Ed_Haynes

I assume this applies to the international volunteers on the republican, democratic, non-fascist side? There were, of course, French (and other) volunteers on both sides.

The OMSA (good for them) have finally taken a stand on this dangerous piece of lunatic legislation.

See:

http://www.omsa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=446

http://www.omsa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=447

http://www.omsa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=449

FYI and action?

Thanks again, Eric. I love learning about the exotic and you can hardly beat Albania! Nice eye-candy with a tangy coating of history.

OK, the Coast Guard 9 Year medal too:

And, you think this is bad, just ponder the Garaj Star ribbon (on one of the police ribbon bars I show above - very uncommon!) of that for the newly-issued Coast Guard 20 Year Service Medal (they have one for 9 years too).

Ribbon bar 2

(1) Trishakti Patta ?? Class, Order of the Gurkha Right Arm ?? Class, Coronation Medal of King Birendra 1972

(2) Jubilee of King Birendra 1997, ???, Coronation of King Gyanendra 2002, Paradesa Seva Padak / Foreign Service Medal with khukhri device

(3) Sainik Dirgha Seva Patta / Military Long Service Medal, Sainik Seva Padak / Military Service Medal, UN: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 1978? with "2" device, UN: United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), 1992-95

Ribbon bar 1

(1) Order of the Gurkha Right Arm ?? Class, Trishakti Patta ?? Class

(2) Jubilee of King Bhirendra 1997, ???, Coronation of King Gyanendra 2002

(3) Paradesa Seva Padak / Foreign Service Medal with khukhri device, Sainik Dirgha Seva Patta / Military Long Service Medal, Sainik Seva Padak / Military Service Medal, Prasiddha Seva Padak / ??? Service Medal

(4) SARC Service Medal, Earthquake Relief Medal 1988 with "Om" device, UN: United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) 1993-96, UN: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 1978? with "2" device

The medals range from the nicely made (note no "very" here) to the very crudely cast/struck with the suspensions even worse. The problem lies in the fact that no real medals are "awarded" except for the truly high and exotic things, and you just scamper down to your local military tailor (in Kathmandu that'd be a "cap shop") and buy a pre-mounted group of your medals (assuming it is just normal stuff). If you get something else, you take the first group back and swap it for one including your new medal, paying a rather token price for the upgrade. Some individual medals are well made, some poorly so, and if you want the shop owner to hate you, you can force him to rip apart pre-mounted bars of dig through his stock boxes to find nicely made medals, otherwise you get what you get.

As no medals in Nepal are named (same for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka), no one cares. As is often the case in Europe, these are just open-market purchases, with all the variability in quality that that suggests.

The same shops sell ribbon bars too. (See below.)

Nice, Eric! Thanks for sharing the eye-candy. Ed

Hi David,

The High Altitude Medal is one of those awards that had its ribbon designed by a committee of "experts" who never dealt with the pragmatic question of how or whether the ribbon could actually be produced, or produced economically (for a medal that more members of at least the army and air force would qualify for at some time in their careers). Apparently, this chevron ribbon seemed a sexy and evocative design on paper and no one thought about the realities until later.

Early awards came on a thick plastic ribbon where the blue "chevrons" seem to be embossed or painted on (see the image below). This ribbon, I am told this proved to be expensive and cumbersome (thicker than a "normal" ribbon and therefore hard to mount, c.f. the Vayu Sema Medal ribbon which all the military tailors hate). They were back to the nasty plasticised paper "ribbons" for the High Altitude Medal that we know and hate so well. Though note Khanna's (?) ribbon bar, above, that uses the plastic rather than paper ribbon.

When it comes to post-1947 Indian medals I could go on and on and on.

Ed

This came with NO documentation.

It came with Soviet and Afghan "International Warrior" badges and with an Afghan Medal for Combat Service. Part of the group? Who can say.

Guesses to date say KGB colonel-or-above (so 0% chance or less of research?).

1- Order of the October Revolution, var 2, 69482

2- Order of the Red Banner, type 4, 440621

3- The Order of Friendship of Peoples, 10705

4- The Medal for Distinction in Guarding the State Borders of the USSR, type 3

5- PDRA- Border Guard Medal (wrong ribbon, as usual in Soviet groups?)

Help??

(And it could, of course, be "made up". Such is life.)

While not yet researched, I have the group and all certificates to Dankward Fehr, whoever he is.

