The Journal of the Orders and Society of America

Sash of Merit, and Breast Star. . of Merit 1st Class, Neck Badge and Breast Star.

The sash badge for The Sash of Merit is a smaller ver- The ribbon is maroon with a central white stripe and sion of the star. two white edge stripes inset some 2 mm from the edge.

The consists of five classes and is de- During the April 1984 state tour of Sheikh Khalifa Bin signed for to Qataris and foreigners rendering Hamed numerous bestowals of the above were great service to Qatar, the Arabs or humanity. Deputy made, including the of Independence to Paki- ministers, under-secretaries, ambassadors, plenipoten- stani President Zia UI Haq, Korean President Chun, tiaries, senior advisors, directors of ministerial and Japanese Emperor Hirohito. departments, diplomatic counsellors, first and sec- ond diplomatic secretaries, third diplomatic Interestingly, the Order of Independence has on at least secretaries, attaches, etc. one occasion been awarded posthumously. On display in the National Museum in Doha is a certificate which First Class: As the sash class but the central star is translates as follows: superimposed upon a twelve-rayed multi-faceted silver star. The inscription reads: "Order of Merit." From Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. The badge of the first class is similiar to the Sash Class but with the same inscription as the First Class Star. To the name of his brother the deceased Sheikh of the remaining classes are all similar other Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani Minister of Education than the inscription, which notes the grade of the award. and Youth Care. Volume 53 Number 5

unable to obtain any evidence that this particular award was ever manufactured.

The regulations concerning awards were amended by Law No. 5 of 1978 and under Articles 9 to 17 the fol- lowing series of awards were instituted:

Order of Bravery -- Members of the Armed Forces and police rendering courageous service in battle or in- ternal security operations.

Order of Excellence -- Member of the Armed Forces and police rendering distinguished service.

Order of Merit (Four Classes) -- Member of the Armed Forces and Police for proficiency in training, adminis- tration and organization.

Order of Sincere (Loyal) Service (Four classes) -- Member of the Armed Forces and police for 15 years good service.

Order of Command Competence (Leadership) -- To Order of Merit 2rid Class Neck Badge. Field commanders who excel in their duty whether in command of combat or non-combat units.

As an expression of our true brotherhood and great Emblem of Administrative and Technical Competence respect for our elder brother Sheikh Jassim Bin (Leadership) -- For high proficiency in technical and Hamad Al Thani, in view of his high position in the administrative fields. State and as an appreciation of his great efforts and his tremendous services in the field of education and Emblem of Training Competence (Leadership) -- To youth care, and as an avowal of his great and sin- all ranks for services in training, sport and cultural ac- cere efforts during his life to enhance education in tivities. our beloved country We grant his name the Order of Independence. The Orders of Merit and Service were to be awarded in four classes as follows, May the Great Lord restore his soul with the believ- ers and the martyrs and the good people, they are lstClass Colonels and above. the best company. 2ndClass Lieutenant Colonels and Majors. 3rdClass Captains and First Lieutenants. Written in Doha Palace, 4thClass Enlisted personnel.

On the Seventh of Jumada Al Awla of the year Thir- It should be noted that the use of the word "emblem" teen Ninety Seven Hijri. Corresponding to Twenty- as used in this and subsequent decrees would perhaps Fifth of April Nineteen Ninety Seven Gregorian. be better translated as "decoration." However as the Arabic word nowt is used the English translation of em- of Merit (Two Classes) blem retains the difference. In addition to the above details the following Articles from the Decree should The Medal of Merit is intended for award to employ- be noted: ees, youth, victorious sports teams, and to foreigners on official visits. However, as of this writing I have been

6 The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America

but the records are vague as to how many types of awards were actually made. These awards were meant for use by the Armed Forces and the police with the medals bearing common designs and the only the rib- bons differed. The details of these pieces appear to be as follows:

Medal (Order) of Bravery

Obverse: A skeletal medal consisting of an oval palm wreath with a crown uppermost, encircling a pair of uncrossed swords, hilts lowermost, and bearing across the center the Arabic word "Qatar." The suspension consists of a loop affixed to the rear of a crescent en- circling at the top of the medal.

Ribbon: Military, three equal bands of maroon, white and maroon. Police, as the military but with two narrow blue stripes on the central white band.

Medal (Order) of Military Merit

1978-series awards: Medal of Military Merit (left) and Medal Obverse: A circular silver medal bearing the design of of Bravery. Both shown with military ribbon. the Bravery Medal minus crescent. Suspension - a straight bar ribbed suspender. Article 18 Four years must elapse to upgrad- ing an award. Ribbon: Military, blue with three narrow central stripes of red, white and blue (This is not proven and the blue Article 19 Article 18 may be waived in certain may well be maroon or beige). Police, blue with five circumstances. narrow central stripes of white~ red, white red and white.

Article 20 A certificate accompanies an award Long (Sincere) Service & Good Conduct Medal and a notation in the Qatari Gazette. Obverse: Unknown. Article 21 Awards belong to the recipients and their heirs. Ribbon: Military, beige with two sets of narrow white red white stripes inset from each edge. Police, as the Article 22 Members of the Armed Forces and military with blue replacing the beige. police may receive civil awards. These designs do not appear to match with the regula- Article 23 Awards may be awarded to scientific tions; however, even if these pieces and possibly others establishments, public civil establish- were meant for distribution they were short lived. In- ments, military units, and public or pri- deed Article 23 of Law No. 12 of 1992 states that, "All vate corporate bodies in recognition of provisions of Military Medals of the Armed Forces special service to Qatar, Arab or Is- of Articles 9 - 17 of Law No. 5 of 1978 should be lamic causes. revoked."

It would appear that while the above law was promul- Law No. 12 of 1992, the next decree concerning itself gated, no action was taken to implement it. It appears with awards, instituted the following series: that Spink and Son of London did manufacture some awards for the Qatari Government in the late 1970s,

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