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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 240

Iraq, Kingdom, Active Service Medal (2), 1 clasp, 'South Kurdistan 1930-31', of local manufacture, 34mm, bronze; no clasp, by Huguenin, Suisse, 34mm, bronze, maker's mark to reverse suspension bar, light contact marks, both very fine overall (2)

Instituted in 1926 by the Gallantry and Active Service Medals Law No. 34, although referred to in the Regulations as the General Service Medal, the inscription on the medal and all subsequent references to it in the Iraqi Government Gazette refer to it as the Active Service Medal. The medal, bronze in colour, takes the shape of a disc fixed upon two crossed rifles with their muzzles appearing at the top and their butts at the bottom. Between the muzzles is a radiation of nine lance points. In the centre of the obverse the inscription 'Active Service' rests above a laurel wreath and a crescent, and the reverse features 'Faisal The First' and the Hijrah date of institution '1344'.

Whilst initially issued without clasps, from 1930 to 1936 five distinct clasps were issued: 'Southern Kurdistan 1930-31', 'Barzan 1932', 'The Tiareen Operations 1933', 'The Euphrates Operations 1935' and 'The Euphrates Operations 1936'. It would appear that these were issued loose as the suspension bar's design did not easily accommodate clasps. Such clasps as issued to the British Royal Air Force were affixed to the medal and are believed to have been attached locally. The initial issues bear no maker's mark, however in the later years of the monarchy they were manufactured by Huguenin of Le Locle, Switzerland.

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Estimate
£60 to £80

Starting price
£50