oamotme

Wil,

I agree with Ed as well - great photo and great evidence of the wearing of a Khartoum Star - unique?

Owain

Inscription reads Jumhour Masri - Republic of Egypt 4th

Owain

Ed,

You are a star - this is, I think, and want to believe, an example of the Noble Saeedee Order of Oman from the time of Sultans Faisal or Taimour - please refer to my OMRS article on this amazingly scarce award - indeed this is the only picture I have seen. The Arabic appears to read "Al Dowla Al Saeed Al Omania" (The Saeedee State of Oman). I believe the Omani flag at this time c.1910 -1920's was plain red. The date bar would correspond with 1910 or thereabouts. I am on leave in UK so have no access to my files on this, thus I am reaching for elusive information which is lodged in the far recesses of my seemingly atrophied brain!

Any chance of its dimensions or a reverse image?

Mabruk!

Of course I could be wrong........

Owain

Is this a diamond booch badge possibly similar to the Order of Glory badge issued to Glubb?

Owain

My own view is similar to James's in that it is not an order or award rather some form of civil badge. The style of suspension loop would appear t rule out jewellery which was my first though. James's comment concerning Government badges is, I think, correct. - both Egyptian and Libyian Senator and Deputy badges of office are relatively plain and in silver - both by Bichay - and thus this particluar piece would be out of this particular league. One observation to bear in mind and supporting the Iraqi provenance, as if the case and crown were not enough, is that the blue enamel, which appears to be chipped or missing at the bottom where the two "bands" join and top right, allude, or to my mind anyway, to the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates.

Finally with the exception of the star with stones the other stars look quite ugly and appear to be unsuitable - escpecially the larger one - are you convinced that they belong with this piece?

Owain

Lorenzo,

The first is the "Qaddisiyah Hero" badge/award/order instituted as part of the 1980's review of Iraqi awards - can you include a scan of the reverse? Please refer to your image of the very large display collar with assorted badges hanging from it.

I think you are correct with regard to the star - it is some form of police badge - although not clear, I have seen similar items, and the centre has the word "shurta" (police) on it. Please post close up to be sure.

Owain

Holger,

Can you provide a close up of the obverse & reverse of the combat agaist Oman medal - thanks.

Paul,

The Star is a Hero of Yemen star - also manufactured in Budapest and of very poor quality - almost plastic like in its finish.

Owain

Nice items. The Order of Labour - top right is a one class order and the one with the blue ribbon appears to have "borrowed" the ribbon from one of the three classes of the Order of Devotion.

The two neck orders are nice - manufactured in Budapest and unfortunately they do not match the neck badge in the image I submitted.

What is the red and green ribboned award?

Regards,

Owain

Hi, it's the "Order of the Republic" not Qassim. Nice piece!

Owain

PS. The reverse inscription has slipped by 90 degrees - the date should be at the bottom.

Gentlemen,

As ever further information leads to enlightement or possibly confusion. It is indeed the Order of the Mother of Battle (singular?) however I have one as well and whilst the inscription is the same the script is different, thus to the frustration of myself and other collectors there are now two distinctly different types to collect! Also it appears that the stones are different Will's are green and mine are blue. Where the uppermost diamonds are missing in the attached illustration I have since had them replaced.

Regards,

Owain

Lorenzo,

Unfortunately no modern Iranian awards on the Najaf site. They do have some excellent pieces but it is amazing that once purchased at auction in Europe that they appear on the Najaf listings quite often in excess of two to three times the hammer plus premium prices - you will only need to review the prices raised at the June Kunker Auction in Germany and compare to the Najaf prices to appreciate the immediate inflationary possibilities of resale!

I do though digress from the matter at hand - modern Iranian awards - thus my apologies.

Owain

Gentlemen,

A friend has in his collection a mounted pair of medals:

Order of Civil Merit, 5th class, 1st type, i.e six pointed star.

Order of Devotion - the medal under discussion.

As the Syrian Order of Civil Merit was instituted in 1926 (revised in 1953) and the Order of Devotion instituted as the "Medaille de Devouement" in 1935 & re-charted in 1953, I would suggest that the award under discussion is indeed this Medaille de Devouement as opposed to the later re-constituted Order of Devotion.

Not very enlightening but I hope a reasonable suggestion.

Owain

Holger,

If it is Arabic in the centre of the medal the image is not clear enough to read it. Please post a close up of the centre.

Owain

Holger,

It is Arabic and the second word from right in the upper line is Yemen thus a PDRY piece - the Arabic is difficult to read and even my Arabic staff cannot make sense of it. As requested by others a more detailed picture please.

