General Jafaar Pasha from Baghdad

[sabrigade]

While travelling around Iraq in 2004, many interesting items were available if you had the time and interest to search for them and also to learn about the history of the country. The South African Brigade in World War One was sent to participate in the Senussi Campaign in which Jafaar Pasha was captured. Some relics and momentoes from this campaign did find their way back to South Africa. As part of my World War 1 South African collection, I developed an interest in this fascinating personality who became a friend of Lawrence of Arabia. This award is in my collection and I purchased it in Baghdad in 2004. Comments from the more knowledgeable forum members will be welcomed. This award/decoration looks very similar to the photograph of the awards and decorations posted by Ed on Owain's behalf.

[James Hoard]

Perhaps one should simply use a little common sense and logic here.

Why would someone with such a leading role in the Arab War of Independence not receive that order from Hijaz, and have to wait until Transjordan was founded several years later.

[sabrigade]

Perhaps one should simply use a little common sense and logic here.

Why would someone with such a leading role in the Arab War of Independence not receive that order from Hijaz, and have to wait until Transjordan was founded several years later.

Unfortunately common sense and logic does not always play a role when discussing and learning about this very vast field of study and interest. Common sense and logic in history would have had the Titanic still transporting passengers on voyages as it was deemed unsinkable in 1912. I would prefer analysing the facts and regard photographic evidence and the opinions of our very experienced specialists on this forum to provide their learned opinions as rules and logical approached have proved to be very fickle in the past. That is why I went to the effort of posting a relevent item on this discussion to broaden not only my own knowledge base but to also encourage further debate on this subject. Middle Eastern awards remain a very difficult field to research and discussion about them should be encouraged. After all, references sources in this field are very limited.

[lilo]

Dear Owain,

From the brief information I collected from various medal catalogs, till now I was convinced that we can find two different monograms/ciphers in the center of the Order of Independence (Wisam al-Istiqlal). From this I deduced that we have 2 different types of this Order :

- The 1st type (1921 - 51) has the monogram/cipher of Hussein Ibn-Abdullah (known also as King Abdullah I whose reign was from 7^th April 1921 to 20^th July 1951). -see first photo below-

- The 2nd type (1951 - 52) has the monogram/cipher of Hussein Ibn-Tala (known also as King Talal I whose reign was from 20^th July 1951 to 11th Aug 1952). -see second photo below-

Really I don't know the 'arab' so I can be completely wrong on what I stated above. If so I please you to correct me telling in what is the difference between the two types and what the two different monograms/ciphers mean.

On the contrary, if I'm correct, I think to not be wrong in stating that General Jafaar received the

1^st type of the Order in question, considering the He was murdered in 1936 : isn't it ??

Awaiting to hear from you

All the Best

Lilo

Edited July 5, 2008 by lilo

[oamotme]

Lilo,

Both inscriptions are the same "Al Hussain Bin Ali" - I have seen a number of variations in the script and these appear to be design variants by the manufacturers - Bertrand, Bichay, Garrard, Huguenin, London Gold and Silversmiths Coy., etc. From my experience the design of this particular order remains contant from its inception in the Hijaz through Transjordan to Jordan. I know that the very early pieces manufactured locally have paint rather than enamel and some years ago I saw the 1st Class presented by King Hussain of the Hijaz to the Sultan of Lahej after the Great War - this also had a heavy weave sash. What is difficult to identify is when the Order of the Renaissance design changed from 1st type to 2nd type - 1925 when Hijaz fell or later when Transjordan became the Kingdom of Jordan or indeed any date in betweeen!

Owain

[Ed_Haynes]

Thanks, Owain. Pardon me for jumping in and reinforcing your point that we need to keep the history straight:

-- The Hasmeite Kingdom of the Hijaz

And, then, after they get chased away by the al-Saud rise to dominance:

-- The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Transjordan)

There's also the short-lived Hashemite Kingdom of Syria but, when the French chase them out (knowing how to deal with "royals"), they shift ("are shifted", what is the right verb form here?) to Iraq along with their hangers-on.

