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Clayton, Thanks & I have responded - his award is confirmed in Tinson's book but no citation. Owain PS I attach a similar group of miniatures sold some years ago on E-Bay - no name but I recall it is on another thread in GMIC.

Good Morning Clayton, If you provide your uncle's name I can check it against the lists in the various editions of Tinson's book. A nice group - ditto the miniatures. Owain

Gentlemen, This time a generic RAOB jewel - pictures from E-Bay - a second degree Primo's badge worn on a blue neck ribbon. Other examples of this jewel are usually seen on a breast ribbon. Perhaps this neck ribbon format was an especial mark of favour. The reverse is inscribed, "Bro. / George C. Reed / Raised 15-3-65 / Aden Phoenix / Lodge No. 8506". No makers mark and presumably of gilded base metal. It is interesting to note that despite the deterioration in the security situation in Aden at the time the Phoenix Lodge continued to meet. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Further to my post of 8 July 2020, form the internet, another example of the Shamal Lodge No. 9948, but with a, " 25th Anniversary" bar - reverse not seen. Also from the internet, a previously unseen RAOB Lodge jewel, "Jerboa 8776" - again reverse not seen - the badge is that of a desert rat or jerboa. 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. Without a context for the jewel all is supposition. Regards, Owain

Rob, Even in the Buttenshaw 2010 edition of Tinson's book the only citations includes are for the Sultan's Gallantry Medal. I suspect that somewhere in Oman other records exist. Perhaps you could write to the Sultan's Armed Forces Museum at Bait Al Falaj? Regards, Owain

Good morning Gentlemen, This time a generic RAOB jewel with the ribbon brooch bar inscribed, 'Cairo' and the lower suspension bar inscribed, 'Sub Examining Council'. The reverse reads, 'Presented to / Bro. C. Luck C.P. / for services rendered / as Vice-President / 1945'. Luck would have been a member of the council that examined RAOB members for knowledge & proficiency to obtain promotion within the RAOB. Kind regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Another generic Egypt RAOB jewel but this time with a clasp or bar bearing the inscription, 'R.A.F. Aboukir No.3739'. The reverse does not bear the recipient's name. An Aboukir specific lodge jewel was illustrated in my post of 1 November 2022. As noted previously Aboukir is on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt and the bay in the Nile Delta is known for a sea battle of 1798 when the British Navy, under Nelson, defeated the French navy. I attach my image of 1 November and also another of a similar jewel with the clasp/bar 'Akrotiri' which suggests that the lodge did indeed relocate to Cyprus. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Further to my post of 12 December 2020 I detail below another Latitude Zero Gan jewel. In this instance the ribbon also bears a RAOB letter device and in addition a clasp or bar with the inscription, 'Latitude Zero Lodge 9188 / MILLENIUM / 20th October 1980' The reverse is plain other than the makers mark, 'PARRY B'HAM' What is particularly interesting is that the design of the jewel has been flipped - the red crescent is now to the right of the jewel whereas on the first jewel it is to the left. A different ribbon also applies. As noted in the earlier post RAF Gan was situated at the south of the Maldives islands and established as a military base in 1941 - used as staging post for RAF flights and closed in 1976 and handed back to the Maldives Government. Kind regards, Owain

Megan, Some progress - some 36 pages - really no more than an overview and a guide - checking for typos and formatting......... Owain

Megan, I note you refer to Decree 271 of 18 June 1966, Establishment of the Somali-Ethiopian Campaign Medal January-April 1964. On the Italian legal website this law is noted but not accessible and on the Somali website most if not all of the decrees for 1964 are missing. The words 'needle' and 'haystack' come to mind! I am currently reviewing a draft edition of my Somali booklet. Owain .

