Ed_Haynes

BAHAWALPUR -- Great War Star 1914-18, second variety

Named: 493 Sepoy Jan Mohammed

Sepoy, no unit (Bahawalpur Mounted Escort/1st Bahawalpur Sadiq Infantry?).

BAHAWALPUR -- Great War Star 1914-18, first variety

Named: 1041 SILR. ILAHI BAKHSH BAHWLPR. TRANSPT. CPS.

Siladar, Bahawalpur Transport Corps. Camel transport, served in Middle East.

Independence Medal 1309

Extremely tentative identification. For Afghanistan's "independence" in 1931?

Loya Jirgah 1343 Medal

Awarded for the 1965 (C.E.) Loya Jirgah. The legend makes that much clear. Beyond that, . . . ???

Medal for the establishment of the republic, April 1978.

This is not China. This is the Chin-Lushai campaign. On India's northeast frontier. Can rummage up some details if you wish.

Rick: Quite understood. I, too, enjoy the strange. And I realise that viewing does not always lead to a post. It is, however, good to know that someone is reading these and has some degree of interest. While I don't mind talking to myself -- do it all the time -- it is a nice touch to know that someone (else) is listening.

Bob: Yes, there are a few other collectors with an interest in this area, one prominent one based in Saudi Arabia just now. The problem, of course, is limited and unreliable information and the difficulties in getting anything of substance.

Will put up a few more goodies.

Thanks, Eric. Afghan stuff -- though non-Arab -- is quite a puzzle and quite an interest of mine. I'll be putting up some specimens later (and the management may wish to open a new thread with your post to encourage me to do so?). While there is a source (not great, and in Russian, but a source) on PDRA awards, there is nothing for earlier (or later) periods.

Let me see what I can find.

Ed

Very pretty one. Classic design, even more classic ribbon, and often a corker of a citation. See my cheap 3rd class:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2329

Ed

While many of the socialist-era have been continued, their quality has plumetted. No great surprise here.

A nice example of the GSM clasp Iraq

Yes, a campaign in Iraq much like others: long, bloody, nasty, terror-filled. The oral history among Indian Army soldiers (most of the troops there) made it worse than France, or Gallipoli,. or Kut. Interesting. Reports from relatives who served in Iraq cut recruiting in the Punjab by 20% in the inter-war years.

I give up ..............

Look at any standard reference on medals (e.g., McDaniel and Schmitt or the Mondovor website). The ribbon was widely used officialy and unfoficially.

I beg to differ..........

Chris

Source . . . ?????

No, the ribbon has nothing to do with the guards. For the Order of Glory and the medal for Victory over Germany (and, before that, in Tsarist days, for St. George).

Hi,

Istanbul has a superb war museum, all the officer groups (bar one) on display there had enamle stars, not painted.

From all that I have read regarding the Ottoman officer class, it would not surprise me that they had special medals made up for themselves in Germany or Austria-Hungary. I suspect they had their shirts laundered and pressed there as well.

Hi,

do you have a good pic of the Egyptian WW1 era version of the DSO? It was a star.

Hi Chris,

I do not have the royal version of the Wisam Nigam al-'Askariia / Military Star, but:

The Military Star of Fuad I was originally intended for award to Egyptian and foreign officers for mention in dispatches or distinguished service in the field or before the enemy, with courage and a spirit of self-sacrifice. In broad terms, the Military Star can be seen as having been patterned after the British Distinguished Service Order. It was, of course, redesigned with the fall of the monarchy. With the redesign and restructuring which came with the 1952 revolution, the award came to be awarded to any officer for exceptional service with courage and a spirit of self-sacrifice. Whenever possible, the award is to be personally presented by the president of the republic. The star can be awarded posthumously or to foreigners. Established: By King Ahmad Fuad I in Royal Order of 6 December 1919, revised and redesigned on 9 July 1953 and amended by Law No. 12 of 1972. Obverse: A five-pointed gilt star, enameled white. The center is enameled blue with crossed swords in gilt, surrounded by a red circlet with a gilt wreath. Above all a gilt crown. Suspended from a straight bar suspender. After 1953, the 45-mm star has been of bronze with blue-enameled points, with the center swords replaced with the Egyptian eagle (after 1971, hawk), and the suspension crown removed. Each point has two crossed swords. The suspension is a ornate enameled bar in the form of a pair of "Pharonic" falcon's wings, with a disk in the center bearing a pair of crossed swords. Reverse: Until 1953, a gold Arabic inscription on purple enamel. Afer 1953, Arabic name on white enamel. Ribbon: 37 mm, moir?, five equal 6 mm stripes of blue, yellow, black, yellow, blue, with thin (1 mm) yellow edges.

This is the republican version:

TUNISIA -- M?daille militaire / Military Medal

Established: 8 December 1955 and modified by Law No. 58-129 of 9 Djoumada I 1378 (21 November 1958). Ribbon: Pale green with a wide red stripe in the center and thin red stripes toward each edge.

Among my interests are the awards of the Arab world. One problem in studying these, of course, is a lack of information.

This is one reason I had put up some preliminary information on-line. While it got BADLY trashed by US and sympathetic international "patriots" in the aftermath of 11 September, I have rebuilt some of it, but have not been updating it. I share the remnant link with forum friends here:

http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/medals/arab_medals.html

I'll put up a few samples as eye-candy.

Sorry, but I'm old-fashioned. I prefer the real Ottoman-issued star, rather than the post-War German jewelers' fantasies.

But I'm odd. Everyone says so.

Enough for now - can post more if requested.

JAIPUR -- Medal for Silver Jubilee of Manahara Man Singh II, 1947

For the silver jubilee of Lieutenant-General H.H. Saramad-i-Rajaha-i- Hindustan Raj Rajendra Shri Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Sawai Shri Sir Man Singh II Bahadur, Maharaja of Jaipur, GCSI, GCIE (b. 21 August 1911, r. 7 September 1922-24 June 1970, d. 24 June 1970).

McClenaghan, p. 164, no. 163.

MYSORE -- Public Service Medal

McClenaghan, #197, p. 202.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR -- Chitral Medal, 1895

Awarded to J&K States' Forces for the defence and relief.

This one named: "49 HAVELDAR MAHAN SINGH 4TH KASHMIR RIFL"

McClenaghan, #169, pp. 172-73.