Our thanks to F~jor Rex Clark #901 for submitting the above review and especially for the presentation of the aforementioned book as a gift to the Society. VIETN#~ ~DALS ~ P~TRIGTED - from Canberra News ll August 1971 Australian soldiers awarded forei~ decorations in Vietnam could not formally accept and wear them, an Army spokesman said in Ganberra today. ’~Jnder existing policy Australian servicemen may receive Sou~h Vietnam awards but under the general rule may not formally accept or wear them," he said. The hiilltary Historical Society of Australia has published a cata- logue of medals and awards to Australians with valuations. In a foreward to the catalogue, the society asked why the Govern- ment relapses to allow Australian servicemen to accept and wsar foreign decorations awarded for service in Vietnam. The society said no such restriction had been applied in ~-ny other war, or campaign. The catalogue shows that the first foreign award to be accepted Kud worn by Australian servicemen was the k~edives Bronze Star, awarded in 1885. Since 1885, up to and including the Korean War and a limited number for hh~laysian Service, foreign awards have been accepted and worn by Australians. "It is no doubt as difficult for the student of military history as the recipient of a foreign award for Vietnam service to try and under- stand why such awards are not approved for wear," says the author, ~£c. M. Downey of Sydney. However, the Australian army has always followed strictly to the traditions of the British Army. Without special permission from the Queen or her representative, the Australian Army will not formally accept or allow its servicemen to wear foreign medals. A NO~E O~ THE ABOVE BY T~ SECRETARY of the ~.f[LITARY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA The recent publication "Medals to Australians" by %~he Military Histori- cal Society of Australia may help convince the present Australian policy makers that the attitude to the acceptance and wearing of foreign awards is in need of a change. I am certain that members of this Society would agree that most of our members have a far greater knowledge on medals than the ones who make policy. As we have this ~pertise we are not hesitant in offering this advice to these policy makers. It is understood that the policy now in effect has been "under consid- eration"since 1964. A favourable outceme on this policy will clearly show that the Australian Victoria Cross winners showed sutstanding gallantry on occasions other than those for which they were awerded their V.C. Let us a3_l do our bit to have this policy changed. CONDECORACI~ES NACIONALES - by Col. Tom~s Perez Tenreiro Edic!ones del Co~6ejo Municipa! del Distrito Federal Caracas/Venezuela (1968) 202 pages, i~ndex, 60 illustrations. In Spanish Mr. Frank Racine had a distinct and pleasant opportun~ity to re- ceive this copy from the author on a recent trip to Venezuela. Mr. J~nes Peterson r~viewed smother book by this author ~Concecoraciones Venezuelas" in the February, 1967 issue of THE F~AL COLLECTOR. In this book the author covers a~arms of i~he Venezuelan government from the War of Independence to the year 1954. It embraces over 60 entries on medals and oraers hitherto unknown in works of English. In Gillingham~s "South American Decorations ant War Metals~I, (1932) he lists six knoMn awards and nothing of the escudos but a listing. The photographic illustrations in the book come YTom the z’ollowin8 sources: ~seo Bolivariano, the collection of Kai Meyer of Denmark, the collection of Sr. Arnaluo Paras, Muses ce Bogota, collection of Don Alfredo Boulton, collection of Dr. Marcos Psris del Ga~_lego, the American Numismatic Society, the collection of Oscar Vargas Giron, and many fine examples from the collection of the author. It will serve to stunt with the few books on South American awards in onels library, and it ~ill stand tall as befits the author’s endeavors. Frederic yon Allendorfer AUTHOR RESEARCH & AIDS In a publication such as ours we must attempt to be as diversified as the collecting preferences of our members dictate. Our appeal is not only to the novice, but to the serious student of research, the budding authors and the gifted ~rlters. But novices, students, budding and gifted authors need assistance in t~heir research, help that is sometimes unavail- able in their particular locale, help which they might have had sooner if enough people knew about it. In future issues of THE MEDAL C01~TOR a columu is to be instituted with this thought in mind, under the title which you see above. In this column I will publish portions of letters received by me which plainly ask a question, request a reference, a need for illustrations or photos, a collaborator for their researches, or just need a helping hand with a research problem. With this project I cen expect that some articles wil! be attempted and when completed to be submitted ~ith a view to publication in THE F.v.A. THE F~ITuR Og~S A SUBJECT SERIES : A CHAL ~L~GE TO WRIT~P~S As Editor I am~going to list the following subjects as the basis for articles to be ~a~ltten by the members for publication. They all desl with one specific subject -- SI~E --. In some oases they may have been written about, but not all have received a fuller treatment in our publication, ethers may be acded to the list as they come to light, but I believe a series as t~Lis has never been compiled in ~y ~blication to sate. Mexico: Siege of Puebla Cross, 1863 R~ssia: Siege of Sebastepol Spain: Siege of Astorga England: Siege of l.hfeking England: Siege of Ladysmith England: Siege of Gibraltar England: Siege of Lucknow Naples: Siege of Gaeta Russia: Siege of Plevna Turkey: Siege of Kars Turkey: Siege of Silistria Russia: Siege of Port Arthur U.S.S.R.: Siege of Stalingrad ~.S.A.: Siege of Corregldor Papal: Siege of Rome, 1849 T~o Sicilies: Siege of Messine France: Siege of Paris Austria: Siege of Vieana In most cases a medsl has been issued, whether for wearing on the uniform or in some cases a table medal. F.v.A. 7101 In this column items are illustrated mainly for identifica- tion. Photograph, line drawing, rubbing or rough sketch will serve the purpose. In order to identify the items they will be assigned a number the first two digits will indicate the year of our publication and the last two the number of the item to be identified (i.e. 7101 will indicate the year 1971 and Ol the number of the item) 7101 - Tentatively identified as a badge for the participants in the Hessen-Nassau meet of the Old Leadership Corps in the N.S.D.A.P., in 1936. Is any more known of these meets, medals stud other information? 7102 - Possibly a French pattern for a medal or colu - hope~k~lly celebrating a French victory over Prussia in 18707 7103 - A Spanish medal with the head of Ferdinand and the date MDCCOIX. 7104 - A Serbian medal issued in 1889. .