ARAB MEDALS -- Iraq

[Ed_Haynes]

Nut al-Khidmat al-Awal / General Service Medal, 1959-

This represents a continuation and restructuring of the royal General Service Medal after the 1958 revolution. No clasps were issued with this medal.

Established: By Law No. 30 of 1959. Manufactured by Huguenin (La Loche, Switzerland).

Obverse: A bright bronze medal, 53x34 mm, with a crescent and semicircular wreath with an Arabic inscription "Al-Khidmat al-Amma" or "General Service". Crossed rifles in the background, with their muzzles joined by ten rays which attach to the straight bar of the ribbon suspension. The back side of the suspension bar, normally concealed within the ribbon, bears the maker's mark, "HUGUENIN SWITZERLAND".

Reverse: Within a circle, the date "1344 A.H." (= 1927 C.E.). The name of King Faisal I was removed from the reverse in 1958, after the establishment of the republic

Ribbon: 30 mm, white with 7 mm green edge stripes (7 mm green, 16 mm white, 7 mm green). This ribbon closely conforms to the original ribbon specifications for the earlier General Service Medal, but is different from the ribbon actually used.

[Ed_Haynes]

Nut Thurath 17 Tamuz / Medal for the 17 July Revolution, 1968

Awarded to commemorate the revolution of 17 July 1968 in which General Abd al-Rahman Arif was forced into exile and General Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr and the Ba'ath Party assumed control of the Iraqi government. This constituted the final Ba'ath consolidation of power in Iraq.

Established: By Law No. 45 of 1968. Manufactured by Huguenin (Le Loche, Switzerland).

Obverse: A circular gilt medal, enameled black. In the center, a yellow-enameled eight-pointed star with a gilt and black-enameled wreath and the date "1968" or "1968 [C.E.]" below. Within the wreath, a gilt triangle with a yellow-enameleded sunburst design with the Iraqi state emblem in red enamel. Below, the Arabic inscription "Nut / 17 Tamuz" or "Medal / 17 July". Suspended by an integral loop.

Reverse: Patterned with a small maker's mark toward the bottom: "HUHUENIN / SWISS MADE".

Ribbon: 36-mm, white with 4-mm black edges: 4 mm black, 28 mm white, 4 mm black.

[Ed_Haynes]

Medal for 18 November 1963

Awarded to commemorate the 18 November 1963 takeover of all powers the government by General Abd al-Salam Muhammad Arif, Abd al-Rahman Muhammad Arif, and Colonel Said Slaibi and the creation of a new Revolutionary Command Council in Baghdad. In effect, this represented the expulsion of the Ba'ath Party from the uneasy coalition which had overthrown General Qasim in February 1963. This medal apparently fell out of favor and off the chests of serving soldiers since the Ba'ath return to power in 1968.

Established: Manufactured by Huguenin (Le Loche, Switzerland).

Obverse: A 41-mm (on each side) triangular bronze-gilt medal with a yellow-enameled sunburst design. In the center, the Iraqi emblem in red enamel and, below, the enameled Arabic legend "18 Teshrin Al-Thani 63 [C.E.]" or "18 November 63"; the numbers are in red enamel while the name of the month is green-enameled. Suspended from the ribbon by an integral horizontal loop. Manufactured by Hugelin (Le Loche, Switzerland).

Reverse: Plain, except for the maker's mark near the top: "HUGUENIN / SWISS MADE".

Ribbon: 35-mm, yellow with 5-mm red edge stripes: 5 mm red, 25 mm yellow, 5 mm red.

[Ed_Haynes]

Nut Thurath 14 Ramadan / Medal for the 14 Ramadan Revolution, 1963

Issued to commemorate the revolution of 14 Ramadan 1380 or 8 February 1963, which overthrew General Abd al-Karim Qasim (who had seized power in the 1958 coup. The general was killed and a new government, representing an uneasy alliance of the military and the Ba'ath Party emerged under the leadership of Ali Salih al-Saadi, Colonel Abd al-Salam Afif, and Brigadier Ahmad Hasan al-Bakr. By November of 1963, the Ba'ath Party would be maneuvered out of the coalition.

Established: Law No. 6 of 1964. Manufactured by Huguenin (Le Loche, Switzerland). There is also an Iraqi-made variety of the medal. I show the Huguenin-made variety.

Obverse: Circular 40-mm bronze-gilt medal with the background enameled blue, in the center the enameled flag of Iraq (1958-91) with the inscription "Al-Jamhuriya al-Irraquiya" or "The Iraqi Republic" above and, below, "14 Ramadan". Behind, a rising sun design. Suspended by a ring.

