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Category: Post-WW2 Medals

The Greenland Medal for Meritorious Service 

The Greenland Medal for Meritorious Service is the highest award based in Greenland. It was first established on 1 May 1989.

The Greenland Medal for Meritorious Service (or Nersornaat, meaning ‘Deserved’ in Greenlandic; Grønlands Hjemmestyres Fortjenstmedalje in Danish) is the highest award given by the Greenland Home Rule government.

Instituted on 1 May 1989 to mark the tenth anniversary of Greenlandic home rule, this medal honors individuals who have rendered exceptional service to Greenland in areas such as public service, business, art, or science. 

The Nersornaat Design

The medal shows a bear and the inscription “Kalaallit Nunaat” in the obverse.

The ribbon features the Greenlandic colors, with red symbolizing the sun and white symbolizing the snow, and is awarded in two grades: gold and silver.

The Medal of Merit for Blood Donation

The Medal of Merit for Blood Donation was established in 1979 and is currently awarded to voluntary blood donors.

The Medal of Merit for Blood Donation is a civil state decoration in Luxembourg, established in 1979 by Grand Duke Jean. This medal honors voluntary blood donors and is awarded by the Grand Duke upon the recommendation of the Minister of Health, who is advised by the Council of Order.

The Medal of Merit for Blood Donation was instituted on 22 October 1979, and initially, the Council of Order comprised five members. A decree on 4 February 1985 expanded the council to seven members, requiring a minimum of six to make a recommendation. Council members are appointed for four-year terms, with the possibility of reappointment. The current council was appointed on 17 February 2016. Foreign donors can also receive the medal if they have donated blood to a recognized Luxembourg organization.

The medal is awarded in three grades:

  • Gold Medal (eighty donations)
  • Silver Medal (forty donations)
  • Bronze Medal (twenty donations)

The plaques, edges of the cross, and the crown are gilded, silver, or bronze, depending on the grade of the medal.

The Medal of Merit for Blood Donation Design

The badge of the Medal of Merit for Blood Donation is a red-enamelled Red Cross, crowned and featuring diamond-shaped plaques.

The obverse displays the coat of arms of the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, which combines three coats of arms with lions. The upper left quarter shows the lion of Nassau, the lower left quarter features the lion of Luxembourg, and the right half displays the lion of Belgium.

The reverse depicts the profile of Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte facing left, surrounded by the inscription “S.A.R Joséphine Charlotte Grande-Duchesse de Luxembourg” (H.R.H. Joséphine Charlotte Grand Duchess of Luxembourg).

The ribbon is white with a red stripe in the middle, flanked by thin blue-white-red stripes at the edges.

Cross of Honor and Military Merit (Luxembourg)

Cross of Honor and Military Merit was established by Grand Duchess Charlotte in May 1951, for distinguished service to the military.

The Cross of Honor and Military Merit (or Croix d’Honneur et de Mérite militaire in French) is a prestigious military decoration in Luxembourg, established by Grand Duchess Charlotte in May 1951. This honor recognizes distinguished service within the military during peacetime and extraordinary acts of courage and bravery during wartime.

During times of peace, the Cross of Honor and Military Merit is awarded to military personnel who have demonstrated exceptional service and dedication to their duties.

In times of conflict, the cross is awarded for outstanding acts of heroism and bravery on the battlefield, highlighting the valor of those who go above and beyond the call of duty.

The Cross of Honor and Military Merit is bestowed in three distinct classes, each representing different levels of achievement and service:

  1. Gilt: The highest class, awarded for the most distinguished service or acts of extraordinary bravery.
  2. Silver: The intermediate class, recognizing significant contributions and courageous acts.
  3. Bronze: The entry-level class, awarded for notable service and acts of merit.

Cross of Honor and Military Merit Design

The cross features the inscription “Honor, Virtue, Fatherland” in the obverse.

The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was instituted on 23 January 1961 and is an order of merit of Luxembourg.

The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (or Ordre de Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg in French) is a distinguished honor established on 23 January 1961 by Grand Duchess Charlotte.

