Are Only Twenty-Seven Sets of Insignia This Order. Besides the King

Volume 51 Number I

are only twenty-seven sets of insignia this order. Besides the King, recipients include members of the royal family and high-ranking officials who have rendered outstanding services to the nation. With the sole exception of Napoleon IV, this order is only conferred to persons of the Buddhist faith.

The third order in Category II is the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao. The order was established by King Rama V in 1873, and the badge of the order features the founder’s likeness on a gold star. This order is awarded only on Coronation Day and is usually accompanied by a title. It has three classes with seven grades for men and four classes with five grades for women. The insignia of the order contains a large amount of gold, and therefore it is both a very expensive and scarce order to collect.

Collar badge of Most Illustrious Order of the House of Chakri

it evolved from the Noparat that was presented to the King upon his accession. The Noparat was originally a sort of necklace with a pendant similar in design to the breast star insignia of the order and then later a brooch. Because the Noparat can be traced to the Ayuthaya period, some Thais claim that the Nine Gems is the oldest order in existence, although this is not historically correct) Following tradition, the new King, who is Buddhist, is presented with his royal regalia by a Brahmin priest, which is a reflection of the polyglot nature of the Thai religion. King Rama IV converted the Noparat into the breast star of an order, and he wore the star longer than any other subsequent recipient. There

3 Companion Insigne(Third Class, The earliest order that can be doeumented with any assurance is the Lower Grade) of the Most Illus- Order of Knights Templar, which was founded in 1118. trious Order of Chula Chore Klao

20 The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America

The Honorable Order of Ramadhipati, or simply the the Direkgunabhom was instituted in 1991 by King Rama Order of Rama, is the fourth Category II order. It was IX to recognize excellence in the fields of arts, sports, and instituted in 1918 by King Rama VI to recognize military academics. It is also conferred for exceptional service to forces who served during World War I. The Order of the Thai nation, religion, and people. Rama was specifically intended as a reward to military and police personnel for selfless duty performed for the Category III consists of orders conferred for services to security of the nation. It presently has six classes, but the the King. There are three orders in this category, the King reserves the fight to approve all awards. The order Ratana Varabhom Order of Merit, the Vallabhom Order, was briefly suspended after the 1932 coup because it was and the Vajira Order. These are one-class orders that are felt that too many awards had been made. During his conferred by the King to his intimates. worldwide trip in the early 1960s, King Rama IX conferred this order to a number Category IV encompasses decorations and of foreign military leaders as well as to the medals awarded for bravery, services to unknown in the Tomb of the Unknown the nation or King, and certain cormnem- Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. orative medals. Decorations for bravery include the Jaya Sanaorabhumi Medal and The fifth and sixth orders of Category II the Freeman Protection Medal. The Jaya are the Most Exalted Order of the White S amorabhumi Medal is awarded to Elephant and the Most Noble Order of the military and police personnel who have Crown of Thailand. Both orders have six taken part in a battle or military operation, classes and are conferred to Thai military while the Freeman Protection Medal is and government officials and to foreigners awarded to those who have engaged for services rendered to the Thai people insurgents or have been killed or wounded and nation. The Order of the White in internal security operations. Medals for Elephant and the Order of the Crown of service to the nation include the Thailand and probably the most widely Chakrapati Medal, which is awarded to known and obtainable of all the Thai govermnent officials and civil servants for orders. The Order of the White Elephant 25 years of loyal service, and the Chakra was conferred to General Hugh Shelton, Mala Medal, which is awarded to military Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in and police personnel for 15 years of loyal April 1999 by Chuan Leekpai, the Thai service. There are also four types of a Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Victory Medal, which are a combined bravery and service award? Loyalty to the The Order of the White Elephant and the King is recognized by the Rattanabhorn Order of the Crown of Thailand are quite Medal. The badge of this medal changes common, and just about anyone can be a with each King because its design recipient. Almost all the foreign attaches Member (Fifth Class) Rama incorporates the crest of the reigning are awarded a class of these orders as well Medalfor gallantry in action of monarch. Other Category IV awards are the Honorable Order of Rama as U.S. veterans who served with Thai medals created to commemorate important forces in Vietnam. Thais can receive them occasions, such as the Bangkok centenary solely based upon their military, police, or civil servant medal and the coronation medal. A special class rank. In these cases, a higher class is automatically Category IV award is the Boy Scout Citation Medal, awarded upon promotion. By the time a military officer which is considered to be a decoration. reaches the rank of colonel, he will have at least a neck badge and a sash badge. Ordinary citizens can be Thai awards are numerous, and nearly every government awarded these orders merely for donating money to official, civil servant, and military and police officer has Buddhist temples, royal projects, or to charity. Both at least one royal decoration. As noted above, every orders are normally presented on the King’s birthday.

4 The seventh and last order of Category II is a very recent See the author’s article in the July-August 1999 issue of the Journal addition to Thai orders. The Most Admirable Order of for further information on the Thai Victory Medals.

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no informaion is available in English. As the U.S. Army Exchange Officer with the Royal Thai Army, I have been able to have much of my material checked for accuracy by contacts in the Thai military and government. None- theless, some collectors might disagree with the spelling of Thai names and certain dates. I have difficulty with a few of the dates even though they were provided by the Thai authorities. However, I am hopeful that further research will provide the needed clarification.

Collector’s Notes

Sometimes good Thai material can be obtained from a U.S. or foreign dealer or at an auction, but the best bet is to search in person in Thailand. It should also be noted that the Thais are not very good at conducting business through the mail.

Searching for Thai awards in Bangkok is fairly easy. Almost every contemporary medal can be found at military outfitters, especially around Wat Sutat near the giant swing. Commemorative medals can be a little difficult to find, and prices vary greatly from $10 up depending upon the medal (quoted prices are U.S. equivalent). The best prices for commemorative medals are at the Royal Coins Division, which is located in the Grand Palace. However, availability varies and there might not be any medals for sale on a given day. Some Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit Neck commemorative medals can also be found in coin shops Badge at the weekend market in Chatuchuk. Early Thai medals, such as the World War I Victory Medal and War military officer and police official has a class of both the Commemorative Medal are almost impossible to find. Order of the White Elephant and the Order of the Crown of Thailand. Moreover, government servants can wear Commander-class insignia of the Order of the White any commemorative medal whether or not they actually Elephant and the Order of the Crown of Thailand are participated in the event that was commemorated. readily available. Both orders are manufactured by Adding to the confusion, awards are worn purely at the licensed private firms, and Commander-class insignia of discretion of the recipient. Almost all royal awards are either order can be purchased for as low as $30. Insignia accompanied by a certificate; and only one royal award, for classes higher than Commander can be found with the Pushdi Mala Medal, is engraved with the name of the persistence. recipient. Campaign and commemorative medals are not normally issued with a certificate. Other orders are manufactured by the government and can be very hard to find. They are also quite expensive Admittedly, this overview is very general, but its intent is because of the large quantity of gold used and the to provide some historical background and a logical fineness of the gold, which is commonly around 20kt. On organization of Thai awards. Later articles on specific occasion, these orders appear in shops around the Wat awards will help to fill in those gaps and omissions that Sutat or in the antique stores on the top floor of the River cannot be covered in a brief introductory article. Most of City shopping complex. I found a copy Nine Gems the information presented here is from my own trans- breast star at River City that was made for a recipient lation of official publications, regulations, and related who didn’t want to wear the original. At my last inquiry, documents. Except for a small pamphlet or two, virtually the star was still available for $1,080. Good hunting!

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