oamotme

Ed & Co.,

The UAE presentation.

Owain

Nahyan_Collar_Bush.bmp

Ed & Co.,

The Saudi presentation.

Owain

Ed & Co.

GWB appears to have been awarded three awards during his recent jaunt to the Gulf:

Palestine/Israel - Nil.

Kuwait - nil, although his father was awared the Collar of Mubarak the Great.

Bahrain - Collar, etc., of the Order of Shaikh Issa named after the late ruler of Bahrain.

Qatar - nil.

UAE - Collar, etc., of Order of Shaikh Zayed named after the later ruler of the UAE.

KSA - Collar of the Order of Abdulaaziz - his father was also a recipient of this award.

Egypt - nil.

Perhaps he has already been awarded Kuwait & Qatar awards during visits by their Heads of State to DC in earlier years of his office??

Owain.

Lorenzo,

At least his medal entitlement is clear:

Rafidain

Bravery

ASM

War

Victory

Coronation

Flood

Regards,

Owain

Mother Lodge Apollo 357 & joining member of Eurydice 1920.

Owain

Enzo,

With regard to the awards of the PDRY, from my records the "Orders" appear to be as follows:

Hungarian Manufacture

O. of 22 June - neck badge

O.of The Land (or Earth) - neck badge

O.of Devotion - 3 classes

O.of Science

Hero of Yemen Star

O.of War Wounded

Soviet Manufacture

O.of Revolution

O of Independence

O.of Friendship

O.of 22 June (same as above but a breast badge.)

O.of Bravery

DDR Manufacture

Ministry of State Security Order of Bravery

In addition to these there is a vast array of medals. I have completed a draft for submission - some 40 pages without illustrations - to JOMSA possibly as a Monograph and am currently contemplating orgainsing the illustrations.

Owain

Gentlemen,

Some years ago I acquired a Colonial Police LSGC George VI issue named to:

RSM HAMADI MTILA M.M.

I had thought the name Arabic but the surname appears to be of southern African origin. To date I have had no success in identifying which Police Force he was with - is M.M. the Force abbreviation, or indeed Military Medal? The rank of RSM seems strange for such a medal.

Any suggestions?

Owain

Enzo,

I seem to recall that Nayef Hawatemeh spent time in Aden as a guest of the PDRY government and the awards of the PDRY were procured from Moscow (most senior awards), Berlin (internal security awards), Budapest (most others). It may be that this is how such a contact was made. The PDRY had its own "Hero Star" - very cheap and tacky and I think Hungarian manufacture........but perhaps I digress.

Owain

Aaaaaaaaaarrgh - as ever when you think you've seen it all something else appears. To be honest no idea what this is although at a guess the JD could stand for Jibha Dimocratiya - Democratic Front and thus indicative of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) - founded in 1969 by Nayef Hawatimah. I will need to look up my notes to see if my background research to the article gives me something more substantive to go on. A wonderful piece and as indicated probably of East German manufacture. Despite the wear it is obvious that care and attention was lgiven in the design and manufacture. Usually awards instituted by the various Palestinian factions clearly and in full indicate which faction they are - PLO, PLF, PFLP, PFLP-GC and DFLP, plus others.

I attach another unrecorded award - this time from FATAH - on Ebay quite a while ago which I missed!

In frustration..........

Owain.

Obverse FATAH & "Movement for the Liberation of the Nation of Palestine"

Revers - as above and also "Revolution to Victory"

Of course I have no idea if the ribbon actually goes with the medal....

Ooooh-can we see the aden Labour Corps medal please??

According to the PRO Medal Roll 942 medals were issued to the ALC - this is the first one I have seen and despite its condition I suspect a scarce piece. The incorrect suspension and clasp will be added to a correct disc - I have a number of these.

Owain

Gentlemen,

I have just returned from a weekend in Sana'a, Yemen and amongst various bits and pieces purchased in the souk in the old city was the disc of an Egypt Medal, undated, and engraved to:

366 DRIV. SELAH FOSS

As an Arab (or so I thought but now not so sure) recipient this falls nicely into my collection and at $80 an interesting purchase. I would suppose that with some application I should be able to find out whether FOSS was with either British or Egyptian Forces and whether the medal was issued with or without clasps. The lack of unit does not make such research easy, however I am sure that it can wait until a rainy day.

Regards,

Owain.