1- Hero of Work

2- Verdienstmedaille der Deutsche Demokratische Republik

3- Verdienter Techniker des Volkes

4- Verdienstmedaille der Zivilverteidigung

5- Verdeinter Aktivist

6- Aktivist des Siebenjahreplans 1961

7- Aktivist des Siebenjahreplans 1965

8- Aktivist des Siebenjahreplans 1966

9- Aktivist des Siebenjahreplans [1968]

10- Arthur-Becker-Medaille I

11- Arthur-Becker-Medaille II

12- Arthur-Becker-Medaille III (suspension clasp only)

1- Police 25-Year Service Medal

2- Police 10-Year Service Medal

3- SARC Service Medal

4- Earthquake Service Medal

1- High Altitude Service Medal

2- Foreign Service Medal

3- Army 10-Year Service Medal

4- Earthquake Service Medal

5- United Nations: UNIFIL

Nepali medals (like those of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) are issued unnamed.

This removes most of the fun. They are, in fact, obtained from local military tailors ("cap houses") by simply taking in your old medals and swapping them for a new group with more recent medals added in (for a modest upgrade fee). Your old medals are then recycled to the next customer who needs them.

Here follow a few Nepali groups.

PAK/200043 AC2 MOHD SAFDAR. R.P.A.F.

1- General Service Medal: Kashmir 1948

2- Independence Medal

3- 1939-45 Star

4- WWII War Medal

5- Indian Service Medal

Only the Independence Medal is named, as shown above. He must have left by 1956, or there would have been a Republic Medal. Original ragged mounting.

I have BIG doubts on this one.

O. NO. 630129 COOK U. BAKSH

1- General Service Medal: Kacch 1965

2- War Star 1965

3- War Star 1971

4- Campaign Medal 1965

5- Campaign Medal 1971

6- Quaid-i-Azam Centennial

7- 1400 Hijra Medal

8- Oman, Peace Medal

Only the Istar-i-Herb 1385 / War Star 1385 [A.H. = 1965 C.E.] is named, as shown above. Very ragged mount, a tattered tailor's lable on reverse, so probably halal.

Interesting also for the Oman medal.

383012 Recruit Abdul Ghafur, 16th Punjab Regiment

1- The General Service Medal, 1947 - KASHMIR 1948

2- The Pakistan Independence Medal, 1947 - 383012 RECT ABDUL GHAFUR 16. PB R (as is unfortunately usual, the Independence Medal is the sole named medal in the group)

3- The Pakistan Republic Commemorative Medal

4- United Arab Emirates, 1976 Armed Forces Amalgamation Medal

5- Abu Dhabi, Defence Forces Service Medal

An interesting group, in that it demonstrates service -- as something more than a recruit, to be sure -- on loan to the Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates, ca. 1976. A nice, unusual, if somewhat tattered group. Were it not so tattered, however, I might doubt its authenticity!

As with medals from elsewhere that India in South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, etc.), most Pakistani medals are unnamed. Not only does this reduce their interest and research value, but it has also led to a mammoth problem industry in the faking of groups. This is made easier by virtue of the fact that WWII medals are not officially named for soldiers who went to Pakistan.

I would estimate that 80% of the Pakistani "groups" on the market are FAKE. Higher than that for what you see on e$cam.

Can we post here our proper halal (maybe) Pakistani groups?

Bangladesh medals (like those of Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) are issued unnamed.

This removes most of the fun.

Here is one Bangladesh group.

1- Bir Bikram - Third-order gallantry medal.

2- Rana Taraka - For combat in the early, guerilla, phases of the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971.

3- Shamar Padak - For service in the early, guerilla, phases of the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971.

4- Mukti Taraka - For combat in the Indo-Pakistani War 1971.

5- Victory Medal 1971 / Joy Padak 1971 - For service in the Indo-Pakistani War, 1971.

6- Constitution Medal / Shangbidhan Padak - Commemorating the promulgation of the Bangladeshi constitution, 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972.

4438239 Naib Subadar Ajit Singh, Sikh Light Infantry

1- The General Service Medal, 1947 - GOA 1961 - 4438239 SEP. AJIT SINGH, SIKH L. I.

2- Samanya Seva Medal, 1965 - Kucch - Kargil 1965 - 4438239 HAV. AJIT SINGH, S. L. I.

3- Samar Seva Star, 1965 - 4438239 HAV. AJIT SINGH SIKH L. I.

4- Poorvi Star, 1971 - 4438239 AJIT SINGH SIKH L I

5- Paschimi Star, 1971 - 4438239 HAV. AJIT SINGH SIKH L I

6- Raksha Medal, 1965 - unnamed

7- Sangram Medal, 1971 - 4438239 HAV. AJIT SINGH SIKH L I

8- Sainya Seva Medal - Himalaya - 4438239 NB-SUB. AJIT SINGH SIKH L I

9- 25th Independence Anniversary Medal, 1972 - 4438239 HAV. AJIT SINGH SIKH L I

10- Twenty Years Long Service Medal - 4438239 HAV. AJIT SINGH, S. L. I.

