Taz

This is the Malalai Medal, from the 1980s made of brass. The Medal depicts a woman giving water to an Afghan soldier in traditional dress. On the Reverse is inscribed "Governmental Medal of Malalai". The medal is named in honour of one of Afghanistan's greatest heroines. According to the legend, she ran onto the battlefield at Maiwand in 1880 (during the Second Afghan War) and rallied the Afghan forces to defeat the British. Poems of the victory at Maiwand have passed into Pashtuns and Afghan folklore. As Afghan legend would have it, the battle created an unlikely hero in the shape of an Afghan woman called Malalai, who on seeing the Afghan forces falter, used her veil as a standard and encouraged the men by shouting out Young love if you do not fall in the battle of Maiwind; By God someone is saving you as a token of shame; A cast iron statue of a lion (Maiwand Lion) was built by George Blackall Simonds in Reading and unveiled in 1886 to commemorate those who died in battle. A monument was built in the 1950s on the Maiwand Square in Kabul in commemoration of the battle by an Afghan architect Is-matulla Saraj.

Awarded to personalities of the Sport sector in recognition of work and the maintening of an exemplary and consequent attitude with the revolutionary principles. For trainers of several disciplines and exceptional athletes that have contributed endlessly with the development of sport inside and outside Cuba.

Requirements to consider for each proposal. A) Workers that stand out in shock work that the State has prioritized and oriented being necessary for the economic and social development of the country, B) those that stand out in the development of inventive, innovations and rationalizations, C) those that introduce methods advanced in the production and the services which they entail increases the production and the productivity of the work, as well as diminution in the production costs or improvement of the quality and the services. D) those that by their personal effort achieve outstanding success in the production or the services, the Vanguardista movement (3 Years) and implant or break records in the production, E) foreign citizens that shared the common attitude, being faithful exponents of the proletarian internationalism, stands out in the fulfillment of the tasks that has been assigned to them in our country, F) integral of groups of Cuban and foreign workers who stand out in the fulfillment of the stated critaria in some of the previous interjections.

This seems to be the Medalla "Por el Servicio Ejemplar en FAR" on the Distinci?n "Armando Mestre" ribbon, a close look at the obverse shows the wording Servicio Ejemplar. This would also explain why the Cuban coat of arms is on the reverse and not the usual Trade union ones found on these medal types.

Awarded in recognition of active participation in the waged War of national liberation by the Rebellious Army against the batistiana dictatorship that on 1st January 1959 culminated with the revolutionary triumph.

The Distinci?n "M?rtires de Barbados" (m?rito deportivo) is awarded by the Instituto Nacional de Deportes, Educaci?n F?sica y Recreaci?n (I.N.D.E.R.). National Institute of Sports, Physical education and Recreation (I.N.D.E.R.).

Award Critaria Awarded in recognition of the outstanding attitude maintained during the fulfillment of the International mission asked of them, in defense of the revoulutionary conquests in Angola and in the interest of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Yes That's right Rick. Also there are added requirements, all to be considered before an awarding is made. Requisitos a tener en cuenta para cada propuesta. Requirements to consider for each proposal A) Alcanzar extraordinarios ?xitos en el trabajo creador, A) To achieve extraordinary successes in creative work B) Realizar un valioso aporte B)To make a valuable contribution C) Contribuir de manera sobresaliente y destacada al auge de la econom?a nacional. C) To contribute in an excellent and outstanding way to the height of the national economy. D) Obtener de forma sostenida, altos ?ndices en la producci?n y la productividad, D) To obtain from maintained form, stops indices in the production and the productivity, E) Participar de forma destacada y activa en las luchas por las conquistas y defensa de los logros e intereses de la clase obrera, E) To participate in outstanding form and activates in the fights by the conquests and defense of the profits and interests of the working class, F) Realizar excepcionales aportes a la consolidaci?n y pr?ctica consecuente del internacionalismo proletario. A las personas que se le otorgue el " T?tulo de H?roe del Trabajo de la Rep?blica de Cuba" , tambi?n se le confiere la Medalla " Estrella de Oro del Trabajo " , que es una insignia representativa. F) To make exceptional contributions to the consolidation and consequent practice of the proletarian internationalism. To the people who grant the ?Title to him of Hero of the Work of the Republic of Cuba?, also the Medal is conferred to him? Gold Star of the Work ?, that is a representative standard.

