Ed_Haynes

5) PDR Afghanistan, name uncertain, but it seems to live in this series

Oops! Never forget Antonio's site!!! One does so at their peril!

Hugh's guess seems (feels) pretty good to me, but let me look in available sources . . . .

This is a lovely group, but one that raises many questions. Yet the price was right!

This fascinating thread drove me to exchavate my March 2006 copy of the OMRS Journal (I really do need to beat some structure into my chaotic library!) where Owain published his excellent article 'Faisal's Arab Army: The British Awards' (pp. 7-12). In this, he informs us that, in addition to his CMG and other Hejazi and Iraqi awards (as shown in the photograph), Ja'afar had also been awarded the Ottoman Harp Madalyasi and the German Iron Cross for actions with the Senoussi in Libya. Obviously, when he flipped sides later in the war, after an unsuccessful escape attempt from POW confinement, he had the good diplomatic grace not to wear these awards which would have been repugnant to his new friends. (See Owain's article, pp. 10-11.)

I doubt that the "Stolen Valor" nonsense applies to this medal, not high enough to attract the attention of these self-annointed protectors of both national morality and "heroes". There are, however, a legion of non-legal problems here.

First wisdom: Buy the medal, not the story. But if the story is research, then make up your own mind. But an unnamed medal that is normally $10 on a GOOD day??!?

Is this the temporary exhibit or something even better?? I fear your answer, given the costs of plane tickets these days.

An interesting discussion that touches on many important points: what it takes to do real research, the problems of linguistic limitations, the dangers of seeing conflicts only through one's own nationalistic prism, etc. I, too, would like to see better serious work on the "eastern front". However, if you think that is bad, try to find good books on Mesopotamia, on East Africa (in all balanced aspects, not just the South African side), Palestine/Egypt/Libya, or even Gallipoli (there were more that Australians there and where is the Ottoman side). I look forward to following this fascinating discussion.

For most purposes, scans are better, but they do not do justice to the enamel. But without a sophisticatet setup most digital photos show little detail.

There will be at least one copy on display. If possible, a few will also be available for sale. Details to follow. I had hoped to be at OMSA myself, but basic realities of life (time, money, etc.) make this impossible.

Finally: http://www.manoharbooks.com/BookDetails.as...endent%20India) Or just go to http://www.manoharbooks.com/advancesearch.asp and search on Manohar publications (not "all") with the title "Medals".

Very nice thanks for taking the time to post them

The enamel color must mean something, but for now no one knows what.

OK, that doesn't surprise me, given his family. But it is nowhere in this wikipedia piece, is it?

Interesting. But what does it have to do with the Spanish Civil War?

Thanks, James.

Lots of things to play with there, for sure!!

Outstanding Worker of the Defence Auxiliary Society

Defence Auxiliary Society

Mongolia? Not sure how parallel these are, but: Defence Society of the MPR

If anyone can read this, I think it would be a useful step toward understanding these awards in historical context: Бичгийн гавьяаны одон тэмдэг шагнах тухай дүрэм [Rules for Awarding Ordens for Honored for Writing] (1926) http://www.mongoliacenter.org/library/digi...sh/3126/01.html

And the post-1944 style.

What Battushig shows as the 1936-44 designs. What was in use 1927-36? These are also in the same museum.

From the Mongolian Military Museum, the display of rank collar tabs of the first (1924-27) style. These are what Battushig's illustrations are based on.