Serbia Awards and Decorations
The following Serbian awards were made to soldiers of the Worcestershire Regiment for gallantry or meritorious service. They are recorded in the London Gazette, indicating the granting of the award or decoration by the sovereign of Serbia, and intimating the British sovereigns permission for it to be accepted and worn by the recipient.
Order of the White Eagle
|
Order of the Star of Karageorge |
Obilich Medal for Bravery |
Order of the White Eagle
Instituted in 1882 in five classes. When bestowed for military merit and gallantry swords are awarded and appear below the crown.
Order of the White Eagle the badge is a crowned double-headed eagle in gold and enamelled white. Obverse centre a white cross on an oval plaque with a fire-steel (tinderbox) in each quarter. The Order is pendant on the Royal crown; when awarded with crossed swords these appear immediately below the crown. Reverse oval plaque has the crowned Royal cypher of the Serbian King Milan; awards from 1903 have the establishment date 1882 replacing the Royal cypher. Ribbon: Red with wide pale blue side stripes.
The Order consists of:
Grand Cross: Badge of the Order on a Sash and a gilded Breast Star.
Grand Officer: Badge of the Order worn on a necklet and a smaller Breast Star.
Commander: Badge of the Order worn on a necklet.
Officer: Badge of the Order in gilt worn on a triangular chest ribbon.
Knight: Badge of the Order in silver worn on a triangular chest ribbon.
The Breast Star of the Order in silver-gilt faceted rays, with four lesser and four prominent star points, overlaid with the crowned badge of the Order. If swords have been awarded they are added to the Breast Star.
During the First World War a number of British officers were awarded this decoration with swords for their gallantry and achievements. The Serbian armies of 190,000 troops were fighting the Austro-Hungarian army on the northern border, assisting at various levels were British officers, including some who served with the Serbian Army General Staff.
Order of the Star of Karageorge
Instituted in January 1904 in four classes, in 1915 a further class with two divisions was added this was to be known as the Soldier's Order of the Star of Karageorge with swords, a bravery award for noncommissioned officers and men.
Order of the Star of Karageorge is in gold or silver according to class, a white enamelled cross pattée convexed with gilt rays between the arms, crossed swords when awarded appear in the angles. Obverse blue medallion has the Serbian Arms of a white cross with fire-steels in each quarter, a circlet of white enamel
has the gold circumscription FOR FREEDOM and the date 1804, (this date being the awakening of the Nation from its Turkish oppressors). Reverse red medallion has a white eagle, the circlet has the wording PETER I 1904. An open crown surmounts the cross. Ribbon Military: Red. Ribbon Civil: Red with white edge stripes.
Soldier's Order of the Star of Karageorge Instituted June 1915 in two divisions being divided into 1st division Gold Cross or 2nd division Silver Cross, awarded for bravery performed by non-commissioned officers and men on the field of battle. The badge design being as that of the Order with the exception that both crosses are without enamel and have crossed swords, they also carry different inscriptions on the circlets to that appearing on the four senior classes. Obverse medallion circlet reads FOR BRAVERY. Reverse medallion circlet reads PETER I, with the years of the recipient's war service thus 1914-15 or any combination right through to 1914-1918. Ribbon: Red.
The Order consists of:
Grand Cross: Badge of the Order on a Sash and Breast Star.
Grand Officer: Badge of the Order on a necklet and slightly smaller Breast Star.
Commander: Badge of the Order on a necklet.
Officer: Badge of the Order worn on a triangular chest ribbon.
Soldier's Gold Cross: Badge in gilt with silver rays and swords, on a chest ribbon.
Soldier's Silver Cross: Badge in silver with gilt rays and swords, on a chest ribbon.
The Breast Star has the Badge of the Order without crown superimposed upon the eight-pointed silver plain rayed star.
Obilich Medal for Bravery
Instituted in July 1913 in two classes. Awarded to officers and men for bravery on the field of battle during the Bulgarian war.
Obilich Medal for Bravery in gold or silver according to class. Obverse has the armour clad head and shoulders of Obilich the warrior surrounded by his title MILOCH OBILICH. Reverse a cross pattee with crossed swords between the arms, centre the words FOR BRAVERY encircled by a wreath of laurel. Ribbon: Red. The two classes are divided into Gold Medals (or silver gilt) for officers and Silver Medals (or silvered bronze) for non
commissioned officers and men. The medal is found in two different sizes, this does not appear to reflect the class or grade and could possibly be due to the five different manufacturers not working to a sealed pattern.
First World War (1918-1920)
Order of the White Eagle - with swords (Serbian) |
|||||
Surname |
Forename/s |
Rank |
Number |
Award Class |
Gazette Date |
Douglas Edward |
Lt.-Col. (T/Brig.-Gen.) |
- |
3rd Class |
15/02/1917 |
|
William Frederick Oliver |
Capt. (T/Lt.-Col.) |
- |
4th Class |
15/02/1917 |
|
Notes:
Capt. W. F. O. Faviell was awarded the decoration on the 27th August 1916.
Lieut.-Col. D. E. Cayley was awarded the decoration September/October 1916.
Order of the Star of Karageorge - Gold Star with swords (Serbian) |
|||||
Surname |
Forename/s |
Rank |
Number |
Award Class |
Gazette Date |
Blood, M.M. |
William Joseph |
Sgt. |
16104 |
1st Class |
07/06/1919 |
Obilich Medal for Bravery (Serbian) |
|||||
Surname |
Forename/s |
Rank |
Number |
Award Class |
Gazette Date |
Smith |
William |
Pte. |
13530 |
Silver Medal |
15/02/1917 |