11- Nine Years Long Service Medal - 4438239 NK. AJIT SINGH, S.L.I.

Unfortunately dipped, but still pretty. All "combat" campaign medals.

Saraiya, part 2

Also, separately, obtained his City and Guilds of London, Department of Technology, silver prize medal for "Technological Innovation". This is part of a follow-up acquisition of a group I acquired earlier (Padma Bhushan and OBE). It is named on the edge "RAMAMLAL GOKALDAS SARAIYA, SOAP MANUFACTURE. 1st PRIZE, 1921."

Also got his certificates for the Badma Bhushan and for the OBE.

Ramanlal Gokaldas Saraiya

Padma Bhushan

A Compilation of the Recipients of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards, p. 130:

"Padma Bhushan (1963)

"10. Shri Ramanlal Gokaldas Saraiya

"A pioneer in the field of cooperative Sri Ramanlal Gokaldas Saraiya has rendered valuable cooperation to develop the cooperative movement in India. He has been Chairman and Vice-Chairman of many State and All-India level organisations like Bombay State Cooperative Bank, All India Cooperative Organisation, National Development and Storage Board, etc.

"Shri Saraiya is a member of many important Commerce Organisations of the country. In 1953-54 he was Chairman of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a Director of Reserve Bank of India and Indian Insurance Corporation.

"Shri Saraiya is Chairman of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation since 1954. Under his skillful supervision the Corporation has made a big progress and now it is thought that among the Public Sector Undertakings its management is the best."

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, Officer

Ramanlal Gokaldas Saraiya, Esquire, J.P., Partner Messrs. Narandas Rajaram and Company, Bombay - recommended by the Governor of the Punjab, 1 January 1942

Recommendation in PSV, 18(9)-H/1941:

"Mr. Saraiya is a prominent businessman of Bombay. He is a member of the Indian Merchants' Chamber, Bombay, and was appointed by the Government of India as a non-official adviser to the Indo-Japanese delegation. He is actively associated with the Indian Central Cotton Committee and has served on most of the Sub-Committees appointed by that Committee. Mr. Saraiya has been a director of the Bombay Provincial Co-Operative Bank since 1932, and its Chairman since 1938, and has done much to improve the financial position of the Bank. He is also Chairman of the Bombay Co-Operative Banks Association, and has been most helpful in organising the better working of the Urban and Central Banks in the Province. His work generally on behalf of the Co-Operative Banks has been admirable, and he also gave useful advice in connection with the drafting and introduction of the Agricultural Debtors' Relief Act. Mr. Saraiya is actively assisting the War effort. He is an A.R.P. Group Warden, has contributed generously to the War Gifts Fund, and has made large investments in Defence Bonds and Savings Certificates."

Biography in The India & Pakistan Year Book & Who's Who, 1948, p. 1307:

"SARAIYA, Ramanlal Gokaldas, O.B.E., J.P., B.A., B.Sc. Cotton Merchant and Chairman, Narandas Rajaram & Co., Ltd., Bombay. b. 16 Jan. 1898. m. Padmavati, daughter of Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas, Kt. of Bombay, 1920: 3 s. Educ.: Gujerat College, Ahmedabad; Wilson College, Bombay and Imperial College of Science and Technology, London; Matric. (1914), B.A. (Hon.) 1919; -- Dakshina Fellow, Wilson College, 1919-20; B.Sc. (1920); took post-graduate course in Chemical Engineering in England and diploma of City and Guilds of London Institute in oils and fats and also in soap manufacturing; elected Fellow of the Chemical Society, London. After return to India, joined Rajaram & Co., in 1922; became its partner in 1926 and Vice-Chairman since its conversion fo limited company in 1944; Chairman of the All-India Co-Operative Planning Committee, 1944-45; member, Agricultural Finance Sub-Committee of the Govt. of Inda, and Co-Operative Training Committee appointed by Govt. of Bombay; Chairman, Bombay Provincial Co-Operative Bank Ltd., Bombay Co-Operative Banks Association, Bombay Board of the United Commercial Bank, Ltd.; Director, Hind Cycles Ltd., Madhusudan Mills Ltd., The United Salt Work and Industries Ltd., Sutlej Cotton Mills Ltd., Narandas Rajaram & Co. (Africa) Ltd., etc.; Vice-President, Indian Central Cotton Committee; member, Committee of the Indian Merchants Chamber, Coulcil of the Imperial Indian Citizenship Asson., Provgincial Rural Development Board, Provincial Board of Supervision, Provincial Food and Commodities Advisory Board and of the Crops & Soil Wing of the Board of Agriculture, 1943 & 1945; Fellow of the Indian Institute of Bankers. Clubs: Orient, Willingdon, Cricket Club, Bombay. Address: Vasant Vihar, 85, Nepean Sea Road, Bombay."