Reverse: Basically plain, with the legend in very high relief "8 Shibat 1963 [C.E.]" or "8 February 1963" at the botton edge. At the very bottom, the maker's mark: "HUGUENIN SWISS MADE".

Ribbon: 32 mm, three stripes, red / white / black, with the central white stripe twice as wide as the other two; 8 mm red, 16 mm white, 8 mm black.

[Ed_Haynes]

The GSM '26 with the rare (well, all the clasps are rare) clasp "Kurdistan al-Khadbit 1930-31" or "Southern Kurdistan 1930-31"

[Ed_Haynes]

Wisam al-Rafidain / Order of the Two Rivers

Named for the two great rivers of Iraq, the Tigris and Euphrates, this order is awarded for exceptional service to Iraq. It exists in both military and civil classes. Two distinct varieties of the badge exist, the pre-Revolutionary royal variety with central crown, and the Republican version, with the crown predictably replaced with the Republican eagle. There are two versions of the Republican badge, distinguished by different inscriptions, as detailed below. The civil version is suspended by a wreath, the military division by a wreath with crossed swords. For the first - royal - version, the crown is prominently featured on the obverse obverse and the inscription reads: "Al-Mamlaka al-Iraqiah / Hub al-Watan min al-Iman" or "The Iraqi Kingdom / Loving the Country is Faith". In 1959, the badge was redesigned after the Revolution by, predictably, removing the royal crown from the obverse and replacing it with the Republican eagle. In 1963, the obverse inscription was altered. More details on changes in the badge design are given below.

Established: In 1922 by King Faisal I. The order was revised and redesigned by Law No. 87 of 24 May 1959 after the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the republic. In 1963, the obverse inscription was altered. ??? Law No. 28 of 1967. A collar was established by Law No. 1 of 1968. For most of its history, the insigniae seem to have been manufactured by Arthus Bertrand (Paris, France). Believed also to have been manufactured by Garard (London, England), ca. 1935-58 and by Arthus Bertrand (Paris, France) before 1935.

Obverse: A circular silver star, maroon-enameled, of seven points, each point ending in a ball. Between the points, a wreath in green enamed with white (lotus?) flowers. In the center, a white circle with an Arabic inscription "Al-Mamlaka al-Iraqiah / Hub al-Watan min al-Iman" or "The Iraqi Kingdom / Loving the Country is Faith". Inside this circle, there was until 1959, a gold crown on a blue background; after 1959, this crown has been replaced with the silver eagle of the Republic. From 1959 until 1968, the inscription read "Al-Jamhuriya al-Iraq / Hub al-Watan min al-Iman" or "The Republic of Iraq / Loving the Country is Faith"; after 1968, it legend was altered. The civil division is suspended by a wreath, while the military division adds crossed swords to this wreath.

Reverse: Until 1959, the legend "Al-Adil asas al-Mulk / Faisal al-'Awal / 1345 A.H." or "Justice is the Basis for the Kingdom / Faisal I / 1345 A.H.". In 1959 the legend was altered to "Al-Rafidian / 1377 A.H. / Al-Sh'ab" or "The Two Rivers / 1377 A.H. [=1960 C.E.] / The People" After 1968, in the circular silver center, an Arabic inscription "Al-Jamhuriya al-Iraq / Hub al-Watan min al-Iman" or "The Republic of Iraq / Loving the Country is Faith". Surrounding this, on a white-enameled circle, an Arabic inscription in gold, "? 1377 / j?r?A" "Al-Sh'arah / 1377 H" or "The Year / 1377 A.H. [= 1960 C.E.]".

Ribbon: Military class: Red moir?, with thin black stripes at each edge and in the center. Civil class: Red moir? with two black stripes in from each edge. Also reported as simply red with a black central stripe?

First badge, with crown, obverse inscription "Al-Mamlaka al-Iraqiah / Hub al-Watan min al-Iman" or "The Iraqi Kingdom / Loving the Country is Faith" and reverse legend , 1922-59:

Military:

• first class - sash (worn over ???) shoulder), sash badge, and breast star (worn on ??? breast)
• second class - neck badge (SHOWN BELOW)
• third class - silver-gilt breast badge with rosette
• fourth class - silver breast badge
• medal of merit - silver

Civil:

• first class - sash (worn over ???) shoulder), sash badge, and breast star (worn on ??? breast)
• second class - neck badge
• third class - silver-gilt breast badge with rosette - obverse
• fourth class - silver breast badge
• medal of merit - silver

Second badge, crown removed, first obverse inscription, 1959-68:

Military:

• first class - sash (worn over ???) shoulder), sash badge, and breast star (worn on ??? breast)
• second class - neck badge
• third class - silver-gilt breast badge with rosette
• fourth class - silver breast badge
• medal of merit - silver