Award Critaria: a) TRABAJADORES QUE HAN CUMPLIDO MISI?N POR UN A?O. a) WORKERS WHO HAVE FULFILLED A ONE YEAR MISSION. Requisitos a tener en cuenta para cada propuesta Se confiere a los que en la producci?n, los servicios, la ciencia, la t?cnica, la educaci?n, la cultura, la salud, el deporte, hayan cumplido de forma ejemplar y abnegada una misi?n internacionalista, en solidaridad con otros pueblos hermanos y hayan mantenido una actitud ejemplar y consecuente con los principios revolucionarios. Requirements to consider for each proposal It is conferred to those in production, services, science, technik, education, culture, health, sport, and has fulfilled exemplary form and sacrifice for an international mission, in solidarity with other towns brothers and have maintained exemplary and consequent an attitude with revolutionary principles.

Award Critaria a) TRABAJADORES CON RESULTADOS CONTINUADOS Y EXTRAORDINARIOS M?RITOS ACUMULADOS EN SU TRAYECTORIA LABORAL, SOCIAL Y POL?TICA.HABER RECIBIDO AL MENOS DOS ORDENE S L?ZARO PE?A. a) WORKERS WITH CONTINUED EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS AND ACCUMULATED MERITS IN THEIR LABOUR, SOCIAL TRAJECTORY AND POLITICS. HAVING RECEIVED AT LEAST TWO CLASSES OF THE ORDEN L?ZARO PE?A.

Award Critaria: a) TRES A?OS VANGUARDIA NACIONAL b) TRABAJO SOSTENIDO DURANTE VARIOS ANOS. c) DESTACADOS PROVINCIALES, MOVILIZADOS PERMANENTES, INNOVADORES, TRANSFERENCIA DE TECNOLOG?AS ADECUADAMENTE COMPROBADAS. Rough translation a) THREE YEARS NATIONAL VANGUARD b) WORK MAINTAINED DURING SEVERAL YEARS. c) PROVINCIAL OUTSTANDING, MOBILIZED PERMANENT, INNOVATING, TRANSFERENCE OF TECHNOLOGIES SUITABLY VERIFIED.

Hi Ed, Good to "see" you again too i'ts certainly been a while. Interesting topic Cuban awards, Images seem rare and information even scarcer. When time allows I try and browse the Cuban sites for little pieces of information it all adds to the larger picture of these Orders and Medals. Sure is tedious putting endless numbers of Cuban websites through the translator though.

The Distinci?n "Manual Fajardo" is indeed awarded by the National Union of Health Workers (SNTS) not to be confused with the National Union of Science Workers (SNTC) Regards Eddie

Not just for those great Cigars. This medal is the highest decoration that can be awarded by the National Association of Agriculture (Asociaci?n Nacional de Agricultores Peque?os (ANAP) ) And is awarded by the Association President himself. Lesser achievments are rewarded with the awarding of the Distinci?n Antero Regalado Falc?n. Eddie

Polish Armed Forces in the West Military Action Cross It is actually a fairly recent medal, instituted by act of Parliament of May 17th, 1989. Here is a list of the campaign bars issued with this medal. It is the only Polish medal to be issued with named campaign bars. NARWIK (Narvik) LAGARDE MAICHE-St. HIPPOLYTE BITWA O ANGLIE (Battle of Britain) TOBRUK MONTE CASSINO ANKONA (Ancona) FALAISE-CHAMBOIS AXEL ARNHEM BREDA BOLONIA (Bologna) WILHELMSHAVEN DZIALANIA BOJOWE LOTNICTWA (Air Force war operations) BITWY I KONWOJE MORSKIE (sea battles and convoys). Eddie.