Islam Çaush Hamzaj, Career Soldier.

[CtahhR]

Here is the group of Islam Çaush Hamzaj, a career soldier and liberator. His group covers the 1940's to 1980's. Unfortunately some of the documents are missing but the group is otherwise complete.

His group consists of;

Order "40 Years Of The Party Of Labour Of Albania"
Order "Red Star"
Order Of Military Service 2nd Class
Order Of Military Service 3rd Class
Medal "For Bravery"
Medal "For Bravery"
Medal Of The Liberation
Medal Of Labour
Medal Of "10 Years Of The Army"

[CtahhR]

His c1970 Ribbon Bar shows the first 2/3rds of his awards.

Usually the two striped Red Star ribbon goes after the Military Service 2nd but this is a Type 1 Ribbon for the pre-1965 Order which was then replaced by the 1st Class.

On his main bar the Medal Of "10th Anniversary Of The Army" was removed and replaced with a second "For Bravery". By who and when is not known but probably in the late 1980's. His wife must have put the bar together for him as it is sewn together with long white hairs round the thread.

The pin on the Ribbon Bar is at the bottom (I haven't photographed it upside down).

[CtahhR]

His Medal Of "10 Years Of The Army" was awarded by Unit 7250 in Durres. Indicating he was born in 1920 in Libonik. It also erroneously lists his family name as "Haxhiu".

Notice the strange circular pattern on the rear.

[CtahhR]

Awarded the Order "Red Star" on 22nd June 1959 by Decree 2916.

"For work of honesty and tirelessness during ten years of service in the rank of the People's Army."

Awarded the Order Of Military Service 2nd Class on 1st November 1969 by Decree 4563.

"For contribution giving to the strengthening of combat readiness, for work of tirelessness in the education of personnel in high political-morality, for loyalty of boundlessness to the People, Nation and Party Of Labour Of Albania"

Unfortunately the document for the Order Of Military Service 3rd Class is missing but the Variation is later than that of the documented 2nd Class.

[CtahhR]

His Order "40 Years Of The Party Of Labour Of Albania" was awarded on 16th October 1981 with a rather interesting cover.

Going by his Medal Bar this Order was higher up the order of precedence than the Red Star (1st Class).

A 1984 dated certificate for merit to the Committee Of Veterans over 40 years.

Unfortunately for now all of the Decrees relating to all of his awards are missing but hopefully later everything will present itself.

[Al-muell]

Albania's not my area, but it is always nice to see an award group from that country