Orders, Decorations and Medals - Medals by Country

Thailand

A variety of Thailand medal images with Thai text, however medal name is given in English.

www.nectec.or.th

Thai (Siamese)

Ministry of the Treasury Executive Management Course Badge

Script on the top says "Ministry of the Treasury" and on the bottom "Course for Officials on Executive Management". The Badge measures 45mm in diameter. I suspect the badge is a sort of qualification badge for those who have completed a government course on executive management or for those that teach the course. I hope this helps. Reference email from Edward Thiravej Ploysongsang

Rakkiat risks losing knighthood honours Disgraced former public health minister Rakkiat Sukthana may lose his Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) for the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant. (Broken Link for Information purposes only) Nation Multimedia.com 03 Oct 03

Last Thai veteran of the Great War passes away The country's last World War I veteran, Second Lieutenant Yod Sangrungruang, passed away at the age of 106 in Phitsanulok. Yod also became the first Thai to be awarded the Legion d'Honneur from French President Jacques Chirac through the French ambassador to Thailand. The Nation 10 Oct 03

Honour for Premier Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday became the first Arab official to be decorated with Thailand's highest honour when he attended a ceremony at the royal palace here.The Premier was granted the Knight Grand Cordon Special Class of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant during a meeting and presentation ceremony with Thai Crown Prince Maha Majrayoun Jakorn. Gulf Daily News 4 Dec 03

Royal honour for 82 men, women A Muslim philanthropist, an educator, a city clerk, an ambassador and a Cabinet member’s wife are among 30 ladies joining 52 knights to be decorated on Coronation Day. His Majesty the King will bestow the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao to 82 men and women in recognition of their meritorious services to the Kingdom. Khunying Saengdao Siamwalla will be named Chula Chom Klao Second Class (Knight Commander), in recognition for her work with Muslim charities. Firsttime lady recipients of Chula Chom Klao Order include Nathanon Thavisin, a city clerk; Suchada Kiranandana, president of Chulalongkorn University; and Laxanachantorn Laohaphan, Thailand’s permanent representative to the United Nations. The three married ladies will be addressed as “Khunying”, while another recipient, Council of State Pornthip Jala, will have the title of “Khun”. Khunying Suthawan Sathirathai, wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, is to be promoted to the status of Thanphuying for receiving the Order’s Second Class (Knight Grand Commander). Awarded knighthoods are Privy Councillor Sawat Watanayakorn and Phan Wannamethee, president of the Red Cross. Both men will named Chula Chom Klao First Class (Knight Grand Cross). Somchainuek Engtrakul, permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry; Don Pramudwinai, Thailand’s ambassador to Belgium; and Vichit Surapongchai, Siam Commercial Bank’s executive chairman are among the recipients of Chula Chom Klao Second Class (Knight Commander). Atthaniti Disathaamnarj, president of the Supreme Court, and Foreign Affairs Minister Surakiart are to be awarded Chula Chom Klao Third Class (Companion), which is bestowed on heirs of past recipients. The Order, established in 1873 by King Rama V, has three classes for knights and four classes for ladies. Each class has two grades. nationmultimedia.com 5 May 04

President Confers Top Military Award on Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces The Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF), General Chaisit Shinawatra (Extreme Left) with President S R Nathan and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung at the Istana was conferred Singapore’s highest military award, Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera), or the Distinguished Service Order (Military), by President S R Nathan at the Istana.in recognition of his outstanding contributions to fostering excellent ties between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the RTARF. news.navy.mil 16 Aug 05

Royal honour 'not cancelled' Clarifying the absence today of the usual Coronation Day ceremony to bestow the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said that this did not mean the royal decoration itself would not be awarded this year. "What has been postponed is the royal decoration ceremony. He said this was not the first year in which the decoration of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao had been bestowed at a time other than Coronation Day, May 5. "The absence of the decoration ceremony has no relation to the government whatsoever, because no Cabinet members have been awarded [the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao] this year," he said, without explaining. Wissanu's clarification followed his statement to the Cabinet meeting that it would not be unusual if the King decided not to bestow the decoration this year. nationmultimedia.com 5 May 06

