James Hoard

Have you looked him up in Burke's or Debrett's Peerage, or Who Was Who? Cheers, James

Could someone perhaps post a few images of the book? One sometimes has to be careful with Indian publications. More than once I have purchesed books to find on their arrival that the binding, cropping and printing standard resemble what can best be described as a "secondary wartime economy" publication. This book costs the earth and one certainly would not like to end up with the a similar result. Many thanks and best wishes James Hoard

There was no list of recipients. The only people mentioned in regard to decorations were King Michael of Rumania and Emperor Kang Teh of Manchuria. Perhaps you should have a look in Rumanian newspapers of the period (February 1941). Cheers, James

I do not have the title in front of me, but the Manchurian State used to issue a thick green propaganda volume every year stacked full of statistics and diplomatic comings and goings. I will see if I can find the exact title. It is highly possible that the Grand Cordon was conferred on someone like Marshal Antonescu. It is unlikely that the King would have received it. The Japanese were absolute sticklers for status symbols and 'correct form', so they would not have even dreamt of giveng the king a junior class decoration. Especially since recognitions of the Manchurain state were pretty thin on the ground at the time. I am not sure what the full set of insignia for the Grand Collar was as I have only ever seen the Grand Cordon (the white circular disks should be pearls) but suspect that there is no riband, only collar, collar badge and breast star. If you look at the Emperor's breast star in your picture, the design of the centre isn't quite the same as this colour photograph. But then perhaps that is because he was the sovereign. Cheers, James

Hi Carol I, Yes, indeed. The collar is from the Order as is the large breast star in the senior position. The order, like all the Mancurian decorations, was very closely modelled on the Japanese system. In organisation and award it was almost identical to the Japanese Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. Ta Hsun Wei Lanhua Chang (the Supreme Order of the Orchid Blossoms): founded by Emperor Kang Teh of Manchuria on 19th April 1934. Awarded in two classes: 1. Ta Hsun Wei Lanhua Chang King-shin (Grand Collar) - given to foreign Heads of State or nationals who were already holders of the Grand Cordon.2. Ta Hsun Wei Lanhua Chang Ta-shou (Grand Cordon) - bestowed only on those who already held the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Ray of the Dragon.As it so happens, "your great-grand nephew", King Michael of Rumania is the only living recipient. Rumania having recognised the 'Empire of Manchuria', an exchange of decorations took place in late February 1941. King Michael receiving the Grand Collar of the Supreme Order of the Orchid Blossom in exchange for the Order of Carol I which he gave to the Emperor. I wonder whatever happened to the insignia? Have you come across them? Must be as rare as hen's teeth! Cheers, James

Could you perhaps be kind enough to post a picture of the coin that you have in mind? From the original pictures posted it would seem that this badge came with two stars, which appear to be completely different from one another. Cheers, James

Ah, but one has to be very careful of those extra dots and lines. They can make all the difference. A single dot can make an Ahmad into a Muhammad, or vice versa.

IVB, Where does the above inscription come from? Is it on the obverse? 1) It is obviously not the same as the inscription below the tugra on the medal pictured in the post. 2) Such an inscription as the one you have given is unlikely to appear alongside a Royal tugra. Cheers, James

For a good overview please see - http://www.royalark.net/Bhutan/bhutan5.htm A new medal has been instituted to commemorate the new King's Coronation this month and a badge to commemorate the centenary of the monarchy in 2007 (but celebrated in 2008). My previous comments about Rajiv Gandhi and the Royal Order of Bhutan were incorrect. He received the order during a visit to Bhutan. The Druk Wangyel Award as a posthumous honour. Cheers, James

As I said before, Kanjeng Pangiran Arya Adipati is the Javanese title for a high ranking Prince. It is not the equivalent of "Dato". Prince Henry is a high ranking Royal Prince. Raden Ayu is a title of much more junior rank for the wife or widow of a titled individual. Kanjeng Raden Ayu Adipati is slightly higher. Kanjeng is actually a style of address such as "your honour" or "his/her highness" but has no real equivalent in translation. But I do not understand the point that you are trying to make. What have the conferments of either of these titles got to do with the supposed orders or decorations on the website? Are we to assume that because a gong hunter "establishes" an "Order of the Prince of Wales" and because EIIR has conferred the title of Prince of Wales on someone, that "order" is, consequently, an official British state order? With best regards, James

