paja

Maybe I misspoken, you are right. What I meant is that Ford has reached that rank, and that during WW2 he was involved with the OSS. That's the part missing in your quote. Anyway the reason why I've asked if the emblem was British is because I think I've read somewhere that it is, not sure. Pictures are too small but I think that there are letters E and R on emblem, could be standing for Elizabeth Regina. But then on the other hand ER could be standing for a lot of other things, emergency room is the first one that comes to my mind. Regards, Radmilo

Could be that way, in fact that's probably what happened, but still interesting article and a nice story. There are also some interesting stories about one time when Peter Bogdanovich (Whose father was a Serb) tried to make an interview with the old Ford. By the way Bogdanovich was the guest of Honour this year on that movie festival I've mentioned before, 40th FEST. I've managed to find that article so if someone is interested and understands Serbian (maybe with Google Translate) here it is: http://politikin-zabavnik.rs/pz/tekstovi/admiral-iza-kamere

Yes, you are right, it is 2nd artillery regiment. My apologies, for some reason I completely overlooked the last column. So Stevan Jankovic was a private in 2nd artillery regiment of the Kragujevac brigade of the 2nd division of the Shumadija corps.

You are most welcome Igor. If you ever need help with translation from Serbian don't hesitate to ask. Best regards, Radmilo

And what's that star on his chest? Something British, maybe Imperial Service Order? Unfortunately I'm absolutely clueless when it comes to British decorations. Now that we are talking about orders in movies, some time ago I've read an article in the newspapers about how the Order of St. Sava was used in a movie from 1956 by John Ford called "The Searchers". The article said that at beginning of the movie main character played by John Wayne gives an order which he was awarded in Mexico to a little girl. Order used in the movie was the Serbian St. Sava order 3. grade, only it was not on a original ribbon but on green and red one. John Ford besides of being a famous, Oscar-winning director was also the US Navy Rear Admiral and a member of OSS during WW2. It is said that he was involved in some missions in the then occupied Yugoslavia, and that during that time he learned a little bit of Serbian and something about our culture. On the first Serbian/Yugoslav movie festival called the FEST in 1971 one of the guests was Frank Capra. He was received by Tito which gave him some Yugoslav order (I wasn't able to find out which one) that was to be given to John Ford for his involvement in a rescue mission during the war! Because of that some people speculate that Ford was involved in Tito's extraction during German operation Rosselsprung (Desant na Drvar). He probably used St. Sava in the Searchers because of his connections with Serbia. And even if not, story was very interesting to me. Regards, Radmilo

This reminded me on that time when Michael Jackson wore Serbian Order of the White Eagle with Swords 3. grade around his neck during the child molestation trial. I remember that reactions in Serbia were divided, some people were very angry but others were happy, they were saying: You see, Michael Jackson likes us Serbs. My guess would be that he had no idea what was the thing he wore around his neck, probably saw it on some auction and thought it would look nice on him.

I have found the book, It can be read online on this link: http://www.archive.org/stream/ratsrbijesaturs00vojsgoog#page/n9/mode/2up This is where the lists of decorated persons begin: http://www.archive.org/stream/ratsrbijesaturs00vojsgoog#page/n327/mode/2up Great book, thanks for pointing it out for us Igor, priceless material!

Greetings Igor, According to those tables Stevan Jankovich was a private in Šumadijski korpus (Shumadija corps), II division, Kragujevacka brigada (Kragujevac brigade). You have mentioned Silver Bravery Medal in the post #3, is it Serbian. Are there complete lists of all of the people that were decorated during the war in that book? And do you maybe have complete scans of it? Regards, Radmilo

Rank and precedence of the Royal Orders from 1883: 01: Order of the White Eagle 1. grade 02: Order of the White Eagle 2. grade 03: Order of the Cross of Takovo with Swords 1. grade 04: Order of the Cross of Takovo 1. grade and Order of the White Eagle 3. grade 05: Order of St. Sava 1. grade 06: Order of the Cross of Takovo with Swords 2. grade 07: Order of the Cross of Takovo 2. grade 08: Order of St. Sava 2. grade 09: Order of the White Eagle 4. grade 10: Order of the Cross of Takovo with Swords 3. grade 11: Order of the Cross of Takovo 3. grade 12: Order of St. Sava 3. grade 13: Order of the White Eagle 5. grade 14: Order of the Cross of Takovo with Swords 4. grade 15: Order of the Cross of Takovo 4. grade 16: Order of St. Sava 4. grade 17: Order of the Cross of Takovo with Swords 5. grade 18: Order of the Cross of Takovo 5. grade 19: Order of St. Sava 5. grade

Srdjane thank you so much! I was looking for it for quite some time now... Considering how much the order of precedence is important and that it can be very useful to other members of the forum I suggest that we make a new, separate topic about it. I don't want to take the credit for your work so it would be nice if you could find some time to start that topic yourself. I was able to find the order of precedence from 1883, I will post it here soon. Kind regards, Radmilo

Greetings Gentlemen, Last night I was in a mood for something easy, stupid and entertaining - what better choice than Hollywood Marvel Comics Iron Man 2. Mickey Rourke plays the villain Ivan Vanko (Bad Russians in American movies again? maybe they are tired of bad Muslims ). Anyway in couple of scenes it is pretty obvious that he wears some kind of silver cross around his neck, when I payed closer attention I saw that that was actually St. George Cross. This was interesting to me so I wanted to share this little detail from the movie with others. Looks like he is wearing the Cross turned around.

