IdentifyMedals Logo

Category: Cross

The Uhodari Medal

The Uhodari Medal is awarded to individuals for their most outstanding acts of bravery and sacrifice while serving in the armed forces.

The Uhodari Medal is awarded to soldiers and individuals for their most outstanding acts of bravery and sacrifice while serving in the armed forces. The medal was instituted on 21 April 1966. As the country’s utmost gallantry honor, it is presented to the most conscious bravery or for some daring act of valor, extreme devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice. The recipients of this prestigious award put the lives of other first in an act of selflessness.

For over 20 years no one had received this award- until the incumbent H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta awarded Major Ndeke Fredrick Afande the Uhodari Medal. The most notable figure to have received this award is former Defense Forces General Mohammed for his role in defending the country during the 1982 coup attempt.

Find Kenyan Medals Online

More Kenyan Medals

See All Kenyan Medals & Awards >

Books About Kenyan History

The Kindred Nations War Cross 1918-1922

The Kindred Nations War Cross 1918-1922 (Heimosotaristi) is a Finnish medal established in 1922 to reward Finnish volunteer participants in the campaigns in Estonia, Eastern Karelia, Aunus and Ingria (Kindred Nations) against Soviet Russia in the years from 1918 to 1922.

The number of volunteers involved in the nine campaigns was small, making the cross rare. These were campaigns by the Finnish volunteers  in the War of Independence in Estonia and during various campaigns in Karelia and other border areas in Russia.

The Kindred Nations War Cross 1918-1922 Design

The medal is struck in bronze and measures 39.8 mm x 40 mm. A sword device on the ribbon was awarded for participation in one campaign.

The Finnish Homeguard Volunteer Service Cross

The Finnish Homeguard Volunteer Service Cross was first established after WW1 and used also during WW2.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

The Finnish Homeguard Volunteer Service Cross Design

The medal is struck in bronze gilt with white and blue enamels and measures 41.7 mm wide. The obverse of the medal shows a white S with a sword superimposed over it, over a blue cross, with some fern leaves.

The Finnish Air Force Cross 1941-1945

The Finnish Air Force Cross 1941-1945 (or Commemorative Cross of the Finnish Air Force) is a Finnish medal awarded to participants in the Continuation War (1941-1945).

The Finnish Air Force Cross 1941-1945 Design

The medal is a two-piece construction with a brass swastika overlaying a blackened bronze cross. It measures 39.5 mm wide.

The 1939-1940 Finish Summa Cross

The 1939-1940 Finish Summa Cross was instituted on the 27th of October 1940 and awarded to participants of the Battle of Summa.

The 1939-1940 Finish Summa Cross (or Summan Risti in Finnish) was instituted on the 27th of October 1940 and awarded to participants of the Battle of Summa during the Winter War (the defense against the Soviet invasion 1939-1940).

Summa was a key Finnish defence position in the Mannerheim Line. The village of Summa was a gateway to the city of Viipuri. The Finns had built 41 reinforced concrete bunkers in the area, making the defense line stronger than elsewhere in the Karelian Isthmus. However, mistakes in planning were made, resulting in a kilometer wide gap in the line, nearby the Munasuo swamp.

The 1939-1940 Finish Summa Cross Design

The medal is struck in silvered white metal and measures 45.5 mm wide.

The 1939-1940 Finnish Middle-Isthmus Battle Cross

The 1939-1940 Finnish Middle-Isthmus Battle Cross was instituted in 1940 and awarded to participants of the defence of the Karelian Isthmus.

The 1939-1940 Finnish Middle-Isthmus Battle Cross (or Keski-Kannaksen Risti in Finnish) was instituted in 1940 and awarded to participants of the defence of the Karelian Isthmus.

The Karelian Isthmus (Karjalankannas in Finnish) is the approximately 45–110-kilometre-wide (30–70 mi) stretch of land that is situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia, to the north of the River Neva. The Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive or Karelian offensive was a strategic operation by the Soviet Leningrad and Karelian Fronts against Finland on the Karelian Isthmus and East Karelia fronts of the Continuation War, on the Eastern Front of World War II.

The 1939-1940 Finnish Middle-Isthmus Battle Cross Design

The medal is a two-piece construction in blackened bronze with a silvered centrepiece and measures 39 mm wide.

The Cross of the Central Karelian Isthmus Battle has an eyelet and a loop for ribbon suspension, as well as silvered crossed swords on the obverse. On top is a central snowflake. The reverse is plain.

The ribbon is orange with two black stripes in the middle.

The Order of the Lion of Finland

The Order of the Lion of Finland (Suomen Leijonan ritarikunta) is one of three official Orders in Finland, established on September 11, 1942.

