sneakyimp Posted 8 August , 2013 Share Posted 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 8 August , 2013 Share Posted 8 August , 2013 Insignia, perhaps? Insignia of the order of...... Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 8 August , 2013 Share Posted 8 August , 2013 Legion of Honour, Grand Star (gilt) or Officer of the Star (silver) probably the latter on Sir John khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 9 August , 2013 Share Posted 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc2 Posted 9 August , 2013 Share Posted 9 August , 2013 Frequently called "orders". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulkheader Posted 9 August , 2013 Share Posted 9 August , 2013 Aiming Marks! [tongue firmly in cheek] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 9 August , 2013 Share Posted 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 9 August , 2013 Share Posted 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 9 August , 2013 Share Posted 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 9 August , 2013 Share Posted 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 9 August , 2013 Share Posted 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...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 9 August , 2013 Share Posted 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sneakyimp Posted 29 August , 2013 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2013 Excellent information everyone and thank you. Googling "breast stars" yields numerous images so that seems the proper generic term I guess. Regarding coldstream's post, I believe I have located the appropriate honors for each abbreviation on the wikipedia page: KP - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_St._Patrick GCB - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath OM - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Merit GCVO - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCVO KCMG - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KCMG ADC - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aide_de_Camp PC - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privy_Council_of_the_United_Kingdom I believe Staffsyeoman is right about it being Legion D'Honneur Grand Officier. You can see a large image of a replica here: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelcave Posted 30 August , 2013 Share Posted 30 August , 2013 Whatever, very sloppy turnout - that man has a button undone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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