P.S. Other purchases include General Service Medals, clasp "Arabian Peninsula" to Aden Protectorate Levies, Tribal Guards, Mukalla Regular Army & Qu'aiti Armed Constabulary, a Great War Medal in Bronze, with wrong suspension to Aden Labour Corps (impressed ADEN L.C. - no name) and a QEII large bronze medal, Aden issue, of the Certificate of Honour. All in all a good haul.

Drew,

This translates roughly as "Directorate of Morale Guidance and Public Affairs Kuwaiti Army". Hope this helps.

With regard to Saudi insignia these were once fairly freely available but since the security clampdown in 2003/4 it is now very difficult to come by any insignisa - I have contacts with the Britiah Military Mission attached to the Saudi National Guard (separte and disticnct from Minitry of Defence & Aviation) - I will ask if they are aware of such a department.

Owain

Reading right to left "rukn al-towjiah........." third word is unclear, but the first tow words can be translated as "place of advice...." . This is, to my mind, not Saudi as the quality does not appear to be up to Saudi standards nor does it include the inevitable KSA emblem of a palm and crossed swords which from experience is present in most KSA items.

Regards,

Owain

Good morning from Riyadh,

I believe following discussion, some time ago, with Gustav Tammann that No. 6 is actually the junior class of the Order of the Alijieh - a three class order - a breast badge and graded 3rd Class - I do though need confrimation of this. ( I have an example with the reverse engraved with the recipients name). No.9 is, I think, the medal of the Order of the Brilliant Star.

Regards,

Owain

Lorenzo,

How about .........

Published in IGG No.15 of 9 April, 1927

99. THE AL RAFIDAIN? MEDAL LAW No. 29 OF 1927

WE, KING of IRAQ

With the approval of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, do hereby order the enactment of the following Law:-

Article 1

There shall be created a medal under the title of ?Al Rafidain Medal with 5 classes, the 1st being the highest.

Article 2

This Medal shall be granted by a Royal Decree.

Article 3

The shape of each class of the Medal, the colour of its ribbons, the time and manner of wearing and all questions connected with the manner of its grant and possession shall be defined by regulations.

Article 4

The following fee shall be levied on Iraqis granted this medal:

Class of Medal Rs.

Class I 120

Class II 80

Class III 60

Class IV 40

Class V 15

This law shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Government Gazette

All Ministers are charged with execution of this Law

Made at Baghdad this 22nd day of March, 1927, and the 19th day of Ramadhan, 1345

FAISAL

JAFAR AL ASKARI RASHID ALI YASIN AL HASHIMI

Prime Minister - Minister of Interior - Minister of Finance& Minister of Foreign Affairs

NURI AL SAID MUHD. AMIN ZAKI

Minister of Defence inister of Comms. & Works

ABDUL MHADI AMIN ?ALI

Minister of Education Minister of Awqaf

Published in the Waqayi al Iraqiya No. 527 dated 31-3-27

Published in IGG No.24 of 23 June, 1928

I hope this helps - see also my JOMSA article on the awards of the Kingdom of Iraq.

Regards,

Owain

P.S. You can buy me a beer.....

Drew,

Here in Saudi the local bearded mystics who are employed by the Morality Commission or "Department for the Propagation of Virtue and the Suppression of Vice" (mutawin) wear everyday clothes and are usually accompanied when prowling the shopping centres by uniformed civil police who perform the dual role of validating the authority of the individual Mutawa in question, but also at times protecting him from any outraged victims. In 18+ years I have yet to see a uniform for such personnel and indeed wearing a uniform which would smack of nasty pervasive western dress, i.e. trousers, would not be in keeping with their world viewpoint. In visiting over the years the rest of the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and UAE), Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Syria I have seen no evidence of any such uniformed civil personnel. Iran of course may be different.

Regards from Riyadh,

Owain.

Owain was having trouble posting and asked for help, which I am glad to give.

Here it is.

A rather mundane three-clasp Egypt Medal (if there is such a thing as a 'mundane three-clasp Egypt Medal' ??).

The most interesting part, though, is the naming.

Also very interesting to see that he wore his medals properly, with the Egyptian star first and the foreign British medal second.

Thanks Ed - if you ever get to Riyadh I'll buy you a beer, well at least a glass of Chateau Home Brew!

Owain

Ralph,

Many thanks indeed - good information which I will follow up. Again many thanks. With regard to Mihsin/Muhsin I am trying to get further information from the United Arab Emirates Department of Military History and Museums - currently a fledgling organisation and willing to assist but to date no success.

