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Graf, Nice to see a bejewelled Legion of Merit - looks like a beautiful piece. Owain

Odin, It is the T'ai Federation Order of Military Merit - see link below http://www.indochinamedals.com/tai_and_nung/index.html Kind regards, Owain

Clayton, I attach images of the Gallantry & Bravery medals - miniatures Sultan Qaboos issue - made by Spink. Owain

Clayton, From my research the Omani awards system dos not differentiate between Offices & Other ranks for gallantry medals. The highest award is the Gallantry Medal (less than 20 awarded), then the Bravery Medal then the Distinguished Service Medal. The latter can be made for: Distinguished service over a prolonged period. An act of outstanding gallantry at risk of life but not in the face of the enemy. In the latter instance the khunjar emblem is added. To my mind your uncle was in the face of the enemy but he was evacuating injured rather than individual combat so perhaps this was a distinction applied in assessing the award. However what is important is that you have the citation and it clearly demonstrates the valour of you uncle. Owain

Clayton, Congratulations on tracking down the citation - a great success. It adds so much to the context of the group. Well done, Owain

Ilja, After some research - a circular silvered medal with fourteen scalloped rims inside of which is a smaller circular pattern with seven scalloped rims. In the centre, in two lines, the Arabic inscription, بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم (Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim) In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful (In the illustration the inscription is unclear but I think this is correct) جواهر بن محمد القاسمي (Jawahir Bin Muhamad Al Qasimi) Jawaher Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi The medal is suspended from the ribbon by a gilt rectangular bar bearing the Arabic inscription, جائزة رواد العمل الاجتماعي 2020 (Jayizat Ruaad Al Amal Al Ijtimaei 2020) Social Workers Pioneer Prize In 2020 the wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, was awarded the State Social Work Pioneers Award. This was awarded to her by the Sociologists Association on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Association in the Emirate of Sharjah. I believe this to be a single one time only award. Owain

Clayton, It looks great - well done - a treasured heirloom. Owain

Gentlemen, I attach a 2 page PDF of an exhibit I compiled last year on some Zanzibar miniatures for the OMRS Miniature Medals Branch. Regards, Owain OMRS Miniature Exhibit 080522 Zanzibar.pdf

Graf, This time some LdH groups with seniors UK & USA awards: LdH group with a British CBE & DFC plus a USA Air medal - senior WW2 French Air Force officer? LdH group with a USA Bronze Star - long serving French Officer/NCO wit Indo-China service? LdH group with USA Legion of Merit & UK KBE/CBE (missing ribbon device) - very senior WW2 French Officer with WW1 service? This group only has the orders and gallantry awards - no need for the campaign medals! Regards, Owain

Graf, Two groups...... 1st - Jaques Ehrsham 1917-2018, one time President of Singer France. 2nd - Captaine de Frigate Guillaume Auguste Fournage 1901-? Enjoy, Owain

Gentlemen, I attach the other images that accompanied the aforementioned lot - sadly no reverse of the four jewels. I suspect that the lot all belonged to Bro. R.A. Oval. Owain

Gentlemen, From a group of seven RAOB jewels sold today at a Suffolk auction house - I was the underbidder! Obverse - "Flying Bull Lodge No. 8903" Reverse - Blank Obverse - "Bedouin Lodge Iraq No. 8800" Reverse - "Bro. R.A. Oval C.P." Obverse - "Royal Baghdad Lodge Iraq No.3647 R.A.O.B." with clasp, "Royal Baghdad 3647" Reverse - "Presented to Bro. R.A. Oval C.P. 28.1.58." All three are silver gilt pieces, marked, by F.C. Parry of Birmingham, with date letter marks unclear except the latter which is "H" for 1957. There were four other jewels, generic jewel Kimberley Lodge, specific jewel Yarre or Jarre Lodge West Germany, specific jewel Iraq (see earlier posts) and generic jewel River Jordan Lodge. Regards Owain

Graf, I found another jewelled piece.... Owain And another.......Owain

Good Morning , Some nice pieces - congratulations. I attach an image of the one French groups I have with a diamond/paste LdH. Owainr

Clayton, Great news - and by the sounds of it good timing too! Once you get it and have it set on the group post a new picture. Glad to have been of assistance. Owain

Clayton, Whilst the format of the medals is the same, those issued by Sultan Saeed have his name in Arabic and the Qaboos issue have his name. Your group are of the Sultan Qaboos type. The writing is biro above a ruler hence the 'flat' bottom line. Owain

Clayton, Spink will have no records of award recipients. Qaboos was the only son of Sultan Saeed - Qaboos had two sisters. Owain

Clayton, Glad to have been of assistance. I've looked at my various Oman books and found a chapter of Operation Jaguar in 'SAS Oman' by Colonel Tony Jeapes, 1980, Chapter VII, pages 133-142. No mention of individual names other than the commanders. Also look at Britain's Small Wars website: https://britains-smallwars.com/campaigns/oman/page.php?art_url=jaguar I note you mention 'saved his grandson' -Sultan Qaboos was not keen on the ladies so it is highly unlikely there was/is a grandson! Kind regards, Owain P.S. As Spink made most of the Oman orders, decorations and medal series, and still mount medals they may have a full size gallantry device - no harm in asking.

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