Oman Commendation Medal
Contributed by Ron Strafford
When the idea of Omani medals and decorations was conceived in 1957/58, the British model of recognizing and awarding outstanding service lay squarely at the center of the conceptualization of the new system of awards. To recognize bravery of a lesser level that would warrant the Gallantry Medal, it was decided to institute a decoration for commendation for bravery. Following along British lines, this decoration was conceived as similar to the "mention in dispatches" award, commemorated in British service by a device to be worn on the appropriate campaign medal's ribbon. The plan Was to produce a silver kanjar, or distinctive Omani dagger, for wear on the appropriate campaign medal's ribbon. In fact, while silver kanjars were intended, the manufacturers (Spink in London) made them in bronze, so no silver kanjars may exist. In any case, these were to be worn on The Campaign Medal for the Jabal Akhdar War and, later, on Sultan Said bin Taimur's General Service Medal for Dhofar. For services for which no campaign medal was awarded, the emblem was to be worn on a plain khaki ribbon. There is no clear indication that any such awards were made. The award of this decoration for bravery required two witnesses to the relevant act(s) of bravery and carried with it a payment of Rs. 100. In 1967, the conditions for award were extended to include general distinguished service and exceptional leadership. When the Bravery Medal and Distinguished Service Medal were created, the requirement for two witnesses and the cash payment were dropped. Records exist of only sixteen awards of this emblem (though the list may have been longer); most of these would have been for the Jabal Akhdar campaign. In 1968 the emblem was redesigned as a bronze palm leaf emblem (similar to the palms worn on the French Croix de Guerre). The stalk was to be worn to the wearer's left, either on the appropriate campaign medal or (somewhat unaesthetically) on a separate length of khaki ribbon. Records suggest that only 103 awards of this citation for bravery were ever made, all to Sultan Said bin Taimur's Campaign Medal for Dhofar. After the accession of Sultan Qaboos, and in light of the notable number of odd-looking non-operational awards of the commendation which appeared without accompanying medal when worn, a new commendation medal was created. In all cases, the dark blue ribbon was to carry a new, more refined, palm brance (now in gilt). Following earlier practice, some branches appeared with their stalk to the lower left of the wearer, but later clarifications to regulations made clear that the stalk was to be at the wearer's lower right. In a number of cases, there have been repear awards of the medal (including three third awards), but no additional palm fronds are worn indicating such repeat awards. Established: The original kanjar device was established by Sultan Said bin Taumur about 1957/58; in 1968 the design was altered to a palm leaf. In 1971, Sultan Qabus bin Said created the commendation medal. Manufactured by Spink & Son (London, England). Obverse: In the center, the Omani emblem, above, "???" or "???" and, below, "???" or "???". Reverse: An ornate, calligraphic, Arabic legend "???" or "???". Ribbon: Dark blue. The gilt palm frond is worn diagonally on the ribbon, with stalk to the wearer's lower right. Awards: It is estimated that there were sixteen awards of the kanjar emblem and 103 awards of the bronze palm leaf. Since the creation of the medal, there have been 1,337 awards (through 1994). This includes a moderate number of second awards and three third awards, though there is no addition to the ribbon devices or any other aspect of the medal to represent this fact.
- kanjar emblem (1957-67):
- silver (ever issued?)
- bronze
- palm leaf emblem (1968-70)
- medal (1971-)
- stalk to lower left
- stalk to lower right
Museum Curator : Peter Jordan
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