autobiography, published 1973, he refers, on page 261 to, "Dr. Raymond Dixon Firth, medical adviser to the British Military Mission was to succeed me at the palace". Dr. Firth left Iraq in 1948 having been part of the British Military Mission. It is possible that the photograph of Dr. Firth wearing his miniature medals was taken at a reception during the State Visit of King Faisal to the UK in July 1956. Dr. R.D. Firth was born on 12 February 1916 in Beverley, Yorkshire and died on 18 September 2005 in Hull Royal Infirmary. He lived in Hessle near Hull in Yorkshire. The other senior officer pictured may be either a General H.C. Smith. or Dr. Firth's Commanding Officer at the BMM a General J.M.L. Renton. I have now exhausted my supply of information from the vendor and thus any further information will have to be gleaned from alternative sources such as the London Gazette or Public Record Office. Regards, Owain.

Gentlemen, Taken from the same photo and standign next to Dr. Firth and unknown British officer - a nice rack of miniatures: CBDSO & BarOBE or MBE Military?? UnknownWW1 WarWW1 VictoryGSM - 2 Clasps39/45 Star?? Unknown StarWW2 DefenceWW2 War + MIDOrder of Rafidain & rosetteIraq Active Service MedalHe is also wearing on the lower right of his jacket, but not shown, the breast star of the Rafidain - with the miniature - a second class / grand officer set? No neck badge with this grade of award. Any suggestions as to who.....?. Regards, Owain

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Gentlemen, Arrived to day a couple of scans of photos of the good Doctor Firth at a reception - probably in London (iraqi Embassy?) some time I think in the early to mid 1950's - after the accession / coronation of Faisal II and before the 1958 overthrow of the monarchy. The miniatures are clearly visible and thus some decent provenance for them. Regards, Owain

The award is with the vendor who is currently away. Owain

Paul, They have gone to a good home. I am hopeful of getting a photo of Dr. Firth as and when and indeed if it arrives I will post it for you and others to see. Kind regards, Owain

Excellent Emmanuel - you really are the expert when it comes to African awards. Regards, Owain

And finally....A pair of cased gold cufflinks, each with a row of claw set sapphires to the centre, to a textured ground, with swivel fittings, hinged fitted case by Joaillerie Nagil Tabbah Beyrouth (2) Est : £130.00 - £180.00 00 – Bid £225 – Hammer - £350 As you will note I bid on all of these and without success except for the already mentioned medals and also the watch and watch chain. Further to contact with the auctioneers I have gained the following information about Dr. Firth and also hope the get a picture of him in due course. "My uncle, who went to school at Malvern College, trained at St Georges' Hospital in London (Hyde Park Corner) and was awarded the Hunter Medal (which we still have). During the war he was posted to Egypt and we think he was attached to the Inns of Court Regiment. He was sent home to recover from a serious illness.. On his return he was posted to the British Military Hospital in Baghdad and lived in a house formerly rented by Agatha Christie. He was a Major in the RAMC and worked under Sir Harry Sinderson who was Physician to the Iraqi Royal Household. When he returned home he set up as a private family doctor in Mayfair and maintained his Iraqi connections through the Iraqi Embassy. He was Faisal's guardian while the future King was at Harrow School. After the assassinations he cut all his ties with the Iraqi Embassy but kept his relations with the royalist army officers who remained in London." Regards, Owain.

A high carat gold gentleman's signet ring, with a niello enamel portrait of King Ghazi I to the oval head, to tapered gadrooned shoulders. Tested as approximately 22ct gold. Finger size approximately P-Q Est : £280.00 - £350.00 00 – Bid £450 – Hammer - £700

A high carat gold rectangular cigarette case, c.1950, the round cornered, rectangular hinged case approximately 131 x 86mm, decorated with a niello portrait of HRH Abdullah, Regent and Crown Prince of Iraq, in officer's uniform to the front cover, and Iraqi royal coat of arms to the back case, tested as approximately 22ct gold This case was made by the court jewellers, Sigal, with the niello work carried out by local Amara craftsmen, and presented to the vendor by HRH Abdullah, Regent and Crown Prince of Iraq, for Christmas 1950/1 saying 'I have had my picture put on it so that you will never forget me' Est : £6000.00 - £7000.00 00 – No Bid – Hammer - Unsold

