What do you call the big star medals on royalty or a Field Marshall?

8 August , 2013

Can anyone tell me what you call the big star-like medals like this one on the chest of Field Marshall John French?

8 August , 2013

Insignia, perhaps?

Insignia of the order of......

Roger.

8 August , 2013

Legion of Honour, Grand Star (gilt) or Officer of the Star (silver) probably the latter on Sir John

khaki

9 August , 2013

You'll see similar Stars on officers who were presented with honours by the King; such as Order of the Bath ( awarded to FM Haig - I believe it was after the war but I'm not sure of the date), or the Order of the Garter. I understand that these honours are considered 'Orders of Chivalry' and were awarded by the monarch. Presumably the French have/had a similar system going back some centuries but who awarded them once they became a Republic I have no idea. Garth

9 August , 2013

Frequently called "orders".

9 August , 2013

Aiming Marks!

[tongue firmly in cheek]

9 August , 2013

Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC, PC

not aure which one exactly but google images may help if you need to know exactly

9 August , 2013

They are called the Breast Stars of the insignia of the respective order. That one in the picture is one of the higher grades of the Legion d'Honneur - looks like Grand Officier, second highest grade.

9 August , 2013

You'll see similar Stars on officers who were presented with honours by the King; such as Order of the Bath ( awarded to FM Haig - I believe it was after the war but I'm not sure of the date), or the Order of the Garter. I understand that these honours are considered 'Orders of Chivalry' and were awarded by the monarch. Presumably the French have/had a similar system going back some centuries but who awarded them once they became a Republic I have no idea. Garth

Actually Napoleon revamped them during the 1st Empire and Napoleon III revived them during the 2nd Empire and the President is legally responsible now (but I suspect some grande fonctionnaire is actually responsible)

9 August , 2013

The stars would originally have been worn on a baldrick (no not a scruffy sidekick with a cunning plan but a broad sash worn diagonally across the breast) as pinning things on armour is so difficult

9 August , 2013

The stars would originally have been worn on a baldrick (no not a scruffy sidekick with a cunning plan but a broad sash worn diagonally across the breast) as pinning things on armour is so difficult

I was going to observe that the Star is on the wrong side - and it is, for British custom; but it isn't for the French. I was going to venture that it may just have been invested as he seems to have a notebook in his pocket on the other side, but if that were true he would also be wearing a sash (there is a splendid British Movietone newsreel of Ironside and Gort receiving theirs in early 1940, with stars pinned, sashes applied, and cheek kissing...).

9 August , 2013

Yes - I was going back a bit further when chivalry was closer to its root of cheval - and you had to be of the knightly class (no no not attending a night class) a chevalier to be a member of chivalric order and get a star - hence the need for a baldrick over your armour.