Indonesia honours Thai general for brokering peace in Aceh A high-ranking Thai soldier is among four foreigners who have been awarded Indonesia's highest decoration for their contribution to building peace in Banda Aceh. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono presented the decorations to former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, Yuha Christensen, also a Finn, Peter Faith from the Netherlands and Thailand's Lieutenant General Niphat Thonglek, who commanded peacekeeping forces on the ground. Indonesia praised the four as the most important figures behind peace agreement between the Indonesian government and rebels representing the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) who signed a peace agreement aimed at ending their nearly 30-year-conflict a year ago. Indonesia marked the first anniversary of the peace accord with GAM with a ceremony attended by Acehnese people and some high-ranking representatives from the European Union. Under the agreement, the rebels dropped their demand for full independence but accepted a form of local self-government and the right to equally establish a political party while the Indonesian government agreed to release political prisoners and offered farmland to former combatants to help them reintegrate into civilian life. Last August, Thailand assigned Lt. Gen. Niphat as the country's representative to help broker peace in Aceh. The Indonesian government said Lt. Gen. Niphat was trusted from both sides and had played a major role in coordinating with Aceh freedom fighters who laid down their weapons in return for Aceh receiving greater autonomy from the central government. One year ago, Indonesia and its province of Banda Aceh signed a peace accord in Helsinki, Finland, ending 29 years of war that cost at least 15,000 lives. etna.mcot.net 17 Aug 06

Singapore Scout Association conferred highest scouting honour by Thailand The Singapore Scout Association's President, Mr Noel Hon, and its Chief Commissioner, Mr Nicholas Tang, have been awarded the highest scouting honour of Thailand. They were presented the First Class Citation Medal. The award recognises their work for the National Scout Organisation of Thailand, and for promoting stronger ties between both countries' national scout organisations. channelnewsasia.com 27 Apr 07

Retiree builds war museum to honour promise to soldier A retired Tahiland police officer who built a Japanese war museum in Mae Hong Son has been given a royal decoration by Emperor Akihito of Japan. Cherdchai Chomchavat, formerly Khun Yuam district police chief, built the museum to honour his promise to a former Japanese soldier. He said all wartime items kept at his museum were of spiritual value as they were used by Japanese soldiers, who died in the province during World War II in 1945. He collected wartime items and learned war stories, but it was the promise he made to a Japanese soldier that gave him the inspiration. ''I promised a Japanese military officer to do my best to build the museum, to strengthen ties between Thailand and Japan,'' said Pol Lt-Col Cherdchai, 66, after attending the royal decorations-awarding ceremony at the Japanese embassy in Bangkok last week. The ceremony is held as part of activities to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Thai-Japanese relations. Pol Lt-Col Cherdchai is one of two Thais who were made recipients of the ''Order of the Rising Sun'' class. He collected wartime items during his work in Khun Yuam district which was once occupied by Japanese troops. Japanese soldiers built a field hospital to treat 100,000 Japanese soldiers after their retreat from Burma more than 60 years ago. His one-storey museum, situated in the district, houses more than 1,000 items such as uniforms, swords, badges, medicines, bank notes, photos, and personal accounts. The other royal decoration recipient was Prof Pirash Thajchayapong, an electrical engineering expert and former permanent secretary for science. He had strengthened scientific cooperation between the countries since 1986 when he served as rector of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, Lat Krabang campus. bangkokpost.com 2 Jul 07

Sonthi Among Top Foreign Military Brass Conferred Gallantry Medal Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin is among five top foreign military brass conferred the Malaysian Armed Forces' Order of Gallantry and Military Service. Sonthi was bestowed the "Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera", the armed forces' highest honour to foreign military leaders. Australian Army Commander Lt-Gen Peter Leahy, Royal Brunei Army Chief Col Pengiran Rosli Chuchu, Royal Thai Navy Commander Admiral Satirapan Keyanon and Royal Brunei Navy Commander Col Datuk Paduka Joharie Matussin also received the medal. Two Malaysian army top brass -- Mejar-Gen Datuk Mohd Yunus Long and Mej-Gen Datuk Mokhtar Perman -- were honoured with "Panglima Setia Angkatan Tentera". Sixteen servicemen received "Pahlawan Angkatan Tentera", "Kesatria Angkatan Tentera (86) and Bentara Angkatan Tentera (101). bernama.com.my 20 Aug 07

Thailand Air Force Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Chalit Pukbhasuk received the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) or Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) award from Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean on Friday.