I am afraid that does not explain the gobbledegook on the website. Kanjeng Pangeran Arya Adipati is the Javanese title for a high ranking Royal Prince, perhaps loosely equivalent to the Russian Grand Duke or Austrian Archduke. The Malaysian equivalent would be something like Tengku Besar. Such titles are reserved for Royalty, though once in a blue moon they may be conferred on a Royal son-in-law or brother-in-law, provided he held high office and was especially distinguished. They are simply not distributed willy nilly to rich businessmen. Dato, which is equivalent to a knighthood, is in nd entirely different and much more junior league. In no way can it be regarded as equivalent. Cheers, James

Does anyone happen to know what order the Amir Abdul Rahman is wearing in this picture in addition to the Star of India? The unknown order appears to consist of the lower breast star to the bottom right, the badge beside it and the aigrette on the left of the Astrakan hat. From a larger photograph of Amir Abdul Rahman. Slightly clearer definition from a lithograph of the same picture. The upper breast star and the collar (missing the QV cameo badge) belong to the Order of the Star of India. Cheers, James

Thanks IVB, I think you may be right. The Nishan-i-Sardari and Order of the Leader are the same. Perhaps this is the type I breast star of the first class of the order, which carried the title of Sardar-i-Aala for the recipient. [The second class recipients were Sardar-i-Ali]. The Nishan-i-Sardari insignia were later quite elaborate and included, for the first class: breast star, pendant badge, aigrette and robe. I suppose the seller is trying to 'over egg the pudding' to clinch a sale, but this same insignia (including the diamonds) is seen in several pictures of the Royal princes and leading Sardars, not just Kings Habibullah and Amanullah. My speciality is Royal pictures and I have some of Inayatullah, Nasrullah and Nadir Khan (long before he became King) wearing the same star between the Orders of the Sun or Almar and the Order of the Star or Astour. Cheers, James

Does anyone know what this Afghan decoration could be? It dates from he reigns of Amanullah and Habibullah and was worn by the Royal princes and senior Sardars in a junior position to the Supreme Order of the Sun. Cheers, James

Hello IVB, Sultan Hussein bin Ali al-Kathir was the last ruler of the Kathiri State of Saiun, one of the sultanates and sheikhdoms in the Hadramaut of South Yemen. While they were British protectorates, from about the 1940's to the early 1960's several of them instituted orders and decorations of their own, but they all fell into abeyance at the revolution in 1967. Where did you find the decoration? Cheers, James

Owain, Established by whom? Sudan was an Egyptian dependency, which was in turn a Turkish province. Why would the Egyptian Viceroy be establishing an order in the Sudan when he did not and could not do so in Egypt proper? Who were the foreigners and princes in the Sudan in 1837? At that time I doubt there were many foreigners about. As for princes, one or two of the Egyptian Viceroy's sons may have held the governorship, but that would have been about all. Some of these old German works seem to have a lot of nonsence in them about non-European "orders". Yet people time and again pick them out afresh and repeat the canards over and over again. The Burmese "Order" of the Salwe is one such classic case. James

Hi 922, Yes, it sounds like the badge worn by KIV is a different decoration. I may be the one you quote as being described by Medcalf. Looking closely one sees that the ribbon has horizontal stripes. However, KIV reigned 1854-1863, so it may have been instituted long before 1894. It would appear that the negative of the original picture that I posted was reversed. I found another one which is very slightly larger. Given the lanyard, the medal obviously should be on the right chest. Cheers, James

Here's a link to an image of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society Medal http://www.exonumia.com/tenup/ten0030a.jpg Cheers, James

Hi 922 Thanks for the additional background information. Indeed, I did visit the palace years ago and saw the magnificent display, including a lovely bejewelled collar. Alas, in those days I had no interest in medals, only orders. Thus paid no attention whatever to any medals on display! Cheers, James

