A South African soldier’s passion for military memorabilia led him to buy a set of medals belonging to executed Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein — and they are now on display in Johannesburg.
”Medals tell the story of a country. The medals are very, very colourful and the medals and medallions tell a story,” said William Endley, a retired South African National Defence Force colonel now working for a United States de-mining company.
”The Middle East has their own way of doing things … ours is much more formal.”
Endley was speaking from southern Sudan, where he is clearing explosives and landmines so food aid can be transported, and teaching locals to do the same.
He started collecting military memorabilia at the age of 14 with items his late grandfather left him.
”I was five years old when I decided to become a soldier. It’s all I ever wanted to be.”
In mid-2004 he was working in Iraq when he was offered a set of Saddam’s awards by a former soldier who probably bought them from a Baghdad medals dealer. Endley immediately bought the collection.
”It was quite an expensive little exercise.”
In January he loaned Saddam’s medals to the South African National Museum of Military History where they are on display to the public.
The collection is in excellent condition and includes sashes, medals and orders.
There is a photograph of Saddam, taken more than 20 years ago, wearing full dress uniform with his awards.
Museum staff say there has been great interest in the collection, particularly from military experts.
”It’s quite a coup,” said museum spokesperson Allan Sinclair.
Museum acting director Sandi MacKenzie said it was unusual to get such a collection so soon after the original owner’s death or fall from power. ”It normally takes us 100 years to get something like this.”
Experts believe the collection is genuine.
MacKenzie explained that heads of state often have duplicate sets of medals and orders, for travelling.
The museum display notes that ”Saddam was known to have had 19 palaces prior to the 1991 Gulf War and at least 25 additional palaces were built or partially completed in the decade that followed.
”Given Saddam’s travel routines, he moved frequently between his various palaces, so it is assumed that he had duplicate medals and uniforms at a number of these palaces.”
MacKenzie said the first four medals Saddam was awarded were for gallantry, and these he got before taking power. ”He earned them as a soldier would earn them.”
Saddam, born in 1937, was a soldier before turning to politics. He was vice-chairperson of the Iraqi Revolutionary Council from 1969 to 1979, then president until the 2003 United States invasion. He was convicted of crimes against humanity and executed on December 30 2006.
His awards include the rare Wisam al-Jadara or Order of Merit — awarded to only three or four Iraqi rulers.
His Order of the Mother of Battles has a star and a sash in the red, black and white of the Iraqi flag with ”Allah Akbar” (God is Great) on it, for the 1991 Gulf War against Kuwait and the US.
Saddam received the Order of the Two Rivers, which Endley described as the piece he was most proud of collecting. This is a civilian and military award, and has republican and royal versions. Saddam wore a military version.
The museum also has Endley’s collection of orders and decorations from Iraq, awarded to other soldiers from 1932 to 2003.
”As sanctions were imposed on Iraq, the medals got cheaper and cheaper and lighter and lighter,” said MacKenzie. Some are plastic.
These honour the Mother of Battles, the Ba’ath party and the opening of oil refineries and factories. There are martyrs medals for mothers and widows, and ”Long live the president” badges.
MacKenzie described all medals as ”wonderful, fascinating”, explaining that the different colours of the ribbons could indicate the forces involved, and sea or land battles.
Museum curator James Boale said the ”controversial” Iraq collection has inspired much discussion, with most visitors critical of Saddam but also of his death and the US involvement in Iraq.
The museum is open seven days a week. — Sapa