Ed_Haynes

Thanks, Rick.

One can join the site without being a member of the society, and we are really trying to build up the database as an online reference.

Ed

So far, there isn't much at the OMSA site. Can someone feed it, please?

http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=623

So far, there isn't much at the OMSA site. Can someone feed it, please?

http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=621

So far, there isn't much at the OMSA site. Can someone feed it, please?

http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=615

http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=624

So far, there isn't much at the OMSA site. Can someone feed it, please?

http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=577

So far, there isn't much at the OMSA site. Can someone feed it, please?

http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=658

So far, the Baden awards at the OMSA site are limited. Can someone feed it, please?

http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=596

By the way, here is an article I wrote explaining what each of the clasps to the 1870-71 KDM were for:

http://home.att.net/~david.danner/militaria/KDM_1870-71.htm

It's sort of a clasp-driven summary history of the Franco-Prussian War.

Nice piece, Dave. Thanks.

Makes me regret letting mine go some years back. Thanks again?

Ladies & Gentleman, I was recently approached by a collector from Finland who is studying Mongolian Badges, Medals, Decorations, etc. I have invited them to join us! Keep your eyes peeled!!

Excellent!! Болтугай! We need to become the world centre for the study of Mongolian awards. I am TRYING to get Dr. B on our forum too.

Hello Ed - have you succeeded? I have... at least, that is my impression. I'd appreciate getting in touch with you to make sure I am dealing with the genuine Dr. B and am not being lead into a scam (since it involves a potential sale of orders / medals).

Email: bobinmunich@hotmail.com

I expect to be visiting him this summer.

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!!)