To confuse matters a little more, here's a photograph of King Kamehemeha III towards the close of his life when quite ill. He wears a breast star of a very different design from those seen in the earlier pictures. Cheers, James

Further images of the Order of the Crown and the Cross. Engraving of King Kamehemeha III wearing sash and breast star. Poor quality close up of a portrait of Kamehemeha III wearing the badge, from the Bishop Museum, Honolulu. Cheers, James

[quote name='922F' date='Oct 31 2008, 20:08 ' post='300399'] Donald Medcalf and Ronald Russell authored Hawaiian Money, published in 1978. This book includes descriptions of nine royal Hawaiian medals (pp. 89-90) and illustrates 4 of them. It is not clear if all were state awards or whether all could be worn officially. All apparently could be worn from ribbons. Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society Medal 1850 King David Kalakaua election medal 1874 (diamond shape)--red, white, blue ribbon Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society Medal 1882 King Kalakaua I coronation medal 1882 (crowned 9 [sic!] years after his election) Kalakaua & Kapiolani Medal 1884 for their 10th anniversary (presented & sold) King Kalakaua Jubilee medal 1886 blue ribbon (presented & sold) King Kalakaua I Jubilee medal 1886 different inscription (presented & sold) National Guard medal (royal) 1894 Holo Hana Cross No date-includes a fire chief trumpet 2 red, 2 yellow stripes. I transcribed this info from a copy of the book held in the OMSA library in the mid-1980s but did copy the illustrations. The book also illustrates royal Hawaiian Order insignia, provides a generally held to be accurate number of awards of each class of most Orders, and offers price estimates.

