Ed_Haynes

Oh . . . pretty. Sound (non-sound?) of breath being held pending research . . . .

Yes, Gerd, Most Arab miniature groups were worn English-style (Egypt, Iraq, the Gulf, etc>), while a few others were worn French-style (Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, etc.). Depends, of course, on who the imperial overlord was. While Libyan miniatures are seen (will put a few up), it is unclear whether they were worn Italian or British style. Ed

A nice one, for sure. And one of the few Victorian medals that are still, marginally, affordable. Yet, for my collecting interests (Indian Army), they are immensely uncommon, as the use of Indian troops in South Africa was avoided, largely for "racial" reasons. One nice pair in my custody (shown elsewhere and repeated here): 885 Sowar Naurang Singh, Patiala Imperial Service Lancers 1- Queen's South Africa - CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL - 885 SOWAR NAURANG SINGH. PATIALA LCRS. 2- King's South Africa - SA 01, SA 02 - 885 SOWAR NAURANG SINGH. PATIALA LCRS.

Thanks for all this, Hendrik. Maybe we can collectively sort this one out. The unofficial nature of so much makes it a delightful challenge!

Most archives are, of course, not set up to do tha hard work for researcher, expecting (appropriately?) for people to be able to do it on their own. (Or hire a local researcher to do it for them.) Think of the NA/PRO?

It has become very common with British groups that the high-end unnamed stuff (well, all this German stuff is unnamed) to be stripped off, sold separately. The assumption, apparently, is that having the guy's CB or CSI with the group would just drive up the price too much. Instead, you are faced with having to reconstitute (= fake) a group later on if you care about history. Yes, it all comes back to the upward spiral of prices. Glad I am an old-timer who started decades ago. No wonder all the OMSA are gray-beards and no new blood comes in. Not sure how a young collector could get started these days.

Yeah, would date this to the mid- or late-1970s.

As I understand the War Star (a very imperfect understanding) you wear a ribbon for your gilt stars, a ribbon for your silver stars, and a ribbon for your bronze stars. Presumably you'd wear a possible three medals as well? Photos of Moroccan officers, mounted Moroccan groups, and Moroccan ribbon bars are scarce. In fact, this is the only one in those three categories that I have ever seen! Always more to learn! I love it.

They are probably all closed for Thanksgiving holidays. Of perhaps it is just that they are government employees?

As Mr. Spock used to say -- and I guess still does in reruns -- "Fascinating." The colors have, obviously, not fared well. Can anything be seen on the reverse or is it too tightly sewn to its French-style backing? Anything from peeping into the cracks? My reading (with way <100% certainty): 1- Wissam al-Askari/Order of the Military (class unknown); Dakhla Medal (?); Order of the War Star (gilt star) 2- Order of the War Star (silver star?); Wissam al-Rida / Order of Civil Merit (?? class) In case you wondered: Wissam al-Askari - Awarded to officers and men of the armed forces, gendarmerie and auxiliary forces who distinguish themselves by bravery or meritorious service. Dakhla Medal - For merit in the restoration of the Western Sahara. Order of the War Star - Very elusive, likely a kind of CdG equivalent. Not miuch known on Moroccan awards, but this is my best guess. Someone do better, please.

Not sure how anyone can post a picture that size, given the severe size limitations in place.

I had thought that was the repair referred to in the item description? As a footnote: The misguided and misbegotten effort to extend the ban on buying, selling, owning, and collecting US medals has now been introduced into both houses of Congress and deluded patriots now shove it forward under the how-can-you-vote-against-this name of "The Stolen Valor Act", claimining merely to prevent pitiful Walter Mittys from passing themselves off as holders of a Good Conduct Medal. Discussed at length on the OMSA site: http://www.omsa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=373

Yes, Vo Nugyen Giap. A name to conjure with. One of the great military thinkers of the 20th century. Better than Mao, better than Che, when it came to the practical application of theory. Regardless of who you supported in the Indochina wars, he was a genius.

Documents? Yes. a few, very few. Will put some up. Ribbons are now very hard since the major Cairo manufacturer for most of the Arab world went out of business recently (with his death). The OMSA ribbon bank has some limited supplies, the last time I checked.

Official, for sure. But not allowed to be worn in uniform on normal "service" occasions, only at "durbar" -- much like title badges (q.v.) -- but in practice worn much more widely. See, for example, this Maratha (?) VCO worthy, examining (gawking at?) his newly awarded 1937 Coronation Medal. If he could wear it to the King-Emperor's coronation, then, well . . . ?! (To post this, I have had to reduce, and reduce, and reduce the size so I cannot guarantee what it will look like. Size limitations are MADDENING! THIS IS INSANE!!)

