Archive for the Medals Category

Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) Service Medal

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags , , , on May 16, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_MFOThe Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. This is the MFO Service Medal.

The Multinational Force and Observers Medal is an international military decoration which was first created on March 24, 1982. The medal was established under the authority of the Director-General of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) which were established to monitor a neutral ceasefire zone, between Egypt and Israel, as the result of the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

The MFO is not a UN mission, but rather a multi-national force created by the annex to the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty.

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The Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags , on May 16, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_Canada Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (French: Médaille canadienne du maintien de la paix) is a campaign medal created in 1988 to recognize the contributions of all Canadian Peacekeepers towards the ultimate goal of peace, after the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations was awarded that year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Go Canada!

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UNMIT East Timor Mission Medal

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags , , on May 16, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_NationsThe United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) was established on August 25, 2006 by UN Security Council Resolution 1704.  Its objectives are “to support the Government in consolidating stability, enhancing a culture of democratic governance, and facilitating political dialogue among Timorese stakeholders, in their efforts to bring about a process of national reconciliation and to foster social cohesion”. In its most recent resolution on UNMIT, the Council extended its mandate until February 26, 2012. UNMIT and ISF troops will leave the country at the end of 2012.

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Prisoner of War Medal 1940–1945

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 16, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_Belgium_(civil)This is the “Médaille du Prisonnier de Guerre 1940–1945” awarded to all members of the Belgian armed forces imprisoned by the Axis. I have another example of this medal but this particular one has 5 bars on the ribbon indicating the individual spent 5 years in the German camp system.

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Hyderabad Victory Medal 1945

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , , , on May 15, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_IndiaThis is one of the tougher to find Empire Victory Medals. This one was issued by the Princely State of Hyderabad to commemorate the victory over the Axis in 1945. Hyderabad was nominally independent and separate from India for a year after the partition in 1947. Some 3,200 of the silver Hyderabad 1945 Victory Medal were struck.

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Médaille Maritime 1940–1945

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 14, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_Belgium_(civil)The Maritime Medal 1940–1945 (French: Médaille Maritime 1940–1945, Dutch: Maritieme Medaille 1940–1945) was a Belgian World War II bravery award established by Royal Decree on 17 July 1941 and awarded to members of the Belgian Navy, merchant navy or fishing fleet for acts of heroism in the saving of ships or lives during an action against the enemy.
The award’s statute was later amended to include all naval personnel for service of two years or more aboard an allied warship (most often aboard a Royal Navy ship) and to those who had been shipwrecked twice due to combat actions.

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Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 14, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_FranceThe Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1939–1945 (1939–1945 Commemorative War Medal) is a commemorative medal of France. It was established on May 21, 1946 as an award to all French citizens serving in the armed forces against the forces of the Axis powers and to foreign nationals fighting under the French military authority.

I have a bunch of these, this one is without a theatre bar.

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Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 14, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_AustraliaThe Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945 is awarded to civilians in Australia during World War II who served in arduous circumstances in support of the war effort as part of organisations with military-like arrangements and conditions of service. The medal was introduced in 1994, following a recommendation of the Committee of Inquiry into Defence and Defence Related Awards.

The Committee intended to extend recognition only to those whose war service in Australia was more arduous than the norm, and was performed under military-like conditions. Hence, Women’s Land Army members, whose work was very physical, required them to live in rural areas away from their homes for lengthy periods, and was subject to military-like discipline, are generally eligible. On the other hand, members of the industrial workforce involved in munitions production are not eligible, as they overwhelmingly lived at home and were subject to standard civilian working conditions. The medal is therefore recognition of those not in the armed services, but who experienced wartime working conditions similar to the armed services.

Recipients must have served for at least 180 days in any one or a combination of the 38 eligible groups between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. Recipients of the Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945 do not earn an entitlement to use post-nominal letters. As at 30 June 2006, 6,711 awards of the Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945 had been made.

This particular example is blank on the reverse and therefore unissued stock.

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Médaille de la déportation et de l’internement pour faits de Résistance

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 14, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_FranceThis is the French medal for Resistance members who were either interned or deported by the Germans during WW2.

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1914-1918 Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm Device

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Valour Medals with tags , on May 14, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_FranceThe Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (War Cross 1914–1918) is a French military decoration. It was created to recognize French and allied soldiers who were cited for their service during World War I, similar to the British Mentioned in Despatches. The bronze palm on this one indicates the recipient was mentioned at Army level.