The Order of the Lion of Finland (or Suomen Leijonan ritarikunta in Finnish) is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty and the Order of the White Rose of Finland. It was established on September 11, 1942.

The Order of the Lion of Finland was established to allow the continuation of decorating foreigners with high ranks in Finnish orders, although it can also be awarded to Finnish nationals. This was because the existing Finnish orders could not keep up with the decorations and their highest grades were in danger to become inflated due to too many holders. 

The President of the country is the Grand Master of all three orders, which are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four members. The orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland have a joint board. The President of Finland wears the Star of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

The classes of the Order of the Lion of Finland are:

  • FIN Order of the Lion of Finland 1Class BAR.png Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland
  • FIN Order of the Lion of Finland 2Class BAR.png Commander, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland
  • FIN Order of the Lion of Finland 3Class BAR.png Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland
  • FIN Order of the Lion of Finland Pro-Finlandia BAR.png Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland (awarded to artists and writers)
  • FIN Order of the Lion of Finland 4Class BAR.png Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland
  • FIN Order of the Lion of Finland 5Class BAR.png Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland
  • FIN Order of the Lion of Finland 5Class BAR.png Cross of Merit of the Order of the Lion of Finland

The Order of the Lion of Finland Design

The ribbon for all classes of insignia is dark red. The cross size and ribbon width are at their greatest for the Grand Cross and are reduced for the Commander First Class and Commander. The ribbon width for Knights is narrower still, but remains at this width for all decorations down to Medals.

The Order of the White Rose

The Order of the White Rose of Finland was established by Gustaf Mannerheim on January 28, 1919 and is one of Finland’s three Orders.

The Order of the White Rose of Finland (or Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunta in Finnish) is, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland, one of Finland’s three Orders. The President is the Grand Master of all three. The order’s rules and regulations were confirmed on May 16, 1919, and its present rules date from June 1, 1940.

The Order of the White Rose of Finland was established by Gustaf Mannerheim on January 28, 1919. The name comes from the nine roses argent in the coat of arms of the country. Generally, the Grand Cross with Collar is awarded only to foreign heads of state, e.g. to King Fuad I of Egypt (1935), Charles de Gaulle (1962), Josip Broz Tito (1963) and King Birendra of Nepal (1988).

The honor can be granted for military as well as civilian merit.

The classes of the Order of the White Rose are:

  • FIN Order of the White Rose Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross of the White Rose of Finland with Collar
  • FIN Order of the White Rose Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross of the White Rose of Finland
  • FIN Order of the White Rose Commander 1st Class BAR.png First Class Commander of the White Rose of Finland
  • FIN Order of the White Rose Commander BAR.png Commander of the White Rose of Finland
  • FIN Order of the White Rose Knight 1st Class BAR.png First Class Knight of the White Rose of Finland
  • Order of the White Rose Ribbon.PNG Knight (Chevalier) of the White Rose of Finland
  • FIN Cross of Merit of the Order of the White Rose BAR.png Cross of Merit of the White Rose of Finland
  • FIN Medal 1st Class of the Order of the White Rose BAR.png First Class Medal of the White Rose of Finland with golden cross
  • FIN Medal 2nd Class of the Order of the White Rose BAR.png First Class Medal of the White Rose of Finland
  • FIN Medal 3rd Class of the Order of the White Rose BAR.png Medal of the White Rose of Finland

The Order of the White Rose Design

The original decorations were designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The swastikas of the collar were replaced by fir crosses in 1963, which were designed by heraldic artist Gustaf von Numers. The ribbon for all classes is ultramarine. The motto of the Order appears on the medallion and is Isänmaan hyväksi, which means “For [the well-being or benefit or advantage of] the Fatherland“.

The President of Finland wears the Grand Cross of the White Rose of Finland with a Collar or neck chain. The Collar is worn four centimetres from either side and hangs at equal distances at the front and back. The Grand Cross and Commander marks are awarded with a breast star.

The Order of the Cross of Liberty

The Order of the Cross of Liberty or Vapaudenristin Ritarikunta was established in 1918 and is one of three official state orders in Finland.

The Order of the Cross of Liberty or Vapaudenristin Ritarikunta was established on March 4, 1918 and is one of three official state orders in Finland.

The Grand Master of the Order of the Cross of Liberty is the President of Finland (he is also the Grand Master of the Order of the White Rose of Finland and of the Order of the Lion of Finland. All of these orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four members.

At its foundation there were seven classes:

  • Grand cross
  • Cross of liberty (1st to 4th class)
  • Medal of liberty (1st and 2nd class).