Gentlemen, In addition to the medals there were a number of accompanying lots: A gold telescopic action propelling pencil, with a square section body, with ruler markings from 0-6 inch, tested as approximately 14ct gold Est : £120.00 - £180.0000 – Bid £225 – Hammer - £280 A cased rolled gold Elgin open faced pocket watch, with a cream dial, gilt Arabic numerals and hands with subsidiary seconds dial. Case marked 'Keystone No. 51748, Movement No. 36762605'. Hand engraved to the back case with a crown, facsimile signature and date. Suspended on a gold fancy bar link watch chain with a bolt ring clasp, replacement rolled gold swivel clasp broken, chain tested as approximately 14ct gold. This watch was presented to the vendor in London 1959 by Col. Salman Dargazelli 'on behalf of the Free Iraqi Officers'. It had been presented to him in 1941 by the Regent of Iraq in recognition of his loyalty in the Rashid Ali revolt. Col. Dargazelli returned to Baghdad under promise of safety, but was shot dead by Saddam Hussein in person. Est : £100.00 - £200.00 00 – Bid £300 – Hammer - £310 More to follow.........

Dear Megan, Gavin and Brian, May thanks t you all for your input on this matter - ii is much appreciated. I have moved very rapidly from zero knowledge to being comfortable with attempting a deal. I'll see the vendor again in a couple of weeks - he is now traveling and I'll report back as to what success I have. Kind regards, Owain

Lorenzo, I purchased the group last year for $1,275 which was i think a fair price for me as purchasre and frio the vendor . I have a lone unnamed star from ten years ago at $250. Recently I have been offered a named single star for $1,650 which to my mind is far to much - I think a common sense price would be about $500 to $750 but I am well aware that Baghdad based prices are not very sensible. I have a miniature which I paid, I think, $100 - I must be mad!. Regards, Owain

I attach image of reverse of Bravery Star, Owain.

Gentlemen, Another group of Iraqi medals mounted and with a name : Iraq Bravery Star 2nd Type named to "Mulazim Thani (2nd.Lt., Habeeb Dhahir, 2nd Battalion".Faisal II Police Distinguished Service MedalActive Service MedalFaisal II Police Long Service MedalFaisal II Coronation Medal As there are no WW2 medals nor a Rafidain Order I would suggest a career commencing after WW2 and possibly coming to an end with the 1958 Revolution. The uniform ribbon bar is in a different order. Regards. Owain

Thanks Lukasz for the information - any idea what a good price would be? It isn't silver thus no bullion value - sometimes here in Saudi / Yemen / Oman I have been sold medals by weight! Regards, Owain

Many thanks Megan. Has anyone any idea as to the value of such a set?

Will, Yes, lots of potential for research and I hope to get a pciture of Dr. Dixon Firth in due course - possibly some supporting documentation as well, but not guaranteed. Lorenzo, You are correct - a UK issue miniature Faisal Coronation. In the past I have seen one similar full size group to the British Butler at the Iraqi Embassy - I think it consisted of Royal Victorian Medal or British Empire Medal, a couple of WW2 medals, the Rafidain Medal and Faisal Coronation Medal - I was broke at the time and thus couldn't afford to bid!. I now have 3 full size UK manufactured coronation medasl - out of 5,000 = 0.06%! I am sorry I cannot post any further images as the medals are in UK and I am in Riyadh - I will actually get to hold them when I next visit UK in August / September. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, I attach the image of a nice Rafidain group, plus miniatures which I have recently purchased, awarded to Dr. Dixon Firth, sometime Medical Officer with the Royal Iraqi Household after the the Second World War: UK Defence Medal 1939-45UK War Medal 1939-45Iraq Order of the Rafidain 5th Class Civil ( with blutack affixing ribbon crown to suspension!)Iraq Active Service MedalIraq Faisal Coronation Medal The table medal is one of a series issued during the early years of King Faisal II reign commemorating various civil works. Regards, Owain

I attach an image of Type 1. I think this example may have been made by either Bertoni (Italy), IKOM, (Zagreb) or Fattorini (UK). Regards, Owain

Chris, I suspect that when Gaddafi renamed the Republic a Jamahariya and changed the flag from red, white, black to plain green the award kept a white central stripe to allow the script to be read more easily. As you say not the most attractive of awards - very functional but I suspect a relatively scare piece - I have not seen this particular Type 2 for sale elsewhere. Regards, Owain

Two more images.