Civil:

• first class - sash (worn over ???) shoulder), sash badge, and breast star (worn on ??? breast)
• second class - neck badge
• third class - silver-gilt breast badge with rosette
• fourth class - silver breast badge
• medal of merit - silver

Second badge, crown removed, second obverse inscription, 1968-2003:

Military:

• collar
• first class - sash (worn over ???) shoulder), sash badge, and breast star (worn on ??? breast)
• second class - neck badge
• third class - silver-gilt breast badge with rosette
• fourth class - silver breast badge (SHOWN BELOW)
• medal of merit - silver

Civil:

• collar
• first class - sash (worn over ???) shoulder), sash badge, and breast star (worn on ??? breast)
• second class - neck badge
• third class - silver-gilt breast badge with rosette
• fourth class - silver breast badge
• medal of merit - silver

Edited January 13, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

The 4th class republican badge (military).

[Ed_Haynes]

Wissam al-'Amal / Order of Labor

Awarded to members of the Ba'ath Party who rendered specially meritorious service to the party. The "Medal of Work" is a successor/redesign/renaming of this award.

Established: By Section 145A of the Work Law No. 151, as amended in 1970. ??? Law No. 8 of 1975. Designed by Mohammed Ghani Hikmat.

Obverse: Circular medal with a stylized representation of a heroic worker raising a torch in the center. Above "Wissam al-'Amal" or "Order of Work" and, below, "Umma Arabiya Wahida That Risala Khalida" or "One Arab Nation and One Aim". Suspended by a ring. The medal has been observed in both gilt and silver (is there a bronze variety?), but the significance is unknown.

Reverse: Across the center, a stylized represenattion of the pre-1991 Iraqi flag. Above, "Al-Jamhuriya al-Iraqiya" or "The Iraqi Republic" and, below, "Muniha Hatha al-Wisam bi Mojib al-Mada 145 A min al-Qanun al-'Amal Arqam 151 lisanat 70 al-Muadal".

Ribbon: The award is seen with ribbons of black, green, and dark blue (and maroon also?). It is uncertain what is the significance of there differing ribbon colors. Many specimens are seen with an oblong bar from which the ribbon is suspended.

gilt medal:

---black ribbon

---green ribbon

---dark blue ribbon

silver medal:

--- black ribbon (SHOWN BELOW)

--- green ribbon

--- dark blue ribbon

bronze medal (?):

--- black ribbon (?)

--- green ribbon (?)

--- dark blue ribbon (?)

[Ed_Haynes]

Nut al-'Amal / Medal of Work

Awarded to members of the Ba'ath Party who rendered specially meritorious service to the party. Also referred to as the "Workers' Medal" and the "Medal of Labor". The "Medal of Work" is a successor/redesign/renaming of this award.

Established: Before 1982?

Obverse: Circular medal with a stylized representation of a heroic worker raising a torch in the center. Above "Wissam al-'Amal" or "Order of Work" and, below, "Umma Arabiya Wahida That Risala Khalida" or "One Arab Nation and One Aim". Suspended by a ring. The medal has been observed in both gilt and silver (is there a bronze variety?), but the significance is unknown.

Reverse: The legend surrounding "Iraqi Government / Liberty in Socialism". In the center, the legend "This medal was given by the Department of Labor and is numbered [number]. [C.E. year of issue]" (but it usually isn't).

Ribbon: The award is seen with ribbons of black, green, dark blue, and maroon. It is uncertain what is the significance of there differing ribbon colors.

gilt medal:

--- black ribbon (SHOWN BELOW)

--- green ribbon

--- dark blue ribbon

--- maroon ribbon

silver medal:

--- black ribbon

--- green ribbon

--- dark blue ribbon

--- maroon ribbon

bronze medal (?):

--- black ribbon (?)

--- green ribbon (?)

--- dark blue ribbon (?)

--- maroon ribbon (?)

[Ed_Haynes]

Air Force Service Order

Established: aft. 1969?

Obverse: An eight-pointed rayed star with a blue enameled central circle breing a winged device with a red flame above. Above the wings, the Arabic words "Belief / Life / Power". Worn as a neck badge suspended from an eagle.

Reverse: Blank. The reverse of the suspension eagle has the legend "MILLED-CHILE".

Ribbon: very narrow medium blue neck ribbon.

--- first class - silver-gilt (SHOWN BELOW)

--- second class - silver

[Ed_Haynes]

Martyrs? Medal for Mothers

For mothers who lost sons in Gulf war I (vs. Iran).

