Iraq Active Service Medal AKA King Faisal's War Medal ( RAF )

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay UK

A unnamed, as issued, medal. Occasionally found in R.A.F. and Army groups of medals. This being the original medal (ie pre Huguenin type) see below for details. The medal pictured is the medal you will receive. Nutal-Khidmat al-Awal / General Service Medal, 1926-58 -- In the natureof a general service medal, this medal was awarded for service in specified military operations in Iraq between 1924 and 1936. It is unclear what services after 1936, if any, were represented by this award. The medal was first awarded for services in the Eastern District of Iraq between 24 May 1924 and 18 December 1924 and between 23 March 1925 and 30 September 1925. For service in subsequent operations, a bar was to be awarded instead of a medal. In some cases, however, it appears that a medal with bar may have been issued for the first campaign service. These bars are detailed below. The medal is sometimes referred to - especially in British sources - as the "King Faisal War Medal". This medal was commonly awarded to British officers serving with and in Iraqi forces throughout the interwar period. Unfortunately, the award history and conditions are better known as they pertain to British troops; the corresponding awards to Iraqis are still not well understood. This medal was renewed, after the revolution of 1958, as the new General Service Medal. Established: By Law No. 34 of 1926, the "Gallantry and Active Service Medals Law" of 15 May 1926). The first service conditions for the award were established by a Royal Irada of 18 December 1926 (published in the Government Gazette of 28 December 1926); the dates for qualifying service were amended by Royal Irada of 14 November 1928 (published in the Government Gazette of 6 January 1929). The medal was described in a notification in the Government Gazette of 2 April 1927. Bars were authorized as detailed below. The medal was further revised after the revolution in 1958. Manufactured by Huguenin (La Loche, Switzerland); there is also a variety made by V. Singal & Sons (Baghdad). Obverse: A bright bronze (sometimes incorrectly described as gilt) medal, 53x34 mm, with a crescent and semicircular wreath with an Arabic inscription "Al-Khidmat al-Amma" or "General Service". Crossed rifles in the background, with their muzzles joined by ten rays which attach to the straight bar of the ribbon suspension. The back side of the suspension bar, normally concealed within the ribbon, bears the maker's mark, "HUGUENIN SUISSE". Reverse: Within a circle, Arabic inscription "Al-Awwal / Faisal / 1344" or "Faisal / I / 1344 [A.H. = 1927 C.E.]". Ribbon: 33 mm, equal stripes (11 mm each) green/white/green. The ribbon was originally described in the 1927 description as "A piece of silk, 1½ inches long and 1¼ inches breadth. The two side quarters of the piece shall be in green colour and the middle half white." While no ribbons of this description have been observed on this medal, this description is quite close to the ribbon used for the General Service Medal after 1958. Awards: In addition to being awarded to Iraqi forces, this medal and its bars were also awarded to British army and air force personnel serving in Iraq. medal, no bar medal, plain bar - while this bar has been observed, it is uncertain what services it may represent, perhaps it merely represents bars bearing inscriptions which the British decscribers could not read? medal, inscribed bar: "1927 ???" or "Eastern District 1927" - This bar was established by an undated Royal Irada, published in the Government Gazette on 1 March 1928. It was awarded for services with the Penjwin Column in the Eastern District of Iraq between 19 and 27 April 1927. Some evidence suggests tyaht the period of qualifying service may have been extended back to cover actions in 1926, although this picture is far from clear. "Kurdistan al-Khadbit 1930-31" or "Southern Kurdistan 1930-31" - This bar was established by a Royal Irada without date and published in the Government Gazette of 19 April 1931; these service conditions were later altered by Royal Iradas of 9 June... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.