The decorations of the Order of the Cross of Liberty were initially conferred only in times of war. A decree was issued on 18 August 1944 enabling the decorations to be awarded in peacetime. Decorations of the order were awarded in great numbers during World War II, partly due to Marshal Mannerheim having issued an order that wounded soldiers were to be awarded for their sacrifice, and Finland has no separate decoration for wounded.

The Order of the Cross of Liberty Design

The Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela was commissioned to design the Order’s insignia with the Old-Scandinavian Fylfot, a cross with perpendicular extensions, usually at 90° or close angles, radiating in the same direction.

The awards given for civilian accomplishments are signaled by the color blue in the 3rd and 4th classes. In peacetime, by a yellow ribbon. Awards for military accomplishments in the 3rd and 4th classes have a dark gray color replacing the blue, and are awarded with a red ribbon in wartime.

The Order of Cultural Merit

The Order of Cultural Merit (문화훈장 in Korean) is one of South Korea’s orders of merit, awarded by the President of South Korea for “outstanding meritorious services in the fields of culture and art in the interest of promoting the national culture and national development.”

The Order of Cultural Merit was created after the Korean War broke out. The country only had two orders then: The Grand Order of Mugungha and the Order of National Foundation. While the first was awarded only to the President of the country, the second was destined for those that had fought against the Japanese occupation of Korea. However, in addition to the soldiers fighting the Korean War, there were also thousands of other foreigners that had come to the country’s aid. It became apparent that Korea needed an Order for civilians. The Order of Cultural Merit was created to award these people in recognition of their outstanding meritorious contributions.

The Order has been awarded to novelists, poets, composers, painters, sculptors, and dancers, among others.

Since 1973, the Order of Cultural Merit is conferred in five grades:

  • ROK Order of Cultural Merit Geum-gwan (1st Class) ribbon.PNG 1st Class: Geum-gwan Medal (금관) or Gold Crown (also sized for women).
  • ROK Order of Cultural Merit Eun-gwan (2nd Class) ribbon.PNG 2nd Class: Eun-gwan Medal (은관) or Slver Crown.
  • ROK Order of Cultural Merit Bo-gwan (3rd Class) ribbon.PNG 3rd Class: Bo-gwan Medal (보관) or Precious Crown.
  • ROK Order of Cultural Merit Og-gwan (4th Class) ribbon.PNG 4th Class: Og-gwan medal (옥관) or Jeweled Crown.
  • ROK Order of Cultural Merit Hwa-gwan (5th Class) ribbon.PNG 5th Class: Hwa-gwan Medal (화관) or Flower Crown.

The Order of Cultural Merit Design

The insignia of the order is a cross decorated with red enamels. The ribbon is white with red and blue stripes depending on the class. There are different series for the Order of Cultural Merit.

The 1951 Series

The original Order of Cultural Merit was established in 1951 in three classes. All three classes have 40 x 47 mm breast ribbons. Because the colors of the ribbons were not specified in order, there have been observed medals with reversed patterns. The medal had three classes:

  • 1st Class. Order of Cultural Merit – Republic of Korea Medal: With sunrays of different sizes symbolizing the historical development of cultural exchange with foreign countries. The mugunghwa in the center represents national prosperity, and the golden chain, cultural diplomacy. There are also wings of a dove for peace.
  • 2nd Class. Order of Cultural Merit – Presidential Medal: The symbolism is similar to the 1st class, with the chain referring to cultural continuity from antiquity through present and future times.
  • 3rd Class. Order of Cultural Merit – National Medal: The general design and symbolism are similar to the other classes, but there are only three rays. The chain in this case symbolizes the process of cultural cultivation.

The 1957 Series

The 1957 showed no physical changes to the pendants, but the ribbon was discussed in detail in a government-published booklet. For example, the symbolism of the orange, yellow and blue stripes. 

The 1963 Series

A new Decree was issued in 1962, restricting some of the award’s criteria. The pendant for the 1st class was changed to a pendant suspended from a bow, the 2nd class suspended from a triangular or tri-fold ribbon, and the 3rd class a standard breast badge.

The 1967 Series

The Order does not exist as a series for 1967 because it became part of the Order of Civil Merit. 

The 1973 Series

The Order of Cultural Merit was re-established in five classes in 1973, under the new Decorations Law – which turned into a sort of “Lifetime Achievement Award for the Arts”. The new classes follow the European usage of sashes, breast stars, etc. The 5th class, however, is a rosette on the ribbon. 

The 1984 Series

The 1984 series follows the European usage too, with the addition of a ribbon bar for all classes and a lapel pin. Both follow the ribbon’s colors.