The order is open to deputies, state councillors, civil servants, elected officials, and municipal administration personnel, as well as prominent figures in the economic, social, cultural, or sports sectors, and volunteers. Additionally, it can be awarded to foreign nationals.

The order’s Grand Master is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. In addition to its five classes, the order also includes a gilt medal.

The order comprises five grades:

  • Grand Cross
  • Grand Officer
  • Commander
  • Officer
  • Knight

The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Design

The Grand Officer and Commander ranks are identical, but only the Grand Officer is accompanied by a Breast Star. There is at least one other version that differs in composition.

The Order of Freedom of Barbados

The Order of Freedom of Barbados is a national honor established in 2019 by the Parliament of Barbados. It has one class.

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 19 August 2019
  • Country: Barbados

The Order of Freedom of Barbados is a national honor established by the Parliament of Barbados through the Order of Freedom of Barbados Act 2019. It is part of the broader Order of Barbados, ranking above the Order of the Republic but below the supreme Order of National Heroes.

Officers and Classes

The Order consists of a single class, unnamed in the Act. There is no annual limit on appointments to this class, except for honorary members, which are capped at two per year. Appointments are made by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister and announced annually on Independence Day (30 November).

Recipients of the Order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters “FB” (Freedom of Barbados) and the honorific style “The Most Honourable.” The insignia of the Order is determined by the Prime Minister.

Eligibility for Conferment of Order

A person who:

  • was born in Barbados;
  • is a citizen of Barbados;
  • or is entitled to be registered as a citizen of Barbados

and who has distinguished himself by extraordinary service to Barbados, the Caribbean, the Caribbean Diaspora or to humanity at large is eligible to be
conferred with the Order of Freedom of Barbados.

The Family Order of Laila Utama

The Most Esteemed Family Order of Laila Utama is an order of Brunei established on 1 March 1954 by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 1 March 1954
  • Country: Others (Brunei)

The Most Esteemed Family Order of Laila Utama (or Darjah Kerabat Laila Utama Yang Amat Dihormati in Malay) is a prestigious order of Brunei, established on 1 March 1954 by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

Recipients of this order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters “DK” or “DK I” and the honorary title “Dato Laila Utama.”

The Family Order of Laila Utama Design

Initially, the order’s design featured a painted bust of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. However, since 1975, this has been replaced by a star and crescent moon motif.

The emblems of the order are crafted from gold or silver with enamel accents. The order confers the right to use the post-nominal letters “DK I” and the title “Dato Laila Utama.“

The New Zealand Armed Forces Award

The New Zealand Armed Forces Award was established on 6 May 1985 and is awarded for 15 years of unblemished service.

The New Zealand Armed Forces Award is a long service decoration designated for Regular Force Officers of the New Zealand Defence Force.

It was instituted on 6 May 1985, originally recognizing 15 years of exemplary service. However, on 14 August 2020, updated criteria were announced, reducing the service requirement to 14 years for the initial award, and making clasps available for every subsequent seven years of service.

The New Zealand Armed Forces Award Design

The New Zealand Armed Forces Award is a circular silver medal. The obverse features the crowned effigy of Her Majesty The Queen, encircled by the inscription “ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID. DEF.”

The reverse displays an eagle with spread wings superimposed over two crossed swords pointing upwards, topped by a Naval Crown. Two fern fronds, with stems crossed at the base, lie behind the swords. The design is bordered by the inscription “New Zealand” at the top and “Armed Forces Award” at the bottom. The symbols on the reverse represent the three branches of the New Zealand Defence Force: the Army, the Royal Navy, and the Air Force.

The medal hangs from a ribbon colored dark blue, crimson, and light blue, representing the three services, with a central black stripe symbolizing New Zealand. Subsequent awards are indicated by a clasp on the medal’s suspension ribbon or a rosette on the service ribbon worn in undress.

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The Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan

A commemorative medal struck to celebrate the first 100 years since the province’s entrance into Canadian Confederation.

The Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan, also known as the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, was created to celebrate Saskatchewan‘s 100th anniversary of joining the Canadian Confederation.

This medal honors individuals who have made significant contributions to society and recognizes outstanding achievements, including leadership, volunteerism, community involvement, and exceptional personal achievements. Only individuals (not groups) were eligible, and posthumous nominations were not accepted.