Rusty, Good post - great images. Such an example of the order would be on the 'nice to have' list but I suspect that there will be bidders with deeper pockets! I note the estimate is £2,000 - £3,000 - it will surely go for more. All the successful buyer will need is a sash for the badge! Owain

Gentlemen, Further to my first post back in May 2020 I posted a couple of images of two RAOB Egypt jewels. I have recently obtained a nicer example of such a jewel awarded to Bro G.QW. Farquahar of the Concordia Lodge. The jewel is gilded base metal - no maker's mark. Owain

Bart, Many thanks. A very large number of Belgian nationals came to the UK as refugees during the Great War - some 250,000 plus - and I suspect that the answer to the mystery of these medals/awards may lie in the communities that these people made and lived in in UK. Kind regards, Owain

Good Morning, Further to my post of 17 December 2020, yesterday I purchased in a junk shop a jewel of the Aden Phoenix Lodge. Superb quality gilded silver - for £20 a good price for such workmanship. The Lodge specific jewel depicts a 'mountain' on the obverse an allusion to the barren rocks of Aden and the phoenix is supposedly to have originated in Arabia. The crown, eagle and the ribbon colours are symbolic of the Royal Air Force. Obverse - 'Aden Phoenix No. 8506' Reverse - Plain other than the initials FGP for the manufacturer Parry. The hallmarks are Birmingham silver, 'E' for 1954. Regards, Owain

Megan, In the early 1970's the decrees change from Italian to Somali and really are a challenge to translate! Sadly the series of laws is incomplete with photocopied pages overlapping and in some instances missing and also misfiled but at least some can be found Owain

Omar, Nice to see a 1st Class gold example of the Medal of Benevolence - instituted in 1923. Owain And.......both types King Fuad and King Faruq, Owain

Megan, Hey presto.....as sold by me - they are the UNTT/IFA - Order of Somali Solidarity - Law 7 of 30 Sep. & Decree 116 of 17 Nov. 1956 - short lived and obsolete upon proclamation of the Somali Republic. Owain

SAFO, Please to advise that after much searching I have now obtained a copy of the First Edition: 'Orders, Decorations and Medals of the Sultanate of Oman', Major A.R. Tinson, Spink and Son Limited, 1977 So over a period of 45 years four editions - quite a successful 'life' for a book on Arab awards. Owain

Good Morning Megan, Further to your post I would advise that I am having a small booklet published on Somali awards. This is based on my exhibit at the OMRS Convention last September, Somalia The Awards of a Failed State An attempt to document & display the awards of the Somali peoples from 1950 the time of the British Somaliland Protectorate & Italian Administration of the United Nations Trusteeship, through to independence in 1960 as the Somali Republic, the 1969 military coup & declaration of the Somali Democratic Republic, to the nation’s collapse in 1991. I was pleased to have been awarded a Gold Medal for the exhibit. Somali awards are a bit of a niche topic! As and when the booklet sees the light of day I will let you know. Kind regards, Owain

Hi SAFO, Good to note an updated list of awards is being compiled. I have three editions of Tinson's book: 'Awards of the Sultanate of Oman', Major A.R. Tinson, Spink, London, 1985 'Orders & Medals of the Sultanate of Oman', Lt. Col. A.R. Tinson, Spink, London, 1995 'Orders and Medals of the Sultanate of Oman', Originally written by Lt Col A.R. Tinson, Updated & Amended by Lt Col I Buttenshaw, WKhM, RAO Printing Press, Oman 2010. Does the Buttenshaw file you refer to update any amendments / corrections in the 2010 edition? Regards & thanks, Owain

