Ed_Haynes

Oh, pretty! Wissam Alaouit Cherifien / Order of the Sharifian Alawaid Dynasty Awarded for civilian or military merit. The lowest classes had to be conferred first and awards of higher classes were by gradual promotion. Under normal circumstances, Moroccans must have served the State (or French protectorate) five years before they could be nominated. A lesser diploma of honor, the Dahir de Satisfaction, was affiliated to the order as a junior class, but subordinate to the order. The order was freely bestowed to French military troops with at least three years of service in Morocco, to other foreigners with five years of service; promotion could be achieved only after three years in a lower class. It was also awarded freely to senior allied officers during WWII. Recently, limits have been imposed on the maximum numbers of holders of each class, and holders could not be elevated until openings appeared. Established: By Sultan Yusuf, 2 Sapher 1331 (11 January 1913), to replace the Nishan Hafidien. Essentially absorbed later as a French colonial order. Obverse: A white-enameled ball-pointed five-pointed star with green-enameled wreaths in the angles. The first badge had the text of the shahadat in the points of the star; the star is plain for the second badge. I do not know the date of introduction of tehs econd badge. In the red enameled center is the Arabic inscription: ?His Majesty Youssef?. Suspended by a gold wreath. Reverse: Gold, the red-enameled monogram of the ruler, the red Cherefien umbrella. Ribbon: First ribbon: orange. Second ribbon: Pale orange moir? with thin white edge stripes. You have the Chevalier class of both varieties, though the ribbon on the new version seems anachronistic.

Sure, if the loop wouldn't disrupt display -- it looks like it would. Maybe just flatten it a bit?

It seems fairly certain that this loop was added in an act of transforming the medal into a North African necklace and would not have been original to the recipient. This is commonly seen in South and West Asia as well. Personally, I'd lose scant sleep by removing the loop. Everyuthing indicates that this would have been eher entire entitlement. And, despite what has been implied earlier, I'd be fair;ly sure she would not have qualified for a Belgian victory medal.

Assume she has a MIC?

Tried the online London Gazette, and while it is quirky, I found nothing. Finding nothing is something. For the record(s).

But I'd assume this would have been for his SCW service, as Munschke spent WWII doing underground work in the Netherlands. (I was underbidder on his Medaille f?r K?mpfer gegen Faschismus 1933-45, also mounted on a pentagonal mount and also with certificate).

Wow! Thanks, Jan. Much to ponder . . . . (Wish I could persuade Dr. B to come on the forum!)

This is hardly "Axis". Do the moderators want to move it?

I think I know, but which decoration's list started with Stalin as #1?

Thanks for this - more facts for the mill.

Welcome, Rusty! You will find it a very open, welcoming place. Very nice. Please post away, buddy! Ed Haynes

Most odd. Franch civilian? Merchant seaman?? I'd guess the second.

CUBA -- Medal of the Internationalist Fighter, 2nd class While more frequently associated with later Cuban deployments in places like Angola, this medal was apparently also retroactively awarded to Cuban veterans of the international brigades. Many of these Cubans served in the Abrahanm Lincoln Brigade. Reliable information on Cuban awards is scarce.

See my latest over on http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1245&st=15 while there is some Soviet stuff there, all is to an East German.

The interior. This has been translated for me as:

And a final related certificate (but no medal, alas). I am sorry to say that I am unfamiliar with this award -- help?!

Page 3.

Page 2.

And the certificate. Outside cover.

USSR - Badge for International Brigade Participants, 1967 This is cased, if anyone wants to see it (actually, there are two, both cased, so scanning obverse and reverse is easy!).

Page 3, part 2.

Page 3, part 1. For legibility, I shall scan it in two pieces.

Page 2.

Page 1.