10 tours!! What is this place?

[bigjarofwasps]

Was surfing the net when I came across two medal groups, with a particular medal that had been awarded 10 times in one group and 6 in the other. I've tried to identify it, but have been unable to so, can anyone identify it?

[Mark McM]

Irish Defense Forces.  (UNIFIL 78)

 

 

http://www.military.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Info_Centre/documents/Df_Medals_2010.pdf

Edited March 22, 2016 by Mark McM

[bigjarofwasps]

Irish and not French, that is interesting. Can't believe Ireland deployed so many times to the Lebanon!!!

[peter monahan]

The Canadians who went to Cyprus, especially the Signals, were almost all specialist technical troops - Sigs and Logistics and so on - and many of them did 5, 8, 10 individual 6 month tours. It didn't mean that the whole force was in and out that many times, but individuals were rotated in and out, much the way the US forces in Vietnam operated, so airly early on it was decided to use the numerals instead of multiple awards of the gong or bars.

I know I've seen '8's on UN medals worn by CF members and I believe there are examples with '12', which wouldn't be outrageous for a 'lifer' in the Sigs, a very small unti over all.

[Paul Teague]

bigjarofwasps,

It is interesting that this seems to be a medal bar for a soldier from the Republic of Ireland. There is a NATO Non-Article Five medal, I received one for KOSOVO, however, Ireland is not a member of NATO.

Paul Teague

Edited March 30, 2016 by Paul Teague
Question already answered.

[Herman]

Here is another one. A Dutch medal bar with an UNTSO medal with a figure 10.

A figure 10 was given for 5 one year tour as an observer. After 180 days of service the medal was awarded. For each additional 180 days a silver number was added. 

 

The laureled number 25 is for 25 succesfull participations in the Nijmegen four days marches.

 

And as far as I know, Ireland, an non NATO member, occasionally sent out his military under a NATO mission in small numbers. I once saw a NATO ISAF medal in an Irish group.  

Edited April 10, 2016 by Herman
typo