Royal Thai Air Force Chief conferred Meritorious Service Medal The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force has been conferred Singapore's military award, the Meritorious Service Medal. Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Chalit Pukbhasuk received the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) or Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) award from Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean. The Commander received the award in recognition of his contributions to bilateral relations between the Royal Thai Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). Previous Royal Thai Air Force Chiefs who had received the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) in recent years included ACM Kongsak Vantana and ACM Sanan Tourtip. channelnewsasia.com 21 Dec 07

PM's wife elevated to 'thanpuying' Col Khunying Chitrawadee Chulanont, wife of the prime minister, was among seven ''khunying'' title holders elevated to ''thanpuying'' in a ceremony marking Coronation Day. The other six are Khunying Srinat Suriya, M.R. Prasarnsuwan Suwannarat, Khunying Wanida Poonsiri, Khunying Parani Lamsam, Col Khun Ni-orn Sanitwong na Ayutthaya and Khunying Tassaniya Suwannarat. They were awarded the Dame Grand Commander (Second Class) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chulachomklao decoration. Mom Kamala Yukol na Ayutthaya, wife of movie director M.C. Chatrichalerm, along with 17 other women, was made a Member of the Most Illustrious Order of Chulachomklao (Fourth Class), giving them the title of khunying. The 17 others are Noppakhun Yuchamnong, Supatra Jarujaron, M.L. Yuwanwaree Kittiyakorn, M.R. Thippawadee Dulalampa, M.R. Duenden Kittiyakorn, Dr Wanna Sombunwibun, Pattama Leesawattrakul, Ornsri Wangwiwat, Jongrak Sangprasit, Bang-orn Kemajaru, Maj-Gen Tassanee Patjusanont, M.R. Emjit Jittrapong, M.L. Hiranyika Wannamethi, Sukanya Burana, Col Warunee Amatayakul, Sasiwong Puengtrakul and Jintana Thupthong, who is HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's personal nurse. Fifty-three women and 54 men were bestowed royal decorations by His Majesty the King at the Grand Palace. Privy councillors Kasem Wattanachai and Palakorn Suwannarat were awarded the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chulachomklao decoration. Various classes of orders were established in 1873 by King Rama V. bangkockpost.com 6 May 08

Singapore Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean conferring the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) on Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, Gen Anupong Paojinda

Royal Thai Army Chief Receives Prestigious Military Award The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army (RTA), General (GEN) Anupong Paojinda, was conferred Singapore's prestigious military award, the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) [or Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)] by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at an investiture held at the Ministry of Defence. The Meritorious Service Medal (Military) was awarded to GEN Anupong in recognition of his outstanding efforts and contributions to enhancing the excellent ties between the armies of Singapore and Thailand. Under GEN Anupong's strong leadership, both armies have continued their close cooperation in a wide spectrum of activities, including the bilateral Exercise Kocha Singa, visits, courses, and other professional exchanges. Such interactions have helped to enhance professionalism and strengthened mutual understanding among the personnel of the two armies. mindef.gov.sg 22 Jan 09

Thaksin's royal decorations and police rank to be recalled Cabinet Secretariat can recall ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's royal decoration following advises from the Council of State, said Surachai Puprasert, secretariat's secretary general. The secretariat will also ask police department to proceed the strip of Thaksin's police rank. Earlier the Council of State has advised the Cabinet to strip Thaksin's police rank of lieutenant colonel and to recall his royal decorations, following his conviction and jail sentence last year. The council, which is the government's legal advisory agency, sent its recommendation to the Cabinet Secretariat. It said the fact that Thaksin, who carries the rank of police lieutenant colonel, was sentenced to imprisonment and that disqualified him from holding a rank under the Royal Thai Police regulations. He was also obliged to return his royal decorations under the Prime Minister's Office regulations. Thaksin was sentenced in absentia by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders in October last year to two years in jail for conflict of interest. He did not appeal the ruling but instead argued that it was politically motivated.

List of Thaksin's royal decorations

1974 - Member (Fifth Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand

1976 - Companion (Fourth Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand

1980 - Companion (Fourth Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant

1985 - Commander (Third Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand

1994 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant

1995 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand

1996 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant

2001 - Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn.

2002 - Knight Commander (Second Class,lower grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao .

nationmultimedia.com 28 Oct 09

Ribbons of Thailand Eric Bush Aug 04