Herewith an interesting article on the Ghanian National Honours which appeared in The Ghanaian Times. Cheers, James The National Honours Awards ? A Historical Perspective By Kofi Dei, Ghana Information Services Department Tuesday, 01 July 2008, The Ghanaian Times. A nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for, goes a wise saying. Ghanaians therefore attach great importance to their national heroes, since these great men and women symbolise our cherished national culture and values. National award winners are, therefore, individuals who excel in their various stations in life in the course of their service to God and man. They make the nation proud through their dedication to the national cause. The awards are means by which their sacrifices and excellent contributions to the progress of humanity are acknowledged and rewarded to act as inspiration to others. National awards also unite the nation as it brings together people from all parts of the country to share honours together. It also promotes international relations through the honorary awards given to foreigners for their dedicated service to the nation and international community. National awards did not start with independent Ghana, then instituted under the National Honours Warrant of the Republic of Ghana (1960). Long before independence, the British Colonial State of the Gold Coast gave awards to citizens who served the colony best. Beneficiaries of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award included Nana Sir Tsibu Darko, Nana Sir Ofori Atta and Mr. Enoch Kwabena Okoh who in addition received a post independent award of Companion of the Order of the Volta, Civil division (Civil Service Administration). It is against this background that Ghanaians anxiously await this year's annual National Honours Awards, which takes place this week under the distinguished patronage of President J. A. Kufuor. Until the latter part of June 2008, when a new and highest award was instituted, the national award consisted four categories: the Star, River Volta, Gallantry and Grand Medal. The four have been subdivided into a total of 27 namely: Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana (CSG) (Honorary Division). - Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana (CSG) (Civil Division). - Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana (OSG) (Civil Division). - Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana (OSG) (Military Division). - Member of the Order of the Star of Ghana (Civil Division). - Member of the Order of the Star of Ghana (MSG) (Military). - Member of the Order of the Star of Ghana (MSG) (Police Division). - Member of the Order of the Star of Ghana (MSG) (Honorary Division). - Companion of the Order of the Volta (CV) (Military Division). - Companion of the Order of the Volta (OV) (Civil Division). - Companion of the Order of the Volta (OV) (Honorary Division). - Officer of the Order of the Volta (OV) (Civil Division). - Officer of the Order of the Volta (OV) (Honorary Division). - Officer of the Order of the Volta (OV) (Military Division). - Member of the Order of the Volta (MV) (Civil Division). - Member of the Order of the Volta (MV) (Honorary Division). - Member of the Order of the Volta (MV) (Military Division). - Member of the Order of the Volta (MV) (Police Division). - Medal for Gallantry (MG) (Military Division). - Medal for Gallantry (MG) (Honorary Division). - Medal for Gallantry (MG) (Police Division). - Medal for Gallantry (MG) (Civil Division). - Grand Medal (Honorary Division). - Grand Medal (Military Division). - Grand Medal (Police Division). - Grand Medal (Prisons Division) - Grand Medal (Civil Division). The creation of the new award, "Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana", by the President, has raised the number to five categories. The latest award goes exclusively to Ghanaian Heads of State and the only living candidates for this year's award are the sitting President, Mr. Kufuor and former President J.J. Rawlings. This year, a total number of 244 eminent Ghanaians as well as non nationals (for the honorary awards) have been shortlisted for the awards as against 78 last year and 160 two years ago. Pictures at: http://www.ambafrance-gh.org/local/cache-v...illes-1b1ef.jpg The Order of the Star of Ghana The next highest of the awards is the Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana (CSG). It is subdivided into Companion Officer, Member and Honorary categories. Recipients are statesmen who excel in the service of their nations and the international community. Recipients of the honorary division of this award include former Presidents Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Fidel Castro Ruz of Cuba, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d' Ivoire and Abubakar Abdulsalami of Nigeria. In 1988, a distinguished Ghanaian top international civil servant and Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, received the Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana CSG (Civil Division). Other Star award recipients were Dr. Ebenezer Ako Adjei, who received the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana (OSG Civil Division), the late Mr. Daniel Francis Annan, a former Speaker of Parliament who received it for Legal, State and Parliament Service, and the late Mr. Nathan Annang Quao, rewarded for Public Service. Recipients of the military division of the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana hitherto include Lt. Gen Joshua Mahamadu Hamidu, in the area of Military and State Service. The late Mr. Justice Philip Archer received his award under the category of Member of the Order of the Star of Ghana, Civil Division, in the area of Judicial Service, Ghana Law Reform and State Service whereas Dr. Obed Asamoah's award gazetted in 1999 fell under State and Legal Service category. Other recipients in this category include the late Mr. Kenneth Kweku Sinaman Dadzie (Public and International Service, 1980), the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia (State Service) and Prof. Alex Adum Kwapong (Higher Education, 1999). Gazetted national awards in 1974 included, Lt. Gen Benedictus Kodzo Akafia, the late Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume, the late Air-Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye, Major General Emmanuel Alexander Erskine, the late Major General Neville Alexander Odartey-Wellington and Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Arnold Quainoo. They were recipients of the Member of the Order of the Star of Ghana (MSG) (Military Division). A former head of intelligence, Mr. Benjamin Fordjoe, received the Member of the Order of the Star of Ghana (MSG) (Police Division) for outstanding duties in the area of police, public and international service. This year some eminent citizens selected for the Star Companion category includes Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, former Vice-President Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene and Chairman of the Committee of Eminent Persons for Resolution of the Dagbon chieftaincy conflict including other members of that Committee such as Nayiri Naa Bohugu Shirigu, paramount chief of Mamprusi, Yagbon-Wura Bawa Doshie, paramount chief of Gonja traditional area and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a former Foreign Minister who receives it for his contribution to Human Rights advocacy, Rule of Law and national politics. The Order of the Volta Pictures at: http://www.ambafrance-gh.org/local/cache-v...volta-de76b.jpg The Companion of the Order of the Volta (CV) has been sub-divided into four: Military, Civil, Police and Honorary. Recipients of awards in the Volta Medal, Military division include the late Major-General Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo (Military and State Service), Colonel (Rtd) John Maxwell Ewa (Military/State Award) and Lieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith (Military Service). In the Police Division, the following former police heads have been recipients: I.G.P. Mr. Ernest Ako, I.G.P. Mr. Christopher Kobla Dewornu, I.G.P. Mr. Peter Tengam a'bang Nanfuri and Commissioner of Police Mr. Kofi Bentum Quantson. In the Civil Division, recipients include Messrs Daniel Ohene Agyekum (International and State Service), Kwamena Ahwoi (Higher Education and State), Samuel Hemans Arday, (Sports, Football) Dr. Robert Dodoo (Civil Service Administration), Mrs. Shirley Ababio (Public Service), Ms Ama Atta Aidoo, Education Service (Literary Excellence), Mr. Justice Akuffo-Addo, Public Service, Judicial/State Affairs. Medal for Gallantry Display of exceptional bravery to save life and property is recognized with the Medal for Gallantry (MG) award offered in four divisions: military, honorary (for non Ghanaians) police and civil. The honorary medal award for Gallantry has, hitherto, been won by outstanding individuals like Dr. Noguchie Hideyo, Japanese who died while researching into Yellow Fever cure in Ghana. A police escort and a Sergeant, Ambrose Saibu, in 1973 won the police division of the Medal for Gallantry award when he thwarted an effort by armed robbers to burgle a magazine. In 1979, Mr. Samuel Godwill Addison was posthumously rewarded with a civil division Medal for Gallantry when he saved a girl from electrocution. On her part, Miss Yiadana showed exceptional bravery when, at a great peril of her own life she saved a man from drowning in the Volta river. Mr. Kofi Asomani also performed a similar feat to save some children from a burning house. Both of them received the medal for Gallantry award in March 1973. For rescuing a University course mate from deadly attack of wild bees during field work, Mr. Simon Okletey was the proud recipient of Medal for Gallantry, Civil Division. The Grand Medal The great majority of national award recipients fall under Grand Medal broken down into honorary, military, police, prison and civil divisions. The awards in this category covers individuals who have excelled in every aspect of national development such as social service, civil service, agriculture, sports choreography, education, building, judicial service, religion, health service, public service, medicine, legal state service, nursing, higher education, voluntary service, industry, scientific research, culture, journalism, mining, international affairs, music, commerce etc. Non Ghanaian nationals who have been honoured with the Grand Medal (Honorary Division) include the late table tennis sponsor and philanthropist, D. G Hathiramani, an Indian, Reverend Father Joop Visser, a Catholic and Dutch (Religious and Social Service), His Excellency Mr. John Schram, a former Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana (Social and International Service) and Sister Monica (Missionary Education). Military Officers who have been awarded the Military Division of the Grand Medal include Baba Abu (RSM), for Exceptional loyalty and devotion to duty, Lt Col. Joseph Narh Adinkrah (Military Service), Lt. Col Edmund Kweku Akyea-Mensah (Military and Public Service), WOII Gershon Kwadzode (Exceptional loyalty and Devotion to Duty), WOI John Baba (Military Service), WOI Isaac Frimpong, (Exceptional Loyalty and Devotion to Duty), the late Lt. Col. Wiston Martin Mensah-Wood (Military Service), Lt.-Col Victor Coker-Appiah (Exceptional Loyalty and Devotion to Duty). The Civil Division recipients include the late Dr. Oku Ampofu (Medical Service), Ms Alice Teye Ofikor Anum (Athletic, Sports), Mr. Ayew Abedi "Pele" (Football, Sports), Mr. Jones Attuquayefio (Football, Sports), the late Mr. John Evans Atta-Mills (Agriculture) and the late Dr. Ephraim Amu (Higher Education, Music). Their awards serve as motivation for other nationals to excel and operate beyond mediocrity, stereotypism and the well beaten track of the crowd. End

Thanks for the information and images. I gather that there was also a storm over the cost of the design and creation of the insignia. However, the end result does not seem to be all that impressive. Presumably the next chap who comes in as President could simply relegate the order down the order of precedence and negate Kufour's effort. James

Hi IVB, I did a google search and found a Russian website with such a silver medal. Is that what you mean? On closer inspection, I wasn't all that certain that the medal shown belonged to the Order of Kalakaua. Looks more like someone has stuck a blue and whie ribbon on it and sold is as such. If you look closely, there is nothing else to make the connection. The obverse has the date 1886, which has no significance. The Order of Kalakaua was founded on 28th September 1875 and the order insignia all have the date 1874, since it was created to commemorate the King's Coronation on 12th February 1874.The engraving on the reverse looks like it was a once-off presentation medal to an individual in 1889. Cheers, James