Ed_Haynes

Unit 0166 For the 70th anniversary. Post-1992 coat of arms.

Unit 0164 Border guard transport?? For the 60th anniversary.

Unit 0151 Two very different badhges, both screwback, for uint 0151, whatever it was?! Awarded the Red Banner of Labor Valor somewhere along the way? Post-1992 coat of arms on the second badge.

Unit 032[ Two badges for the unit: A screwback badge and a pinback badge for the 80th anniversary of the unit.

Unit 016 Well, it was formed in 1923 and celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2003 (for which this badge was awarded?). And, somewhere along the way, it was awarded the Red Banner of Labor and the Red Banner of Combat Valor? Beyond that, . . . ????

Unit 014 Feels somehow "State Security"? What does it say??

Battushig shows many badges (for example C46, C49, E15, E21, etc.) that have been awarded to numbered units of either the army or the border guards (perhaps interior as well?). Someplace, I expect, there is a key to what "Unit 0131" was (is). Until we get it, can we post our NIB (not in Battushig) numbered unit badges here please?

An oddity. An unfinished (unsilvered and unenameled) brass core for a B # 37.4 (type 2.4).

Gentlemen, gentlemen . . . , We are, I hope, all engaged in an ongoing process of learning here. While some of us -- folks both on and off the list -- know things, no one knows everything. To pretend to that status would be the height of pomposity and arrogance. While I might apply that condemnation to some denizens of other lists, that characterization doesn't work in this community, as far as I am concerned. What we need to do is to find ways to agree or disagree (better: discuss) based on evidence -- not ex cathedra crudely stated opinions -- and weigh that evidence against the constant realization that all of us are engaged in ongoing learning founded on research. Yes, when someone tells me "I know this is so because I say so, now shut up", I do want to reach for my AK-47, but logical and rational discourse is uaually a better approach and requires much less clean-up later on. We do also need to remember -- and this has come up on other threads -- that not all of us use English (the default language of this forum) as a "mother tongue" and, while I am immensely impressed with the language skills of all our forum members (better than I could manage in most other languages in which I stumble along), one thing that frequently gets lost out of one's maternal tongue of the tone of civility that ought to populate our discussions. Without any criticism directed to anyone, please cut all our forum mates some slack. Nevertheless, I think all should think (and rethink) their words and realize that we are, as the omnipresent heading title says, "gentlemen". We are engaged in a collective struggle toward knowledge, not in "counting coup" against one another. Please. Please play nicely, children, Ed

Hi Dave, I have exactly 0% problem with it! You are not about to pry it away (except from my cold dead hands), as I see no problem with it, regardless. I see it as a research challenge! It is so easy, too easy, to throw theories. It is harder to research. It may be even harder to admit we all have things to learn. And thanks again for passing him on to his new home!! Cheers, Ed

The one we are discussing here. I thought that was obvious.

Andrey, Glad to see you have taken on such a dedicated interest in this group. You certainly seem to think I have another fake? Ed

Beautiful, aren't they!

Trust me, for this reason, among others, the request for more complete research has gone out.

People's Democratic Republic Self-Sacrifice Medal of the Central Committee of the S.D.J.A. This is a real puzzle. The "S.D.J.A." is probably the Sazman-e Difa'-e Janbazi-ye Afghanistan (Organization for Self-sacrificial Defense of Afghanistan).

People's Democratic Republic Medal of Ghazi Muhammad Ayub Khan Whoever he may be.

People's Democratic Republic Faid Djamanudin Afghania Your guess is as good as mine. The symbolism seems religious/cultural, though anything Islamic would be odd for the secular PDRA.

People's Democratic Republic Medal Dawlati Malali Qaharaman M'akrah Miwanad / State Medal of Malali the Heroine of Maiwand [?] Named after one of the most famous heroines of Afghan history, this may well be some sort of women's award? Malali is said to have rallied Afghan forces on the battlefield at Maiwand on 27 July 1880 (during the Second Afghan War) and contributed thereby to the smashing British defeat that ensued. The obverse has a "moving" scene of a kneeling male kissing the hand of a standing female (Malali), perhaps a clue to the significance of the medal?

People's Democratic Republic Daulat Malamshaikh Alam Medal / State Medal of Mullah Meshach the Learned Whoever he may be? Another one of those "named-after-someone-important" medals. The design would suggest some cultural/educational link?

People's Democratic Republic Medal for the Tenth Anniversary of the Saur Revolution Established 27 April 1988. Awarded to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the April 1978 revolution. Another very common item on eBay.

People's Democratic Republic Medal for Seventy Years of Independence Awarded in 1990 to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of Afghan Independence in 1920. A very common e$cam medal, though identified as everything you can imagine.

People's Democratic Republic Madal Dawalati Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan / National Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan There is a whole range of medals named after important figures in Afghan History. It isn't clear what any of them were awarded for, though. It is known that Mir Bacha Khan was one of those who opposed British imperialism in the nineteenth century. Established 17 May 1982. The award presumably became obsolete with the collapse of the PDRA in 1992.

OK, since you asked . . . . . . as I have time will add on here. People's Democratic Republic Self-Sacrifice Medal Sometimnes called "Self-Sufficiency Medal". Believed to be roughly equivalent to the Soviet Order of the Red Banner of Labor. Established 17 May 1982. The award presumably became obsolete with the collapse of the PDRA in 1992.

Super! Glad someone is using the archives (though I suspect they are pretty hard to use), rather than just state guesses as if they were fact. Good for you!

Interesting how similar these are to the more recent and much nicer Mongolian badges. See http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10228&st=5 for a few.