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Commemorative Medal for 50 Years Since the Victory in 1945

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , , on May 14, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_AustraliaThis medal is one of many of the same pattern that were created and distributed by organizations ranging from the State Government of Queensland to, in this case, the local RSL’s. This one is unnamed but is stamped Maryborough RSL on the reverse.

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New Zealand Operational Service Medal

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags on May 13, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThe New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) is a New Zealand campaign medal for award to New Zealanders who have served on operations since 3 September 1945. The medal was instituted in 2002 to provide specific New Zealand recognition for operational service. It is awarded in addition to any New Zealand, Commonwealth or foreign campaign medal. It is awarded once only to an individual, regardless of how many times he or she has deployed on operations.

These are issued unnamed.

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Defence Service Medal with Territorial Bar

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags on May 12, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis is a modern issue New Zealand Defence Service Medal (NZDSM) is a military service medal awarded to former and current members of the New Zealand Defence Force, who have served since 3 September 1945. It is expected that at least 160,000 former service personnel and more than 7,000 currently serving NZDF personnel are eligible to receive the medal.

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Medaille für Kämpfer gegen den Faschismus 1933 bis 1945

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 12, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_German_Democratic_RepublicThe Medal for Fighters Against Fascism (German: Medaille für Kämpfer gegen den Faschismus 1933 bis 1945) was an award of the German Democratic Republic given to people who had been active in the German Resistance against Nazism.

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China Incident Campaign Medal

Posted in 1919-1938 Medals with tags , on May 8, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_Japan.svgThis medal was awarded from 1937-1945 to those Japanese forces who were part of the so-called China Incident, the campaign against China.

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Medal for Liberation

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 8, 2013 by The Dude

750px-Flag_of_Albania_1944This medal was instituted by the Soviet controlled Government of Albania on 13 October 1945 and was essentially the campaign medal for those who fought Italian and German forces during World War II. It was also awarded posthumously to those who had lost their lives in the fighting.

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Unofficial Solomon Islands Anniversary Medal

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , , on May 8, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Solomon_IslandsThe obverse shows the coat of arms for the Solomon islands and ‘SOLOMON ISLANDS’ around the edge. The reverse shows a map of the Guadalcanal and a US Marine with Marine Corps badge and the words ’50TH ANNIVERSARY GUADALCANAL LANDINGS 7TH AUGUST 1992′. Unnamed as issued.

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National Defence Cross 1940

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 7, 2013 by The Dude

32px-Flag_of_Hungary_1940.svgThis medal, instituted in 1940, was awarded by Hungary for efforts in combatting communism.

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Commemorative Medal of the 40th Anniversary of the Battle of Khalin Gol

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , , on May 6, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_MongoliaThis is the Mongolian commemorative medal issued in 1979 on the 40th anniversary of victory over Japan at Khalkhin Gol.

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Soviet troops examine a disabled Japanese Ha-Go tank in the aftermath if the Battle of Khalin Gol, November 1939.

Soviet troops examine a disabled Japanese Ha-Go tank in the aftermath if the Battle of Khalin Gol, November 1939.

Merchant Marine Defence Medal

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 6, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesThe Merchant Marine Defense Medal (Bar) is a decoration of the United States Merchant Marine. The decoration was established by an Act of Congress on August 14, 1944. The decoration is awarded to members of the Merchant Marine who served aboard United States merchant ships between September 8, 1939 and December 7, 1941.

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Navy Occupation Service Medal with the Berlin Airlift Device

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 6, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesThe Berlin Airlift Device may be authorized for wear on the Army and Navy occupation medals to denote participation in the direct support of the Berlin Airlift between 1948 and 1949.

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Kosovo Campaign Medal

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags , on May 6, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesThe Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established by Executive Order 13154 of President Bill Clinton on May 3, 2000. The medal recognizes military service performed in Kosovo from 1999 to the present.

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Purple Heart

Posted in Valour Medals with tags on May 6, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award that is still given to members of the U.S. military, the only earlier award being the obsolete Fidelity Medallion.

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Women’s Army Corps Service Medal

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 6, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesThe Women’s Army Corps Service Medal was a decoration of the United States Army which was created on July 29, 1943 by Executive Order 9365 issued by President Franklin Roosevelt. The decoration was intended to recognize the contribution of women to the Army during the Second World War.

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Commemorative Medal of Victory in WW2

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , on May 6, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesThis is another unofficial commemorative medal from the United States, this one marking victory in WW2.

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