TacHel

Whenever it was created, it is a wonderful piece! Reminds me of the ones created bearing Russian Tsars.

Canada - Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal This is my father's medal. It was personally presented to him by the Duke of Edinburgh in the mid-80s. The Prince was in Sherbrooke attending a loyalist convention in Lennoxville. Statute: The Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal, created on August 29, 1985, honours members of a recognized Canadian fire service who have completed 20 years of service, ten years of which have been served in the performance of duties involving potential risks, and were employed on or after the date of creation of the Medal. Recognized fire services include Canadian fire departments, fire marshals’ offices, fire commissioners’ offices and the Canadian Forces fire services. Exemplary service is characterized by good conduct, industry and efficiency. Consideration is given only to periods of service for which no other long service, good conduct or efficiency decoration or medal has been awarded by the Crown. The Medal may be awarded posthumously. Description: a circular medal: on the obverse of which is a stylized maple leaf bearing a fire hydrant with crossed axes, upon which a Maltese cross is centred, and which is circumscribed with EXEMPLARY SERVICE . SERVICES DISTINGUÉS, and on the reverse of which is the Royal Cipher the Medal is suspended from a ribbon of five equal stripes, two gold and three red; a Bar, bearing a stylized maple leaf, may be awarded to a recipient of the Medal for each additional 10-year period of service in the Canadian fire service.

The "big lad" in post #9 is quite a man... His name is Valery Shumakov, the father of organ transplant in Russia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valery_Shumakov In post #10 is renowned author Daniil Granin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniil_Granin

I was leaning more towards a French, Italian or Belgian Order, or even a US Legion of Merit.

Can't be too many of those outside of Russia... And getting one out might prove quite impossible.

Very sweet acquisitions!

Very nice... Why is he hovering though? :whistle:

1st class - post 1945 variant

2nd class - 1880 to 1945 variant

1st class - 1880 to 1945 variant

Well I'll be darned... A European full general "sans" a single foreign award!?! I would not have thought this possible had I not seen it.

Superb!

Are all Yser March medals inscribed in Dutch?

Here's the first decent picture I could find of the new medal. Very odd though, the ribbon has a single black edge stripe on the left, commemorative/jubilee medals usually have 2 such stripes... Go figure...

The one thing that stands out for me are the missing ribbons... Or rather, the ribbons that should be there but aren't. A full general without any foreign orders? Me thinks not... Especially with NATO campaign ribbons where he would've been in a position of high authority most surely with foreign troops under his command. I checked the awards of all of the Generalinspekteurs der Bundeswehr with no WW2 awards and all had foreign awards. One thing I am unsure of though... Is the Bundeswehr like the Canadian Armed Forces? Our only full general is our chief of staff, the only exception for 2 simultaneous full generals is when one is serving as chairman of the NATO committee, I know some ex Generalinspekteurs der Bundeswehr served in this capacity over the years. But still, the lack of foreign awards starts alarm bells for me... This ribbon bar would be better suited to the uniform of a Hauptfelb/Stabsfelb of Haupman/Major's uniform IMHO.

I can't copmment on authenticity or era, but I most definitely agree with you... They are quite irresistible! Very nice find!

Oh Lord no, you didn't... Yup, you did... Time to up the dosage again buddy...

Love the képi! Congrats on a very sweet acquisition!

Yup, that type but with the PUGNATOR clasp.

Oh OK... Different medal here... I'm not talking about the 1945 model but the 1952 "Médaille du Volontaire de Guerre Combattant" bearing the "PUGNATOR" clasp.

Because unless I miss my guess... A Volunteer medal without a clasp is not a Volunteer medal...

What are the chances of finding a Korean war clasp (bronze or silver) to the Médaille du Volontaire de Guerre Combattant?

The Russian Air Force will celebrate its 100 years of existence on August 12, 2012. Amid the week long planned celebrations, a newly minted (60,000 examples) jubilee medal will be awarded to members of the air force with over 15 years of service, to veterans of the service and to notable personalities who made a significant contribution to the service. I am unsure if this will be a state or ministerial jubilee medal. The ribbon suggests a ministerial award, but President Putin was involved in its establishment which is quite unusual for a ministerial medal. Source: MoD RF http://www.function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=11250456@egNews If anybody has more info, or pictures, please share with us!

I have just found out that saddly, Hero of Russia Lt Col Anatoly Lebed died in an automobile accident on April 27th. http://www.1tv.ru/sp.../si5791/fi15339

The medals are not part of the deal. You can tell the EK was crudely stenciled on the lid. And Chris confirmed with the firm they never ever made this... Like Mervyn says, a clear case of fraud. Chris, you going to contact eBay?