Taz

Very nice, whitewash camo and with Winterketten.

This is a new Medal created to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of the founding of the MININT, awarded to state security and council members.

Regards Eddie

Hi Kev,

As far as i know it is Cuban, a Bay of Pigs commemerative badge.

Regards Eddie

Updated critaria for the Medal

Eligibility for The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal

The following people will be eligible for The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal:

• members of the Armed Forces (regular and reserves) who have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2012
• emergency services personnel who have been in paid service, retained or in a voluntary capacity, who have to face the prospect of dealing with emergencies as part of their conditions of service, and have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2012
• operational prison services personnel who regularly face difficult and sometimes emergency situations and have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2012
• all Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) who are in service on 6 February 2012 and have completed five full calendar years of service
• living holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross
• members of the Royal Household

Really spectacular...any details on awardees living? Also, have you ever seen a Type 1 star?

Tony

Sigmund Jähn the East German Cosmonaut is still alive.

a). The 1975 version, gilted without Diamonds

b). 1976 - 1987 version, Gold (333) with Diamonds ( Eight 0.1 karat).

c). And a third and fourth gilted silver or bronze version, these are wearers copys or sample specimens.

When it was instituted in 1976 the Titel was called just "Medal" and from 1978 the "Gold star medal"

The earlier holders were all awarded the later version too

All forms of this Medal including the wearers copies came from the same press.

Holders had to wear the award at all times.

Regards Eddie

Hi Megan,

Feel free to use any images I post for your site.

Regards Eddie

Hi Paul,

There is no seperate medal as such, it just replaces the normal Gold medal ribbon.

From the 19th. November 1971 the Ehrenspange zur Treuedienstmedaille in Gold was issued.1971-1972 there was no minature oak leaves and from 1973 they were added as shown in the pic below.

1971 bis 1972

• für 50-jährige Dienstzeit (Männer): Ehrenspange zur Goldenen Medaille
• für 45-jährige Dienstzeit (Frauen): Ehrenspange zur Goldenen Medaille

• für 40-jährige Dienstzeit (Männer): Ehrenspange zur Goldenen Medaille
• für 35-jährige Dienstzeit (Frauen): Ehrenspange zur Goldenen Medaille

Regards Eddie

Ehrenspange der Deutschen Post

Regards Eddie

And the second version in more detail.

Regards Eddie

As you can see by the pics there seems to be at least two versions of this medal.

The red and white ribbon looks older, the one with the Armenian colours is probably a replacement.

Regards Eddie

Eddie; interesting - can you give us the source and some pictures? This could be significant.

This is definitely not a post-Soviet decoration of the Republic of Armenia. The Ministry of Defense and Office of the President websites show those very clearly. There is a modern day decoration: The Order "Vardan Mamikonian" awarded by the President.

From the Armenian President's website: "The Order "Vardan Mamikonian" is awarded for exclusive courage, displayed when carrying out military duties to the Motherland, as well as for significant services provided for the construction of the military and the securing of the combat training of the forces." The attached image is the modern Order.

It would make sense that anything with Mamikonian would be for bravery. It's possible this is from the 1918-22 Armenian Republic. The Armenians were at constant war during that time with the Turks, the Georgians, the Azerbaijanis, the Bolsheviks. If this is a bravery medal from that time period, I would think it would be quite scarce.

Hi,

well this information is from a commercial site i'm afraid so this post will probaby have to be deleted.

I''ve sent you and Kev a link in case

Info and pictures CO Medal-medallie .com

Medal for Bravery with the portrait of Vartan Mamikonian

Circular bronze medal with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the helmeted head of Vartan Mamikonian facing right and an inscription written in the Armenian alphabet; the reverse with a circular geometric design within a geometric border, an upright sword imposed; the suspension rings replaced; on a recent ribbon in the national colours of Armenia. Saint Vartan Mamikonian, is revered as one of the greatest military and spiritual leaders of ancient Armenia. After he became Sparapet in 432, the Persians summoned him to Ctesiphon, forcing him to convert to Zoroastrianism. Upon his return to home in 450, Vartan repudiated the Persian religion and instigated a great Armenian rebellion against their Sassanian overlords. Although he died in the Battle of Vartanantz (451), the insurrection led to the restoration of Armenian autonomy, thus guaranteeing the survival of Armenian statehood in later centuries. This medal was probably created and awarded at the time of Armenian insurrection against Ottoman Turkish rule in the late 19th or very early 20th Century.

Regards Eddie

Hi,

All the information i found on this medal said it was an Armenian War medal for bravery.

