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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: RWTaylor on Monday 08 January 24 12:31 GMT (UK)

Title: Cross of St George 4th Class
Post by: RWTaylor on Monday 08 January 24 12:31 GMT (UK)

I have recently found that a relative received the Cross of St George 4th Class (London Gazette 15 May 1917 Supplement). He served with the Seaforths and was killed in Iraq on 22 February 1917.

Can anyone help with information on the Cross of St George and why he might have received it? And any thoughts on why it was Gazetted after his death?

Thanks

RWT

Title: Re: Cross of St George 4th Class
Post by: AllanUK on Monday 08 January 24 13:17 GMT (UK)

From the book 'Ribbons and Medals' by H Taprell Dorling:

"The Order of St. George...was awarded only for conspicuous bravery in action against the enemy...

"Over two million Crosses and Medals of St. George were distributed to soldiers, sisters of mercy, and members of Red Cross institutions and hospitals during the First World War...

"The Order of St. George was essentially military, and could never be conferred upon civilians except for services actually under fire...

"The black and orange ribbon of this Order meant 'through Darkness to Light,' ..."

Title: Re: Cross of St George 4th Class
Post by: KGarrad on Monday 08 January 24 13:28 GMT (UK)

From my copy of "The Medal Yearbook":

The Order of Saint George (Russian: Орден Святого Георгия, romanized: Orden Svyatogo Georgiya) is the highest military decoration of the Russian Federation. It was originally established on 26 November 1769 Julian (7 December 1769 Gregorian) as the highest military decoration of the Russian Empire for commissioned officers and generals by Empress Catherine the Great. After the October Revolution in 1917, it was awarded by the White movement under Alexander Kolchak until their collapse in 1921.

Title: Re: Cross of St George 4th Class
Post by: Fisherman on Monday 08 January 24 13:30 GMT (UK)

The Cross Of St. George was a medal presented by the Russians.
It was occasionally awarded to British, British Empire and Dominion personnel for acts of gallantry during WW1.
The award was scrapped by the revolutionary government in late 1917. It was reinstated in 1992.

Fisherman
Oops see KG beat me to it.  ;D

Title: Re: Cross of St George 4th Class
Post by: RWTaylor on Monday 08 January 24 13:33 GMT (UK)

Thank you everyone for these very helpful replies. I'd never heard of the medal before and this is very useful information.

RWT

Title: Re: Cross of St George 4th Class
Post by: cath151 on Monday 08 January 24 17:55 GMT (UK)

May have the wrong person here but from your previous post...
https://archive.org/details/rollofhonourbiog02ruvi/page/150/mode/1up?view=theater

Apologies if you have already
Cathy

Title: Re: Cross of St George 4th Class
Post by: RWTaylor on Monday 08 January 24 19:03 GMT (UK)

Thanks for that, Cathy.

RWT