Edited January 13, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

Martyrs? Medal for Widows

For women who lost husbands in Gulf war I (vs. Iran).

[Ed_Haynes]

Badge of Qadassiya Saddam

[Ed_Haynes]

Al-Quds Army Badge

For erstwhile liberators of Al-Quds (a.ka. Jerusalem).

[Ed_Haynes]

Nut Himayat al-Atfal fi al-Iraq, 1941 / Medal for Children's Wefare in Iraq, 1941

Established: 1941.

Obverse: The medal is a flat, silver seven-pointed star. Centered towards the top is a smaller, white-enameled seven-pointed star. There is an Arabic inscription in black, "Nut Himayat al-Atfal fi al-Iraq" or "Medal for Children's Welfare in Iraq" below the white star and the year "1941" in Arabic.

Ribbon: Three equal stripes of red, white, and red. Also described as red with 5-mm white edge stripes?

Only a miniature, sorry.

[Sal]

Wounded Medal

Established: By Law No. 95 of 1983.

Obverse: A 50-mm gilt star, with maroon-enameled rays behind. In the center, a white-enemeled circle with a maroon-enameled crescent and a gold Iraqi national device in the center. Suspended by a ring from a pentagonal "Warsaw-Pact" style ribbon.

Reverse: Plain stippled.

Ribbon: 46-mm, white with broad 10-mm red edges: 10 mm red, 26 mm white, 10 mm red. The ribbon suspension is in a "Warsaw-Pact" pentagonal style (more similar to Cuba or East Germany than the Soviet Union in overall impression).

Hi Ed

Any information on the manufacturer of these? I have 2...the exact type you have pictured and another (below) that looks less refined but is still fairly well made. Higher relief on the central area and a smooth back...ribbon though...

Curious if there were several manufacturers and who they miht be...or if the one I have attached is Iraqi made. It does not look crude like some of the ones you see in the 1990s and later..Thanks for any info.

Tony

Edited January 18, 2007 by Sal

[Ed_Haynes]

Hi Ed

Any information on the manufacturer of these? I have 2...the exact type you have pictured and another (below) that looks less refined but is still fairly well made. Higher relief on the central area and a smooth back...ribbon though...

Curious if there were several manufacturers and who they miht be...or if the one I have attached is Iraqi made. It does not look crude like some of the ones you see in the 1990s and later..Thanks for any info.

Tony

Good question, Tony. But no information. From the "feel", I'd guess Huguenin, but I have never seen one marked. I was scheduled to get a lot of information, but then the invasion came and put and end to that.

[Dragomir]

Dear Ed,

Some 30 years ago I got this poster in Baghdad. It displays Hassan al-Bakr, and you will notice curious collar he is wearing. Do you have any idea what that might be?

Yours,

Dragomir

[Ed_Haynes]

Lovely image, Dragomir! Thanks.

Somewhere I can an identification on this. Off to dig in research notes.

[Ed_Haynes]

OK, the information I have mentions a collar to the Wisam al-Rafidain/Order of the Two Rivers, established by Law No. 1 of 1968, and essentially a presidential chain of office. Somewhere, I have an image of Saddam Hussein wearing something that looked similar, but this is the best image of the mysterious collar I have ever seen. Presumably, President Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr would have worn this chain during his time as president, 1968-79, and it would have been worn by his successor, Saddam Hussein, 1979-2003. If it still survives, it may just pop up on eBay any day now?

[Dragomir]

OK, the information I have mentions a collar to the Wisam al-Rafidain/Order of the Two Rivers, established by Law No. 1 of 1968, and essentially a presidential chain of office. Somewhere, I have an image of Saddam Hussein wearing something that looked similar, but this is the best image of the mysterious collar I have ever seen. Presumably, President Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr would have worn this chain during his time as president, 1968-79, and it would have been worn by his successor, Saddam Hussein, 1979-2003. If it still survives, it may just pop up on eBay any day now?

Many thanks! I supposed that might be the case, but the badge appendant being not visible could not make my mind. Especially so because al-Bakr used to be photographed with all sorts of curious badges, including one mysterious (obviously Spanish) badge surmounted by royal crown worn on cord necklet.

Dragomir

[Dave Danner]

Ribbon bar:

[Ulsterman]

Ribbon bar:

Nice!

[Ed_Haynes]

Ribbon bar:

Very nice, for a policeman!

[Sal]

Picked this up today in Baghdad. A set of 10 miniatures in a nice case with the national emblem on the top. All but 3 of these are marked Huguenin. I know 3 have incorrect ribbons (the 3 middle ones) but all the others are correct as far as I can tell. I am not a mini collector but I thought this was a neat set of pretty well made minniatures....and the case was really the kicker.