One picture had it attached to a red,blue and yellow striped ribbon, not sure if that is correct though.

Regards Eddie.

Hekl's date of birth was January 24, 1915, making him just 26 when he was killed.

HEKL František, F/O, Pilot, 310 Sqd – † 25/10/41, aged 26, Missing after training flight in Spitfire DU-W. P7540.

I wonder if this book would help any further with your research?

312 Czechoslovak Squadron1940-1945 Hurricane, Spitfire.

byToma Polak

Publisher: Philedition

Published: 15 August 2008

ISBN-10: 2952638152

ISBN-13: 978-2952638159

Format: 96p, 24.2 cm by 16.6cm

Cover: Paperback

Language: English

Price: £15.99

Regards Eddie

Hi Linas,

Maybe others can add a little more but this looks llike a Knights Templar membership medal

1. is this military, civil, or a fantasy piece? - Civil

2. who issued / commissioned this medal? - Knights Templar

3. what was this medal issued for / who was eligible to receive it? - Knights Templar members

4. how old is it (estimate is fine)? - ?

Regards Eddie

And finally a GST badge i presume given for service on the sailing school ship Wilhelm Pieck ?

Hi Grant,

That is a GST Qualifications badge for trainers/instructors , 2nd class in silver (Qualifizierungsabzeichen für Ausbilder /Instrukteure

Silber Stufe 2 )

Issued in three classes, Gold Stufe 1, Silver Stufe 2 and bronze Stufe 3 with miniatures by the Seesportverband der DDR (SSV)

Regards Eddie.

sorry double post please remove

Regards Eddie

Hi,

After 1980 the Cuban Council of State founded a number of new orders and Medals, these are not included in the Decreto ley 30.

The Order is in recognition of service in the FAR though.

Regards Eddie

Good Lord! Is that an official award? I had no idea Cuba even had a nuke program. Any thoughts on the ribbon?

Nice Medals,

First time i've ever seen those thanks for posting them.

The ribbons are shown here:

Hi Emanuele,

No sorry i haven't got any badges to determine which other colours whould be used, i would guess red first class and blue 2nd though.

Regards Eddie

Hello Pride

Not really much you probably didn't know already but it is a Military Sportsmanship Badge, 3rd class.

Soviet style (shield instead of an upturned penagon though) Maybe even Soviet made.

The class colour code seems different, the coresponding 3rd class Soviet badge is green and not as seen here yellow (soviet = Red 1st class, Blue 2nd class and green 3rd class).

Regards Eddie.

Eddie if you can post some other pics of your Air Force cap.

thanks, Emanuele

Hi Emanuele,

sorry to say that is the only photo i have left of the Air Force hat unless i get round to rescuing the pics from my old and battered PC that died on me.

It isn't actualy mine but there was a series of photos of it when it was for sale.

Regards Eddie

Hi all,

this isn't a Columbian or FARC badge.

it's a Cuban-made badge for the 26 July movement XX anniversary.

Emanuele

Yep Emanuele,

You are right, that is Frank Pais on the badge, leader of the July 26 Movement (M-26-7) Oriente province.

Regards Eddie

Evening chaps

Today i was given 13rounds and part of a section of chain/belt from a Spitfire that crashed in 1941 in Lock Doon, Dunfries and Galloway (Photos to follow).

The Spitfire crashed in the Loch on 25th October 1941. It was a Spitfire Mark IIA registered No P7540 and was part of Ayr Squadron. The Spitfire had been piloted by a young Czechoslovakian on his first solo flight.

This is the only information i have thus far. Does anyone know anymore?

Dan

Spitfire P7540 Loch Doon

Spitfire MK IIA P7540 of 312 Czech Squadron EAF was lost on October 25, 1941, when it crashed into Loch Doon.

The aircraft was on a training flight from RAF Ayr and flying low over the water of the loch when the pilot is reported to have banked the aircraft with the result that the wing tip contacted the surface of the loch, catching the aircraft and causing it to crash. The RAF searched the loch, but no trace was found of the pilot or his aircraft. The aircraft was being flown by F/O František Hekl, (age unknown), RAFVR. F/O Hekl's name is engraved on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 30. His body was never recovered from the loch.

Little more info for you Dan,

Regards Eddie

The offical slogan of the CDR (Comités de Defensa de la Revolución ) is "En cada barrio, Revolución!" ("In every neighborhood, Revolution!").

For the defense of the revolution (por la defensa de la revolución), and prides, con la guardia en alto (with combat readiness) are just other variations, maybe area/local slogans.

Regards Eddie