General John Baker

[Tiger-pie]

General John Baker died earlier this week. He was the former head of the ADF. This is his medal group as displayed at his funeral.

Regards;

Johnsy

[Paul R]

What years was he in service? What medals are those? I do recognize the Legion of Merit from the US.

Regards

Paul

[Riley1965]

That's a GREAT display!!! However, They have his Legion of Merit out of Order of Precedence.

Doc

[PJ Weber]

Here's a nice site.

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2...70710/index.htm

[Tiger-pie]

That's a GREAT display!!! However, They have his Legion of Merit out of Order of Precedence.

Doc

Foreign awards have no order of precedence, they are worn as awarded, though I would point out that if the man was alive this rack would be illegal for day to day wear.

Australian citizens may accept and wear foreign awards when a government with which Australia maintains diplomatic relations makes an offer.

Australians may also accept and wear foreign awards when an offer is made by an agency of the United Nations or by other international organisations recognised diplomatically by Australia.

During the Vietnam War, some Australian Defence Force members were offered US, South Vietnamese and/or Cambodian military awards for acts of gallantry or particular service supporting the allied war effort. Examples of these awards include the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Cambodian National Defence Medal (with Silver or Bronze Star), and the US Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star and Legion of Merit. At the time Australian military personnel could not officially accept or wear foreign honours and awards.

The Australian Government accepted a recommendation of the Committee of Inquiry into Defence and Defence Related Awards in 1994, and now allows acceptance and wearing of these honours, but only where suitable documentary evidence of the offer of the award is available. Under the current guidelines the government may seek the Governor-General?s approval of applications to accept and wear these honours.

To Paul R he served from 1954 until 1998.

[ccj]

Nice but, new medals and orders don't compare to the old ones. Too bad... they were so beautiful and people who receive honors should receive beautiful, quality awards.

[Ed_Haynes]

Perhaps . . . but they are the awards of the Nation he served. Not some foreign country.

As far as design . . . some are better . . . some worse. But that is as aestheic and political call, both?

[Guest Darrell]

Just about missed it. LOM Commander Grade over on the edge

[Tiger-pie]

What years was he in service? What medals are those? I do recognize the Legion of Merit from the US.

Regards

Paul

The medals are:

Distinguished Service Medal

Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975

Vietnam Medal with MiD

Australian Service Medal 1945-1975

Centenary Medal

Defence Force Service Medal with 5 bars

National Medal with 1 bar

And the rest are foreign medals, looks like US Army Merit Medal, Vietnam Medal, LOM and what might be a medal from Singapore, though I'm not sure.

Drapped through the middle is the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), as Darrel has pointed out, on the far corner is the LOM Commander Grade, and in the foreground is the Darjah Utama Bakti Chemerlang (Tentera) or Distinguished Service Order (Military) from Singapore.

Regards;

Johnsy

Edited July 16, 2007 by Tiger-pie