The history of this period is one of family, faction, and empty promises.

[lilo]

Lilo,

Both inscriptions are the same "Al Hussain Bin Ali" - I have seen a number of variations in the script and these appear to be design variants by the manufacturers - Bertrand, Bichay, Garrard, Huguenin, London Gold and Silversmiths Coy., etc. From my experience the design of this particular order remains constant from its inception in the Hijaz through Transjordan to Jordan. I know that the very early pieces manufactured locally have paint rather than enamel and some years ago I saw the 1st Class presented by King Hussain of the Hijaz to the Sultan of Lahej after the Great War - this also had a heavy weave sash. What is difficult to identify is when the Order of the Renaissance design changed from 1st type to 2nd type - 1925 when Hijaz fell or later when Transjordan became the Kingdom of Jordan or indeed any date in betweeen!

Owain

Hi Owain,

OK, I have understood that 'both inscriptions are the same'.

That that is NOT still clear to me, are the differences between the 1st and the 2nd type of this Order. Can you mention some of them ?

Lilo

Edited July 5, 2008 by lilo

[James Hoard]

"Common sense and logic in history would have had the Titanic still transporting passengers on voyages as it was deemed unsinkable in 1912."

Whatever that may be, logic and common sense it is not. On the contrary, logic and common sense would have suggested that bulk heads that did not go all the way to the ceiling were inherantly unstable and liable to sink a ship!

The facts regarding the issue on topic are these:

1) The purpose of the institution of the Order of Independence was to reward those who fought for the independence of the Arabs.

2) The award was originally intended for the above purpose, and not necessarily as a general award of merit (that happened under the Transjordan amirate)

3) General Ja'afar was the principal professional soldier and highest ranking officer in the Arab forces at the time.

4) The first class was being awarded to officers of the equivalent rank of full Colonel or equivalent.

5) After the loss of the Hijaz, he joined the Iraqi service, not Transjordan.

It would have been unusual in the extreme, under these circustamces, for him NOT to have received the award; from the sovereign who employed him to do exactly what the award was intended to recognise.

[oamotme]

Dear Lilo,

As far as I am aware for the Order of Independence there is no 1st type or 2nd type - the design remains constant - other than manufacturer variations - placing of script, size of wreath, etc.

Owain

[lilo]

Hi Owain,

Many thanks for the clarification.

Lilo

[oamotme]

Lilo,

F.Y.I. Liverpool Medals have on their website a 1st Type 1st Class Breast star for sale - L17009 - it is a 1st type but in fact it is a 2nd Class star and is incredibly badly damaged - most if not all of the enamel has been removed and it appears that the two central flags have been filed down. The reverse is missing its central holding nut. To my mind it is only really fit for scrap metal but still a price of GBP795!

Regards,

Owain

[oamotme]

While travelling around Iraq in 2004, many interesting items were available if you had the time and interest to search for them and also to learn about the history of the country. The South African Brigade in World War One was sent to participate in the Senussi Campaign in which Jafaar Pasha was captured. Some relics and momentoes from this campaign did find their way back to South Africa. As part of my World War 1 South African collection, I developed an interest in this fascinating personality who became a friend of Lawrence of Arabia. This award is in my collection and I purchased it in Baghdad in 2004. Comments from the more knowledgeable forum members will be welcomed. This award/decoration looks very similar to the photograph of the awards and decorations posted by Ed on Owain's behalf.

This appears to me to be a 1st or 2nd class breast and not a commanders (? neck?) badge. Is there a maker or date mark on the reverse?

Owain

Edited July 6, 2008 by oamotme

[sabrigade]

Hi Owain,

I am in sunny Khartoum and will only be home in a few weeks time. Will see what I can find out.

Thanks for the reply.

Regards,

Will

[Guest IMHF]

From Owain (and WHAT A PHOTO!):

Very beautiful Photo::: Very Awesome medal bar.........

Lorenzo

Edited July 7, 2008 by IMHF

[Ed_Haynes]

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.)