Ed_Haynes

Speaking as a historian: Very good stuff here. Have you thought about publishing it for real (in a venue where non-militaria types will see it)? Thanks.

A trove of the GV ones for Abor were located by a northern British seller of medals a few years back, lying unissued (it was never easy to track down these piece-work support personnel to get their medals to them) in north-east India. These were in pristine condition and purchased as waste-metal prices. If you see an "Abor" in good condition, it almost surely came from this bunch. I am lucky to have not just some of these bronze Abors but some of the issued and worn (and very worn) ones, but none in groups (the only bronze groups I have are earlier); a friend has a nice Abor/WWI/WWII group in mixed non-combatant and combatant roles (came out as Subadar-Major).

Just recently I rediscovered the very nice article on the OMRS journal by John D. Clarke, "Soviet Medals to British Ex-Servicemen: the 40th Anniversary Medal 1945-1985--For Services rendered and the Convoy Commemorative Medal", 27, 1 (spring 1988): 4-9. In this, he provides a (partial?) roll of the British recipients of the GPW 40th anniversary medal (on which Morse does not appear) as well as images of the medal, the certificate, and the convoy badge.

And those are just the singles in the "type" collection, not the groups, and there are boxes more of singles . . . maybe one day I'll get them all sorted

Yes, a nice naval group. A shame the Soviet document has strayed.

Speechless. Lovely.

Right, Michael. That is "India".

Wow! Lovely unknown things!! Thanks, Chuck. And I look forward to hearing about Avers-8, whether it is worth ALL THAT MUCH money (or not).

Yes, I'd certainly discuss this with the dealer. A nice group has been forever tarnished by fake entries and at the very least you are iowed the right campaign medal to restore the group. Makes you wish there were a way to get rid of the fake entries, but they will remain a permanent blot on this nice little group. Are all the dealers getting sloppy? Still, sloppy is better than dishonest (which is what you get with some others).

I'd start with as formal a request to the US Military Attache at the Embassy as can be crafted.

Nice start to what must be a fascinating tale. We can't wait . . .

According to John Gaylor's book, there were in India, Burma, Malaya, and the Dutch East Indies. Let me check other sources.

I am waiting too.

Sorry, all I know are the SWBs struck at and awarded from the Calcutta Mint and I suspect these are different enought that my comments are irrelevant. Sorry.

Just got the same (identical) results back from Alexei. But cheaper that the duplicate results from Alex.

In brief: Yes. Try.

In a significant step that will bring cheers to the Gallantry Award winners of both pre and post Independence period, the Government today announced substantial increase in the monetary allowance to personnel of the Armed Forces, who had won the laurels in the line of duty. The proposal for the increase which has been 100 per cent or more in all cases was initiated at the direction of the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony. As per the new provisions, the enhanced payment of monetary allowance to all recipients irrespective of rank and income of the pre-independence gallantry decorations will be as follows :? Sl No Medal Existing Rates (Rs. per month) Revised Rates (Rs. per month) 1. Distinguished Service Order / Each Bar / Indian Order of Merit / Each Bar / Indian Distinguished Service Medal / Each Bar 50/- to 200/- 2000/- 2. Distinguished Service Cross / Each Bar / Military Cross / Each Bar / Distinguished Flying Cross / Each Bar / Distinguished Service Medal / Each Bar / Military Medal / Each Bar / Distinguished Flying Medal / Each Bar 50/- to 200/- 1400/- Similarly the payment of monetary allowance, irrespective of rank and income of the following post-independence gallantry awards have also been significantly increased as follows:- Sl No Gallantry Award Existing Rates (Rs. per month) Revised Rates (Rs. per month) 1. Param Vir Chakra 1500/- 3000/- 2. Ashok Chakra 1400/- 2800/- 3. Mahavir Chakra 1200/- 2400/- 4. Kirti Chakra 1050/- 2100/- 5. Vir Chakra 850/- 1700/- 6. Shaurya Chakra 750/- 1500/- Each Bar to the decoration will carry the same amount of monetary allowance as admissible to the original award. The Government has also decided to grant monetary allowance at enhance rate of Rs. 500/- per month to the Sena / Nao Sena / Vayu Sena Award Medal awardees, where the awards have been given for Gallantry. This will be payable to those who have been given these awards on 26 January 1999 or thereafter.

He did so, routinely.

Very interesting, thanks. Though I'd suggest the date is rather earlier, based on what he is wearing.

As there has been some discussion of this one, some background: Nishan Muhammad Ali / Order of Muhammad Ali Before the revolution, this was the highest military and civilian award, and it was only rarely conferred. The two highest classes were only conferred on royal personages and heads of state. The order became obsolete with the revolution and was abolished in 1954. The Chain of the Order of Muhammad Ali was quite rarely awarded, usually to senior members of the royal family or to foreign royalty. The medals came in gold and silver variwties and were awarded to military and naval personnel to reward acts of conspicuous valor. Established: 14 April 1915 by Sultan Husayn Kamil. Modified by Royal Order No. 4 of 1923, by Royal Order No. 50 of 1926, and Royal Order No. 12 of 1936. Became obselete with the revolution of 1952. Obverse: The order is a six-pointed gold star with green enamel with smaller points between. In the center green medallion with Arabic inscription ?Muhammad Ali? and wide white band with Arabic inscription: ?Charity, Justice and Freedom from Vindictiveness are the Strength of a Kingdom.? The medals are of a roughly circular scaloped design are were awarded in gold and silver, suspended from a swiveling (?) straight-bar suspender. They have on the obverse the stylized caligraphic legend ????? 1333". Reverse: The medals have, above, a stylized sword with the hilt toward the right, and, below, the inscription ?Misr? or ?Egypt?. The central region is blank and, presumably, would be enrgraved with details of the award. Ribbon: Green moir? with white edge stripes. For the lowest classes, this is a 37-mm ribbon with 5.5-mm white stripes inset from each edge by 1.5 mm. -- collar -- grand cordon ? sash, sash badge, and star -- commander ? neck badge and star (1915-??) -- medals of the order: ---- gold medal ---- silver medal