Gentlemen, Further details concerning the recipient - with many thanks to Jim Routledge. He was John Richmond Marchant - born 18 Oct 1907. His RAF number was 364189 & he enlisted as a Halton Apprentice (9th Entry) in September 1923. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Tech Eng Branch from the rank of Flt Sgt 19 Dec 1941 – London Gazette entries 5 May 1942, p.1973 & 2 June 1942, p. 2377. (Why there are be two entries is unknown.) He reached the rank of substantive Sqn Ldr 1 Jan 1949 & retiring 18 Oct 1956. He did not qualify for the British General Service Medal, clasp "Northern Kurdistan", but did qualify for the Iraq Active Service Medal, clasp "Southern Kurdistan1930-31". His full medal entitlement would include a selection of WW2 medals (at least 1939/45 Star & Defence / War Medals) & probably a RAF LSGC medal. His record of service would provide more details. Whilst he was initiated a member of the Ninak Lodge in 1932, by this date the DH9As, after which the Lodge was named, had departed Iraq. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, On receiving the jewels I thought Ninak was somewhere in the Middle East although the name did not sound familiar. A quIck online search revealed that Ninak was the name given to the RAF Airco DH 9A light bomber biplane - taken from the phonetic designation of Nine A. It saw service from 1918-1931 with five RAF Squadrons serving service in the Middle East. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airco_DH.9A . Further research will hopefully identify where the Ninak Lodge was established. The other three jewels of the group are as follows: Sudan - Obverse suspension, "Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes". Obverse jewel, "Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Khartoum Sudan", with a central camel similar to the design of the badge of the Sudan Defence Force. Reverse - "Presented to Bro. J.R. Marchant By The Khartoum Temperance Lodge No. 8310". Jewel is of gilded base metal with the makers name, "L. Simpson & Co.56 York Road King's Cross N1". The ribbon colours are those of the RAF. Palestine - Obverse suspension, "Palestine". Obverse jewel, "Province of Palestine", with a central castle or fort, no doubt representing a location in Palestine - perhaps Kerak Castle? Reverse - "Brabason Rees Lodge No. 6009 Bro. J.R. Marchant Member of the Palestine Province". Jewel is of silvered base metal with the makers name, "Fattorini & Sons Bradford House Birmingham". Iraq - Obverse suspension, "Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes". Obverse jewel, "Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes S.T.B. Iraq", (S.T.B. is unknown) with a central design of a palm tree, a fort, and I think, the Great Arch at Ctesiphon. Reverse - "Bro. ----------Member of the RAOB, GLE in Iraq". Jewel is of gilded base metal with the makers name, "L. Simpson & Co. King's Cross N1". The ribbon colours are the the Iraqi flag colours. I will endeavour to track down Marchant's RAF career. Kind regards, Owain.

Gentlemen, This time a group of 6 jewels from the 1930s to a J.R. Marchant - almost certainly a member of the RAF. The group includes 1st (Kangaroo), 2nd ( Certified Primo) & some country specific jewels. 1st Kangaroo - standard format - obverse inscription "Ninak Lge. No.5201". Reverse inscription, "Presented to Bro. J.R. Marchant. Initiated in the Ninak Lodge No. 5201 on the 24 July 1932". The jewel is of silver-gilt with hallmarks - for silver, Chester, date letter 'H' for 1933. Manufacturer's initials appear to be G.U. (George Unite). 2nd Certified Primo - standard format - obverse inscription, "Ninak Lge. No. 5201". Reverse inscription, "Presented to Bro. J.R. Marchant C.P. by the Ninak Lodge No. 5201 Certified on the 27 May 1934". The jewel is of silver-gilt with hallmarks - for silver, Chester, date letter 'J' for 1933. Manufacturer's initials appear to be G.U. (George Unite). Egypt Jewel - with "Donor" clasp. Reverse reads, "Member of the Province of Egypt Bro. J.R. Marchant Ninak 5201". The jewel appears to be of gilded base metal with the makers mark, "Fattorini & Sons Bradford House Birmingham". (A poorer quality example of this particular jewel has been previously posted.) More to follow tomorrow..... Owain

Gentlemen, Another internet image - of a pendant - obverse only - Sands of Arabia Lodge. The number is unclear but possibly 9962 - Arabian numerals have been used. From the depiction of the crescent, palm tree and crossed swords I would infer that this lodge was based in Saudi Arabia - no doubt on on of the British aerospace bases. I cannot make out what the 'pillar' to the right of the central disc is. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Further to my post of 7 June 2020 I have recently obtained a RAOB Bahrain Island Lodge No. 9167. Sadly it is not named nor marked. The pendant is nicely enamelled - the white & red colour scheme is a 'nod' to the national flag of Bahrain, whilst the palm trees are a generic symbol of the Arab world. I am unaware as to the significance of the green and yellow colours of the ribbon - perhaps green for the palm trees and yellow for sand? Regards, Owain