Thanks,

Owain

Gentlemen,

You should also include the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen. From correspondence with the late Igor Victor-Orlov he confirmed to me from his sources that the mints in either Moscow and/or Leningrad manufactured PDRY awards - he had no details but on inspection of various items and correspondence with other interested parties, these would appear to include - Order of the Revolution, Independence, 22 June, Friendship, Bravery and War of Liberation Medal and possibly a few other commenorative medals. Other awards were manufactured in Hungary and some internal security awards were manufactured in the DDR. I attach from the Arab thread a picture of Abdulfatah Ismail, President 1978-80, wearing on his left shoulder the Order of the Revolution and the USSR Order of the Friendship to Peoples - neck badge as yet unidentified.

Regards,

Owain

Ed, Dave, Jeff & Lukasz,

As they say in Arabic "elf shukran" (a thousand thank yous) Your contributuions greatly assisted in allowing me to conclude this article which had been ticking over for quiet some time. Your input was and is greatly appreciated. Whilst I am sure the article is far from definitive at least there is now something in print and in the public domain and will provide a base for more successful reserchers to work upon.

Again thank you,

Owain

Lilo,

Many thanks for this clarification. I am still looking for such a medal to add to my collection - no doubt sooner or later one will turn up.

Owain

Lilo,

A belated thanks for this image. The image looks a litte "weak" - is it a composite image of a ribbon added to another independence medal obverse?

Thanks,

Owain

While travelling around Iraq in 2004, many interesting items were available if you had the time and interest to search for them and also to learn about the history of the country. The South African Brigade in World War One was sent to participate in the Senussi Campaign in which Jafaar Pasha was captured. Some relics and momentoes from this campaign did find their way back to South Africa. As part of my World War 1 South African collection, I developed an interest in this fascinating personality who became a friend of Lawrence of Arabia. This award is in my collection and I purchased it in Baghdad in 2004. Comments from the more knowledgeable forum members will be welcomed. This award/decoration looks very similar to the photograph of the awards and decorations posted by Ed on Owain's behalf.

This appears to me to be a 1st or 2nd class breast and not a commanders (? neck?) badge. Is there a maker or date mark on the reverse?

Owain

Lilo,

F.Y.I. Liverpool Medals have on their website a 1st Type 1st Class Breast star for sale - L17009 - it is a 1st type but in fact it is a 2nd Class star and is incredibly badly damaged - most if not all of the enamel has been removed and it appears that the two central flags have been filed down. The reverse is missing its central holding nut. To my mind it is only really fit for scrap metal but still a price of GBP795!

Regards,

Owain

Dear Lilo,

As far as I am aware for the Order of Independence there is no 1st type or 2nd type - the design remains constant - other than manufacturer variations - placing of script, size of wreath, etc.

Owain

Lilo,

Both inscriptions are the same "Al Hussain Bin Ali" - I have seen a number of variations in the script and these appear to be design variants by the manufacturers - Bertrand, Bichay, Garrard, Huguenin, London Gold and Silversmiths Coy., etc. From my experience the design of this particular order remains contant from its inception in the Hijaz through Transjordan to Jordan. I know that the very early pieces manufactured locally have paint rather than enamel and some years ago I saw the 1st Class presented by King Hussain of the Hijaz to the Sultan of Lahej after the Great War - this also had a heavy weave sash. What is difficult to identify is when the Order of the Renaissance design changed from 1st type to 2nd type - 1925 when Hijaz fell or later when Transjordan became the Kingdom of Jordan or indeed any date in betweeen!

Owain

Lilo,

From the picture and even if I could see the award you could not tell whether the Order of Independence is Hijazi or from Transjordan - both versions have the inscription Hussain Bin Ali. ( I do know that the very early issues made locally have a painted rather than enamelled centre.) The Order of the Renaisance from its shape is the first type however as discused in separate correspondence one cannot tell from the award alone when it was awarded but as Jafaar along with Nuri Said were the senior non-royals of the Hijaz military I feel it safe to assume that the award is Hijazi. I have no picture of Jafaar wearing the sash of either of these orders.

Regards,

Owain

Lilo, Rick,

It also appears that when he visted the Ottoman General Staff in Jerusalem in 1916 prior to the final campaign when he was captured, he was prometed to the rank of General and awarded an Iron Cross 1st Class. Apparently when he was later awarded his CMG it is reported that he wore his Iron Cross. Unfortunately I have no photo of him wearing this decoration!

Owain

Rick,

All good stuff for which many thanks. On looking at his autobiography - "A Soldiers Story" (2003 - English edition Arabian Publishing GBP25) there is a picture of him from 1910-12 in the uniform of the Badische Leibgrenadierregiment 109 with one award - Order of Mejide 5th Class! I will try and scan and post.

Owain