To add, from the same off-site thread referenced above:

Quoted from http://sagongs.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=493 :

Thanks, Bob. Will add some more.

Numbered "531" on reverse. Awarded to 16026 Quartermaster Havildar Phuman Singh, Central Drivers' Depot, Poona.

Vatslav Bronislavovich Lavrinovich (http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2326) had one too, but I'm not sure that the badge (a duplicate issue) that came with the group is his. His 1934 certificate. Will post the badge when I drag it home post-weekend.

Maybe it is something about silver cigarette cases. Vatslav Bronislavovich Lavrinovich had one too: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2326&st=8

Hendrik raised the question of this one on another thread. I, too, find it challenging. Here is what I know. Medal of Syria and Cilicia, 1918-1921 For those who participated in operations of the Army of the Levant between November 1918 and October 1921. In November 1919, French troops relieved British occupation troops in Lebanon and Cilicia. The operations were mainly against King Faisal ibn-Hussein?s troops and Turkish pressures from the north. From November 1919 to July 1920 several batallions of the Third Division conducted operations were against armed bands of Faisal?s troops in the region of Tyre and Alexanderetta. On 21 July 1920, the French troops achieved victory over Faisal?s troops and drove him out of Syria into exile in London. This established French dominance in Syria. (Faisal would later be established by the British as "king" of Iraq.) In Cilicia, the fight was more complex and difficult, in that the French Second and Fourth Divisions also faced entrenched Turkish troops in difficult terrain. With the capture of Ain Tab on 5 February 1921, French power was established in the region. The medal was awarded to soldiers and sailors who served in action from 11 November 1918 to 20 October 1921. In 1932, the award was extended to civilian personnel. Also awarded by the Vichy Government for the defensive actions against the British and Free French attacks on Syria in June-July 1941. As discussed below, the medal was awarded to Vichy troops for action against, among others, the Free French. The medal is the same as the Syria-Cilicia Medal, but reissued for these campaigns with a bar: ?Levant 1941?. Also awarded by the Free French Government in London for the actions against the Vichy French and others in the Levant from 12 July 1941 to 14 August 1943. The medal is the same as the Syria-Cilicia Medal (without clasp?). With the addition of a bar, the same medal was reissued for operations in 1925-26 and 1941. Reissued for campaigns in the Levant 1925-26 with a bar: ?1925-1926?; awarded for Jebel Druze and the taking Soueida? Established: Law of 18 July 1922, amended by laws of 12 September 1922 and of 13 December 1932, which extended awards to French civil personnel. Obverse: Bronze 30 mm (also seen in 35 mm medals) circular medal. The head of the Republic and the inscription ?REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE?. Suspended by a wreath and crescent. Reverse: An arrangement of flags and cannon, arrayed to attack a hilltop fort. Inscription ?LEVANT?. Ribbon: Alternating horizontal stripes of white and light blue. Awards: As was true elsewhere, the famous L?gion ?trang?re, or Foreign Legion, was intimately involved in these actions; in 1922, a battalion of the 4e R?giment ?trang?re d?Infanterie was deployed to the Levant. 1925-26: The famous L?gion ?trang?re, or Foreign Legion (especially the 4e R?giment ?trang?re d?Infanterie [later, the R?giment de la L?gion du Proche Orient]), was intimately involved in these actions. 1940-41: As was true elsewhere the famous L?gion ?trang?re, or Foreign Legion, was intimately involved in these actions. Representing a particularly painful moment in the histoiry of the Legion, this service pitted the Vichy 6e R?gement ?trang?re d?Infanterie (later disbanded) against the Free French 13e Demi-Brigade L?gion ?trang?re. -- medal -- ?LEVANT? bulbous ornamental bronze bar of ?oriental? design (for 1918-21) -- ?LEVANT / 1925-1926? - ornate bulbous bronze bar of ?oriental? style with inscription in Roman script in two lines -- ?LEVANT 1925-1926 - ornate bulbous bronze bar of ?oriental? style with inscription in ornate script in a single line -- ?LEVANT 1941? - a bulbous ornate bronze bar of ?oriental? design

MANDI -- Silver Jubilee Medal, 1938 For the jubilee of Raja Major Sir Jogendra Sen Bahadur (b. 1904, r. 28 April 1913-1986, d. 1986). McClenaghan, p. 197, no. 194.

Bijawar A previously unreported medal from Bijawar State (11-gun, Bundelkhand Agancy, Central India) Maharaja Sawai Sir Sawant Singh Bahadur (b. 1877, r. June 1900-30 October 1940, d. 30 October 1940) Some sort of Jubilee? 1925? 1930? When was he KCSI??

BIKANER -- Medal for Commendable Conduct McClenaghan, #92, p. 103.