Item number: M378

Year: AD 1954

Material: Bronze

Size: 78.0 x 19.0 x 1.6 mm

Weight: 3.95 g

Provenance: Private Collector, UK, 2024

This medal, established in AD 1954 by the Kingdom of Iraq, is known as the “Flood Rescue Medal” and was awarded to individuals who participated in the disaster relief efforts during the March AD 1954 floods in and around the capital city of Baghdad. The recipients of this medal were not limited to Iraqi nationals; among them were 66 British military personnel stationed in the region who contributed to the relief efforts and were honoured with this distinction. This bronze medal represents a miniature version commissioned by one of the British recipients upon returning to the United Kingdom, crafted by a local jeweller.

The design of the medal is identical to the official version, featuring a circular form. The obverse depicts a man holding a woman, both standing atop sandbags, reaching forward as if signalling for rescue. In the background, rain and the overflowing Tigris River can be faintly seen. To the left, two palm trees partially submerged by the floodwaters are depicted, while on the right, a rescue boat is shown approaching. In the upper left corner, the silhouette of a building spared from the flood serves as a symbol of survival amidst the disaster.

The reverse side of the medal features three lines of Arabic inscriptions arranged from top to bottom: “نوط الإنقاذ” (Rescue Medal), “فيضان العراق” (Iraq Flood), and the issuance year “١٩٥٤” (1954). At the top of the medal, an overlapping laurel leaf design connects to a circular ring. Above the ring is a ribbon featuring a white field with green edges and a central grey stripe.

On March 29, AD 1954, following days of heavy rain, the Tigris River running through Baghdad posed an imminent risk of flooding, particularly in the vulnerable low-lying areas of the eastern bank. A British engineer employed by the Iraqi Irrigation Department advised the government to evacuate the city’s residents. Acting on the recommendation of the technical expert, Iraq’s Prime Minister, Crown Prince, and other senior officials convened an emergency meeting. Initially, the government favoured a plan to evacuate residents from the eastern bank to the safer western bank. However, the Minister of Interior rejected the proposal, citing concerns that the chaos during the evacuation could trigger widespread panic. Although Baghdad ultimately weathered the crisis, the flood still inflicted significant damage on the city.

To address the recurring annual flood threats to Baghdad, the government initiated a dam construction project on the Diyala River, a tributary of the Tigris River, in AD 1954. The project was completed in AD 1956.

物件編號: M378

年代: 公元 1954 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 78.0 x 19.0 x 1.6 mm

重量: 3.95 g

來源: 英國私人收藏 2024

這是一枚公元1954年，伊拉克王國設立的「洪水救援獎章」以勉勵投入當年3月於首都巴格達一帶的救災人員。這一枚獎章的頒發對象不限於伊拉克人，亦有六十六名駐紮於當地的英軍官兵投入救災得到此殊榮。這一枚以青銅製成的獎章，正是其中一名英籍得獎者賦歸後，委託英國的珠寶商製作的迷你版獎章。

獎章的形制跟官方版無二異，外觀為圓形。獎章正面刻畫著一名抱著女性的男性，兩人一起站在沙包上面向前方伸出手等待救援。人的背後能依稀看到雨水和氾濫成災的底格里斯河，左邊是兩株被洪水吞沒的棕櫚樹，右邊則有一艘緩緩駛來的救援小艇。而在左上角則是倖免於難的建築物輪廓。

獎章背面則有三行阿拉伯銘文，從上而下依序是：「نوط الإنقاذ」(救援獎章)、「فيضان العراق」(伊拉克洪水) 和發行年份「١٩٥٤」(1954)。獎章頂端有重疊的月桂葉裝飾以銜接圓環，圓環上方是一個白底綠邊和中央有一道灰線的綬帶。

公元1954年3月29日，歷經連日的大雨貫穿巴格達的底格里斯河隨時有氾濫的風險，尤其在低窪的東岸地區又更加危險，受聘於伊拉克灌溉總局的英籍技師建議政府疏離城市的居民。接受到技術人員的建議後，伊拉克總理和王儲等高級官員立刻展開緊急會議，原先政府傾向將居民從東岸疏散到西岸的避難規劃。但是內政部長卻以逃難過程的混亂恐造成恐慌否決該計畫。雖然巴格達後續順利度過這次危機，但是洪災仍造成城市莫大的損失。

為了著手解決每年都會侵擾巴格達的洪水危機，政府於公元1956年針對底格里斯河的支流瑟萬河展開築壩工程，並且於公元1956年竣工。