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Dear Noor,

Not an Iranian medal, The reverse is an Assyrian statue - a mythical beast called a lamassu - see the 2004 British Iraq medal and the script cuniform from Mesopotamia - now Iraq. I would suggest that this is a Western manufactured piece of some age - possibly a society award or badge?

Regards, Owain

Will,

The Order of Qadissiyah Saddam came in 3 classes - gilt, silver with a gilt centre and silver - the ribbon - in all instances a sash - is yellow with narrow red, white and black central stripes - somewhat similar to the British Iraq 2004 War ribbon. The same obverse design, with a different reverse and ribbon was retained for the Order of the Mother of Battles" (note not "....All Battles") and there are two types of this Order with either the date 1990 or 1991 on the reverse.

Regards, Owain

Will,

You should be able to get the 3rd and 2nd class Kuwaiti Order of Liberation without too much difficulty but the 1st and Distinguished Class will be difficult - in 20 years of hunting I have had no success to date! The UAE medal is also relatively easy to come by. The Egyptian award is difficult but I have a spare 2nd Class (no ribbon) in hallmarked silver fro you, (1st - Gilt, 3rd - Bronze).

Regards, Owain

Will,

Excellent stuff. With regard to the Liberation of Kuwait awards the Saudi award is a one class medal; the Kuwaiti award is is fact the junior class (4th)of a 5 degree Order of Liberation; the Bahraini award is a one class medal; you need the UAE (one class medal) and Egyptian awards (3 class medal). Your final medal is the Saudi combat medals which is not specific to the Liberation of Kuwait conflict.

Kind regards,

Owain

Dear Avsar,

Further to this topic can you advise how and when the Khedive received authority to award Ottoman Orders to Egyptian and British personnel? I am aware that the Khedive instituted his own medals - the Khedive's Star 19882, Sudan Medal 1896-1908 & Sudan Medal 1910-21 - were these issued directly under his intiative or ultimately with the authority of Istanbul? With the enforced abdication of Abbas Hilmi in in 1914 and the onset of the Great War I would assume that the award of the Mejidjie and Osmanie by his sucessor Sultan Hussain Kamel ceased. (The latter Sudan medal continued under Sultan Hussain Kamel and Sultan Fouad with the obverse Abbas Hilmi naming changed circa 1917/18 to that of Fouad the First.) Any thoughts you can share would be much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Owain

Will, Enjoy the trip. I had written off line a while ago i.r.o. modern Sudan medals. I am working on a draft on Iraqi civil awards and wonder whether your collection includes "Saddam's Order of Appreciation" - instituted in 1988, but may never have been actually made due to invasion of Kuwait, etc. Supposedly octagonal and 6cms in diameter. Regards, Owain.

Nice stuff Will - are you back in RSA? Did you identify the Iraqi civil award with the orange ribbon? Owain

Lorenzo,

Yes, Asprey would be the maker's mark - a blinding glimpse of the obvious!

I suspect these were purchased by the Iraqi Court for the royal household.

I do not believe that the cutlery was a gift from UK - the cutlery is a functional item essential for the day to day operation of a household and thus would have been a practical necessity for the Iraqi royal household for entertaining visitors and guest dinners. The knife and fork would have been part of a very large set.

Nevertheless an interesting purchase but not to my mind of great value - the orders are a better investment.

Regards,

Owain

Lorenzo,

On checking my records the marks are indeed British:

• Lion = Sterling Silver
  
• Leopard's Head = London Assay Office
  
• S = Year Mark for 1953
  
• Queen's Head = Commenmorative Mark for Coronation
  
• Makers Mark = Not yet deciphered.
  

Regards, Owain

I agree with Bruno but the second name could be Tweemahr - there appear to be two dots under the word which would give the "ee" sound - nice piece. Good luck with the search

.

Regards, Owain

Lorenzo,

From the Spanish no smoking sign - and assuming the photos are taken in Spain, the award could be the Spanish Order of Aeronautical Merit?

Regards,

Owain

Lorenzo,

The inscription reads "Service, The Nation, Honour".

Regards,

Owain.

I would concur with James's suggestion - the absence of Arabic script would suggest that it is not a Moroccan award.

Kind regards,

Owain

I think this is a piece of jewelry.

Regards,

Owain

Nice reference Lorenzo - like you i just need a Rafidain Collar...............insh'allah one day, eh?.

Gentlemen,

Here is the reverse of the star - no visible marks - possibly of French (Bertrand) manufacture.

Owain

Gentlemen,

This story continues. I have been contacted indirectly by the family to advise that have found the breast star to go with the Rafidain medal group. Thus it appears that the good Doctor was awarded a 2nd Class of the Order - I have not been able to trace a London Gazette entry but not withstanding this lack of documentation the provenance is good and I have added the star to the group - see attached.

Kind regards,

Owain

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:

• CB
• DSO & Bar
• OBE or MBE Military
• ?? Unknown
• WW1 War
• WW1 Victory
• GSM - 2 Clasps
• 39/45 Star
• ?? Unknown Star
• WW2 Defence
• WW2 War + MID
• Order of Rafidain & rosette
• Iraq Active Service Medal

He 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

Deleted as repetiton

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