(has his photo)

He appears in (many) other annual editions of this and other biographical sources.

4716 GD(P) Squadron Leader Pradiman Kishen Kaul, VM, Indian Air Force

Name- Kaul, Prediman Kishen

Rank - Flying Officer

Number - 4716 (General Duties Branch)

Date of Birth - 15-May-1933

Date of Commission - 17-July-1954

Date of Subst Rank of Flg Offr - 17-July-1955

Remarks - Permanent Commission

1- Vayu Sena Medal - 4716 FLT. LT. P. K. KAUL I.A.F. 1964

Gazette of India. No. 20-Pres/64 of 26 January 1964:

"Flt Lt Kaul has been engaged in air transport operations in Jammu and Kashmir area since 1957. He has done more than 1000 hours of operational flying over this area and over 200 hours of transport operations flying in NEFA. He is one of the pilots who carried out about 150 sorties, airlifting heavy engineer stores to the forward area in all supply-dropping sorties, he displayed precision of a high order. During the recent Chinese aggression on our borders, he carried out a number of dangerous reconnaissance missions and landing sorties to forward landing grounds. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Kaul displayed determination, professional skill and courage of a high order."

See also: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Awards/index.html

2- General Service Medal 1947 - NAGA HILLS - 4716 FG. OFF. P. K. KAUL, I.A.F.

3- Raksha Medal 1965 - 4716 SQN. LDR. P. K. KAUL, I.A.F.

He is probably missing a NEFA clasp to the GSM and likely also missing a Sainya Seva Medal (and . . . ???).

Still . . . ?

And he later went into "civvie street" (pilot for Air India), hence the bowler hat on his picture when in pilot training.

Lieutenant (SD) (TAS) Anant Ram, NM, Indian Navy

A rather confusing group. On very "ratty" and dirty mount (by F. X. Fernandes, Bombay), but it has been retained as it is important (see below).

Not all medals are mounted, but are listed below and are with the group.

1- Nao Sena Medal "SUB. LT. (SD) (TAS) ANANT RAM. I.N. - 1966"

Not. No. 23-Pres./66 of 26 January 1966 (GoI 19 Feb 66 p. 153):

"4. Sub-Lieutenant (SD) (TAS) ANANT RAM.

"Sub-Lieutanant Anant Ram has rendered vital diving assistance at national projects and naval tasks since 1961. In September 1964, when a Piper Cub aircraft, belonging to the Bombay Flying Club, crashed while on a flight from Bombay to Ahmedabad, Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram with a diving team went to search for the aircraft. In spite of a rough sea and swift current and very deep water, Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram decided to undertake the operation and continued the search of a wide area until it was called off as it was evident the aircraft had sunk in deep mud.

"In November 1964, at the request of the Gujarat Electricity Board, Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram worked with a diving team for the removal of a steel coffer-dam in the river Mahi which was blocking the flow of water into the pump-house of a new power station in Khaira District. The task became very difficult and risky because of the high tide, continuous silting, deep mud and complete darkness due to muddy water. Despite all these hazards Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram led his diving team and successfully conducted the operations of cutting the coffer dam 8 feet below the datum.

"Throughout, Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram displayed exemplary courage, professional skill and devotion to duty which was in the best traditions of the Indian Navy."

2- The General Service Medal, 1947 - GOA 1961 "SUB-LT (SD) (TAS) A. RAM, I. N."

3- Raksha Medal, 1965 "SUB-LT. (SD) (TAS) ANANT RAM, I. N."

4- Twenty Years Long Service Medal "B18598 LT (SDTAS) A. RAM, I. N."

5- 1939-45 Star

6- Africa Star shows clear trace of clasp having been on ribbon, with "NORTH AFRICA 1942-43" clasp

7- Burma Star

8- The War Medal, 1939-45

The curent theory has the recipient serving in the merchant navy in WWII (so the WWII medals are unnamed), qualifying for clasp in North Africa, then entering the Indian Navy after 1947 (no Independence Medal). Also no nine-year service medal?