Order of Military Duty Awarded to military or police personnel who displayed conspicuous bravery in the field or rendered distinguished service. It may also be granted to those who participated with distinction in military operations. Also referred to as the ?Order of Military Distinction?. Established: By Sheikh Abdullah III in Law No. 17 of 1962. Manufactured by Spink and Son (London, England) and by Bertoni (???, Italy). Obverse: A five-pointed gold star, with balls on each tip of the star and a gold wreath between the points. In the center, a smaller white-enameled star with ?Order of Military Duty? in the center. Above and below the star,???? / ????. Suspended by a ring. Reverse: In the center of the star, a circle with the legend ?This Order Established by Law No. 17 of 1962?. Ribbon: 35 mm, green moir? with 5mm gold-yellow stripes toward each edge. -- High Rank ? neck badge -- First Rank ? breast badge, with gold laurel leaf on ribbon -- Second Rank ? breast badge, with five-pointed gold star on ribbon (SHOWN BELOW) -- Third Rank ? breast badge, with five-pointed silver star on ribbon

Wisam al-Kuwait / Order of Kuwait According to the establishing law: ?Awarded to crown princes, prime ministers, ministers and ambassadors, as well as Kuwaiti nationals and foreigners who offer noble services to Kuwait or to humanity.? The Order of Kuwait is also awarded for distinguished military or civilian bravery, and may be aswarded posthumously. Established: 16 July 1974, by Emir Sabah ibn Salim, in Law No. 20 of 1974. Obverse: A ten-pointed rayed star of silver-gilt, with alternating sharp and blunt points. Thereon, an ornate five-pointed, green-enameled star bearing the Kuwaiti arms in gold and enamel. When worn as a breast badge, the decoration is suspended by a straight bar. Reverse: Plain. Ribbon: Generally, either green or red moir? (differs by class, as detailed below) with a white stripe toward each edge. -- Sash of the Special Class ? 100-mm sash (worn over the right shoulder), 60-mm sash badge, and 90-mm star (worn on the left breast), the ribbon is green with two white stripes; 10 mm green, 5 mm white, 70 mm green, 5 mm white, 10 mm green. On less formal occasions, a 15 x 20 mm bow of the appropriate ribbon is worn with a gold miniature state emblem. -- First Class ? 100-mm sash (worn over the right shoulder), 60-mm sash badge, and 90-mm star (worn on the left breast), the ribbon is red with two white stripes; 10 mm red, 5 mm white, 70 mm red, 5 mm white, 10 mm red. On less formal occasions, a 15 x 20 mm bow of the appropriate ribbon is worn with a gold miniature state emblem. -- Medallion of the Special Class ? 60-mm neck badge and 90-mm star (worn on ??? breast), the 37-mm ribbon is green with two white stripes. On less formal occasions, a 15 x 20 mm enameled oval in the appropriate ribbon colors is worn with a gold miniature state emblem. -- Medallion of the First Class ? 60-mm neck badge and 90-mm star (worn on the right breast), the 37-mm ribbon is red with two white stripes. On less formal occasions, a 15 x 20 mm enameled oval in the appropriate ribbon colors is worn with a gold miniature state emblem. -- Second Class ? 60-mm neck badge, the 37-mm ribbon is green with two white stripes. On less formal occasions, a 15 x 15 mm enameled square in the appropriate ribbon colors is worn with a gold miniature state emblem. -- Third Class ? 50-mm neck badge, the 37-mm ribbon is red with two white stripes. On less formal occasions, a 15 x 15 mm enameled square in the appropriate ribbon colors is worn with a gold miniature state emblem. -- Fourth Class ? 50-mm breast badge with rosette on ribbon, the 37-mm ribbon is green with two white stripes. On less formal occasions, an 18 mm rosette of the appropriate ribbon is worn with a gold miniature state emblem. (SHOWN BELOW.) -- Fifth Class ? 50-mm breast badge, the 37-mm ribbon is red with two white stripes. On less formal occasions, an 18 mm rosette of the appropriate ribbon is worn.

Medal for the Republic of Somalia Prersumably for independence? Obverse: Circular medal. The Somali coat of arms and, above, ?REPUBLICA SOMALIA?. Integral suspension loop. Reverse: Within a laurel (left) and oak (right) wreath, the inscription ?1? / LUGLIO / 1960?. Ribbon: Fifteen thin stripes, alternating light blue and white (blue outermost). That is, eight light blue stripes and seven white stripes.

Nice pictures. Very interesting. Any idea as to the date? As the Chinese seem still to have ranks and as it was in one of those few moments when China and Mongolia were friendly, maybe mid-1950s?

More on the Order of the Somali Star: Established: Unknown. Known to have been manufactured by Pozzi (Rome, Italy). Obverse: Five-pointed white and blue enameled star (each point half white and half blue), leopard in the center, walking to the left. Suspended by a crescent and star OR crescent and enameled wreath enclosing a large ?S?? Two varieties here, but what dates? Reverse: Inscription ?RS?. Ribbon: Equal stripes: blue, white, blue. -- grand cross ? sash, sash badge, and breast star -- commander -= neck badge -- officer - breast badge, rosette (?) -- knight - breast badge