Certain individuals received the medal automatically by virtue of their positions, such as provincial and federal elected officials, judges, aboriginal leaders, and community and municipal leaders. Additional recipients were selected based on recommendations from governmental and non-governmental organizations and Members of the Legislative Assembly.

About 4,200 medals were produced.

The Saskatchewan Centennial Medal Design

The medal features, on the obverse, the provincial motto beneath a wreath of western red lilies, topped by the St. Edward’s Crown. The inscription “Saskatchewan 1905–2005” encircles the edge.

On the reverse side, the provincial shield of arms is displayed.

The medal is attached to a gold-colored ribbon with two narrow green diagonal stripes.

The Canadian Forces’ Decoration

The Canadian Forces’ Decoration is awarded to members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of military service.

The Canadian Forces’ Decoration (post-nominal letters “CD”) is a Canadian award granted to members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of military service (under specific conditions).

The decoration is awarded to officers and non-commissioned members of the Regular and Reserve forces, including honorary appointees within the Canadian Armed Forces, excluding time on the Supplementary Reserve List. It can be granted to individuals who already hold long service, good conduct, or efficiency awards, as long as the full qualifying periods for each are completed and service for one award does not count towards another.

Service in the regular and reserve or auxiliary forces of the Commonwealth nations is eligible if the final five years are with the Canadian Armed Forces, and no other similar medal has been awarded for that service.

The first governor general to receive the CD was Viscount Alexander of Tunis in 1951. Initially, the medal was awarded to all members of the Royal Family who served in the Canadian Forces, regardless of whether they had completed twelve years of service; however, this practice has not been automatic since 1953.

The Canadian Forces’ Decoration Design

The medal is ten-sided, representing the ten provinces, and measures 36 millimeters across. The King George VI version is made of .800 fine silver and gilded, featuring an uncrowned bust of the King facing left with the inscription “Georgivs VI D: G: Britt: omn: Rex Fid: Def” around the edge.

The Queen Elizabeth II version, made of tombac (a copper-zinc alloy) and later introduced in a gilded copper variant in 2008, has an uncrowned bust of the Queen facing right with “Elizabeth II Dei gratia Regina” around the edge and “Canada” at the bottom.

The reverse of both medals features a naval crown, three maple leaves, and an eagle representing the navy, army, and air force, respectively, with the word “service” on a scroll at the base and a fleur-de-lis on each side of the crown. The King George VI medal includes the royal cypher in the center, which is omitted from the Queen Elizabeth II medal. The King George VI medal has the recipient’s name and rank engraved on the reverse of the solid bar, while the Queen Elizabeth II medal has them engraved around the edge, with early versions stamped rather than engraved.

A clasp, or bar, is awarded for every 10 years of additional service. The clasp is tombac, 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) high, with the Canadian coat of arms in the center, crowned and gold in color. On the undress ribbon, this is indicated by a rosette.

The Papua New Guinea Independence Medal

The Papua New Guinea Independence Medal was established to commemorate the transition to the full independence of Papua New Guinea.

The Papua New Guinea Independence Medal was established in 1975 to mark Papua New Guinea’s transition from self-government to full independence from Australia.

It is part of the Papua New Guinea honors system.

Notable recipients of this medal include:

The Papua New Guinea Independence Medal Design

There are three versions of the Papua New Guinea Independence Medal.

The first version was introduced in 1975 and features the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.” and “PAPUA NEW GUINEA INDEPENDENCE 1975.” It was awarded from 1973 to 1975 to defense force members and citizens in recognition of outstanding service. This medal has a ring suspension and a smooth surface.

The second version was introduced in 1985 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of independence. It was awarded to civilian and military personnel who made significant contributions to the state since independence. This version bears the inscriptions “PAPUA NEW GUINEA ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.” and “INDEPENDENCE 1975-1985.” It also has a ring suspension and a smooth surface.

The third version was introduced in 2005 to mark the 30th anniversary of independence. The obverse inscription reads “30TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY 1975-2005.” This version features a bar suspension and a rayed surface.