An Egyptian Unit Award: The Military Order of the Republic

[ChrisW]

Egypt's Military Order of the Republic (al-wisaam al-gomhouriya al-‘askariia) was established specifically as a unit award. According to the Egyptian medals protocols, it “may be granted to any military unit or formation for outstanding achievements.” It comes in a single class.

It is identical to the Order of the Republic, First Class, with the addition of a five-pointed star on the lower part of the order. It could be considered a separate class of the Order of the Republic. The Order of the Republic was created in 1953, and presumably the Military Order of the Republic was created at the same time or shortly afterwards. The earliest record of its existence I’ve been able to trace is from 1964.

(References: Egyptian Decorations & Medals and the Rules Governing Them, Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Cabinet of the Grand Chamberlain, 1983; Samah abd al-Rahman al-Liqaani, Mausua’a al-Qala’id wal-Niyashin wal-Osama wal-Nuat wal-Midaaliyyat al-Masriyya, Cairo, 2015)

 

 

When awarded to a unit, the medal is directly attached to that unit’s flag. Unlike unit awards in some countries such as the USA, personnel assigned to the recipient unit do not wear some variation of the medal on their uniform. However, there does appear to be a buttonhole rosette for the medal’s ribbon (seen above), which could be worn when in civilian dress.

Here is the Order of the Republic, for comparison. The only difference is the lack of the star.

 

 

EXAMPLES OF AWARDS

Several specific awards of the Military Order of the Republic are known, both to Egyptian and non-Egyptian Arab units.

YEMEN WAR (1962-1967) The Military Order of the Republic probably was first issued on a large scale during Egypt’s war in Yemen (1962-1967), judging from period photos.

Here's President Nasser pinning the Military Order of the Republic on the flag of an unidentified Egyptian Air Force, probably for operations in Yemen, in June 1964. (Photo credit: Al-Quwwat al-Musalahah magazine, July 1964)

 

And at the same ceremony, on 18 June 1964, President Nasser awarding the Military Order of the Republic to an unidentified Egyptian Navy unit or ship, again for Yemen operations. (Photo credit: President Nasser photo archive at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

Same ceremony, Nasser decorating the flag of an unidentified Egyptian Army commando battalion. (Photo credit: President Nasser photo archive at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

Edited January 27, 2017 by Chris Weeks

[ChrisW]

Same ceremony, hard to tell if this is the same commando battalion or a different one. (Photo credit: President Nasser photo archive at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

And the last photo from this award ceremony, President Nasser awarding the Military Order of the Republic to an unidentified Egyptian Army paratroop unit. (Photo credit: President Nasser photo archive at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

Another award for service in Yemen, this time to the 23rd Commando Battalion in early 1965. (Photo credit: al-Quwwat al-Musalahah magazine, March 1965)

Another photo of the 23rd Commando Battalion, with the award certificate in the inset. (Photo credit: al-Quwwat al-Musalahah magazine, March 1965)

And a close-up of the 23rd Battalion's award certificate. (Photo credit: al-Quwwat al-Musalahah magazine, March 1965)

Moving on from the Yemen War....

WAR OF ATTRITION (1967-1970)

The Army’s 39^th Commando Group received the Military Order of the Republic for several operations during the War of Attrition which took them across the Suez Canal into Israeli-occupied Sinai. (The 39th Group was commanded by Col. Ibrahim al-Rifa'i, Egypt's most decorated soldier.)

Here is President Anwar Sadat decorating the unit flag of the 39th, in a ceremony on 12 August 1971. (Photo credit: President Sadat photo archive at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

 

Another award from President Sadat during the War of Attrition. Date and unit unknown, it could be the same as above. (Photo credit: President Sadat photo archive at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

[ChrisW]

OCTOBER 1973 WAR

Interestingly, all the known awards for the 1973 war are to non-Egyptian units, but this probably is simply because these awards received more press coverage (as a goodwill gesture.) It seems almost certain that a large number of Egyptian units also received awards, but they just didn’t receive as much press coverage.

A Presidential decree of 18 February 1974 bestowed the Military Order of the Republic on select Egyptian, Syrian and other Arab units that distinguished themselves in fighting during the October 1973 war. (Cairo Press Review, 19 Feb. 1974; Cairo Press Review, 20 Feb. 1974)

It was awarded to the Sudanese infantry brigade that served on the Egyptian front in the war, in an August 1974 ceremony. (Cairo Domestic Service, 5 Aug. 1974)  The Kuwaiti battalion that served on the Egyptian front also received the medal in a ceremony in October 1974. (Cairo Press Review, 11 Oct. 1974)

No photos unfortunately!

POST-1973 AWARDS

The Military Order of the Republic also has been awarded for non-combat service. In April 1995, the Egyptian Army's 166th Mechanized Infantry Battalion received it following a 14 month deployment to Somalia as part of the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM). (Al Ahram Weekly, 25-31 May 1995)

That's all I have in my notes, thus endeth this mini-article... for now.

[922F]

Thanks, Chris, for this information.   Seem to recall a late 1970's-early 1980's award to a unit, maybe a liaison or intel group, involved in the Sinai 'return' to Egyptian control??   

[oamotme]

Chris,

Great research work - well done. Just back from UK leave, and upon reviewing my collection I discovered that my badge of this order is:

• First type Order of the Republic - light blue enamel and arabesque suspension.
• The ribbon suspension loop is for a neck ribbon not a sash ribbon.

Accordingly this piece, by Bichay (superb quality workmanship),  predates your earliest date of 1964 and raises the possibility that it was briefly also awarded to individuals. Of course the suspension loop may be erroneous.

Kind regards,

Owain

 

 

 

[ChrisW]

Thanks as always, Owain. You've added an intriguing aspect to this story (and a beautiful photo as well!)