Regards,

Owain

Ed,

Yes, I suppose that I will just have to persevere. I have though had success with two other BEMs - both QEII Military and for Meritorious Service, sourced in Aden and Sana'a respectively:

6531 A/WO II ABDULLA YESLAM SAIDI FRA (Federal Regular Army)- LG 2 June 1962 p.4333.

345 WAQUEEL SAEED MIHSIN TRUCIAL OMAN SCOUTS (Warrant Officer) - LG 31 May 1956 p.3128.

(Plus GSM clasp "Arabian Peninsula" to MUL.1. SAID MUHSIN B.E.M. T.O.S. (First Lieutenant))

Your remarks about spelling/transliteratiion are clearly seen with this pair!

The latter pair is unique being the only BEM issued to the TOS.

Regards,

Owain

Chris ,

The certificate states third class which is indeed the "silver" issue. If I recall correctly this grade was for Warrant Officers to Captains......?

Regards,

Owain

Gentlemen,

Recently here in Riyadh I was able to purchase a BEM EIIR (Civil) in its case of issue named in impressed capitals to ABDUL KERIM MOURSI ABOU SHOUK. I have endeavoured to trace this in the on line London Gazette but with no success to date. Would I be correct in assuming that as it is named that it would be officially recorded and probably in the Diplomatic/Overseas list of the New Year or Birthday honours?

Any suggestions?

Many thanks,

Owain Raw-Rees.

Gentlemen,

To add to this interesting thread I recently purchased in Riyadh the following:

• Egypt Medal 1882-9, undated, Clasps The Nile 1884-5, Gemaizah 1888, Toski 1889,
• Named to ?Sub.Lieut. Hassan Tanfick 3^rd Bn. Inf.? - ?340.

and taking into account the previous comments I woud suggest that this is one of the early medals issued, engraved in UK and presented to the recipient with the clasp The Nile 1884-5, and at a later stage presented with the clasps for Gemaizah and Toski. On referring to British Battles and Medals no mention is made of the 3rd Bn. Inf., however study of the actual rolls would clarify this. The rank is an odd one and indeed from knowledgeable contacts in the UK I am advised that an engraved example to an Egyptian officer must be a somewhat scarce piece. The price paid was not cheap but in light of what little research I have been able to make does seem fair. Oh and yes it is pitted but as worn by an Egyptian the Khedive's star has pitted the the left of the medal. I am assuming that to make a pair I would need to add the 1882-4 Khedives star??

Finally I have an named Arabic example with the clasps for Gemaizah and Toski - crudely engraved, in Arabic, with the sole name Ahmed - a bit like having a General Service Medal engraved with the name John!

Owain

Lorenzo,

From my JOMSA article:

Instituted by Law No. 24 of 1937 this medal was awarded to officers who rendered valuable service to the Royal Air Force and who distinguished themselves other than service rendered during active service. The medal consists of a 3cm diameter seven-pointed silver star of seven rays. Superimposed on the star two 5cm golden eagle wings and in the centre a 1 cm equilateral sky blue triangle. The triangle bears the three Qufic style Arabic letters being the acronym Royal Air Force. At the base of the triangle two 15mm palm leaves in black. These palm leaves intersect at the base and their tips join to the wings. Above the wings and supported on the uppermost point of the star a golden crown. The reverse of the medal bears the inscription in Thuluth Arabic ?Ghazi I King of Iraq?. Under this inscription the name and rank of the officer to whom the medal was awarded is noted together with the Hijra and Christian institution dates of the medal. The medal is suspended from an azure blue ribbon 3cms wide. Subsequent awards of the medal are noted by a 5mm golden clasps engraved with the name and date of awards.

Hope this helps and no I have yet to see an example of this award - must be like rocking horse manure.......!

Happy new year!

Owain

As the Kuwaiti award is an order and the Saudi award a medal the order of precedence is that the Kuwait award should come first. The two other awards from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are both medals and thus if anyone does have these, the order of precedence should be in accordance with the date of their award to the individual concerned.

Regards,

Owain

Gentlemen,

Indeed the Kuwaiti governmet did go out to tender and as it appears went for the lowest price - however is is an Order in 5 grades (according to rank) and the two senior grades - both neck badges - distinguished and 1st class are very well made - by Bertoni if I recall correctly. However not only were the lower grades of dubious quality but critically not enough were made - this lack of quantity I suspect rather than quality led the US to manufacture its own issue. This lapse in quality is not evident in the post-liberation issues of the Order of Kuwait. Prior to the invasion the order was locally made - gilded base metal and of relatively poor quality - the post- liberation order has been manufactured by Garrard in London and in gold - no expense spared!

Owain