I forgot to mention that these pictures are from an article about Yugoslav 1944-1946 cockades written by B. Bogdanovic for Russian magazine Zeughaus #39.

1. NCOs and soldiers 2. Officers 3. Generals

By the way is that medal bar with the British Military Cross the same as the one that can be seen on the picture in the post #14? http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/32324-serbia-rare-medal-for-bravery/ There was one medal bar with the British Military Cross but also with Czechoslovakian Order of the White Lion 5. class (Military division) and the Frech Croix de Guerre on emedals.com.

Emanuel he indeed was a high medical officer, actually a general. On the back side of the bar is written sanit.(etski) djeneral Jordan Stajic. I've found couple of notes about him here: http://forum.valka.c...pic.php/t/68434 (25 Jan 1868 - 28 Jan 1949) I think that on the 8th place is the ribbon for the Charity cross and that those red stripes are actually from the ribbons on the left and the right. But everything matched perfectly to look like the ribbon for the St. Andrew's Assembly commemorative medal. What could be on the 6th place? Czechoslovakian Order of the White Lion is the first thing that comes to my mind. Maybe even Polish Cross of Valour, but not likely even though I've seen Serbian medal bars with this Polish decoration. Emanuel thank you once again for sharing pictures of your impressive medal bars! I really like the one with the Greek War Cross. My congrats on such a beautiful collection!

Paul that's a nice story and I am glad that a place like that exists in England. Flora Sandes is not forgotten in Serbia. I remember that our teacher was telling us about her when we were still in high school. Some time ago I watched a TV show on our national TV not only about her but also about other women from Britain that came to help us during the war and of course about the Scottish Woman's Hospital. Also a TV movie was made in Serbia about Flora called Our Englishwoman. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192353/ The movie was broadcasted on our national TV to commemorate 90 years since the end of the Great War. I think she was married to a former Russian White Army officer. Here's one nice postcard with her wearing Karagerorge star with swords, St. Sava and the Order of the Serbian Red Cross (on completely red ribbon?).

By the way, this might be interesting to you in case you haven't seen it before, one more "empty" medal bar. This one was sold on one Serbian auction site for around 150 euros.

Thank you very much Emanuel for sharing these information with us. I find them very helpful! When it comes to retreat through the Albania I agree with you. That was one of the most tragic episodes in Serbian history, according to some sources around 250.000 people died during that long march or briefly after it. People who went though those snowy mountain paths were truly heroes. I have two of these medals from my direct ancestors. I know for sure that from my family at least 4 people went through those mountains. I had no idea that the Charity cross was suppose to go in front of Bravery medals! Thank you again for that and all the other information! Best regards, Radmilo

Greetings Emanuel, Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. What comes to my mind is that if someone messed with this medal bar maybe not all of the ribbons (except for 2 mentioned before) are from Obrenovic era. Maybe the blue ribbon is for the Medal for the zealous service and the pale-blue is for Charity cross. When you take a look at different Serbian medal bars, even though some regularity exists, there is a lot of inconsistency. For example Albanian retreat medal is mainly in front of all of the commemorative medals (Balkan Wars & WW1) and also in front of the Medal for military virtue, Medal for the zealous service, Charity cross... Example 1: http://gmic.co.uk/in...-that-got-away/ Example 2: http://gmic.co.uk/in...r-bravery-1913/ post #7, your medal bar. Example 3: http://gmic.co.uk/in...kan-war-ww1jpg/ But I have seen medal bars where it came after Medal for the zealous service and even First and Second Balkan War commemorative medals. Example 4: http://gmic.co.uk/in...ia-medal-group/ after Medal for the zealous service. Example 5 http://gmic.co.uk/in...a-5-medals-bar/ after Medal for the zealous service. Example 6: http://gmic.co.uk/in...rbia-medal-bar/ after Balkan Wars commemorative medals On some medal bars Albanian retreat medal is even in front of French Croix de Guerre. Example 7: http://gmic.co.uk/in...-not-so-common/ But mainly is after Croix de Guerre: Example 8: http://gmic.co.uk/in...ia-medal-group/ Also mainly after Petar I Coronation medal but can also be before: Example 9: http://gmic.co.uk/in...ting-medal-bar/ Medal for the zealous service on the most of the medal bars goes after the Medal for military virtue , but I believe that you had in your possession medal bar where 2 Medals for the zealous service came before Medal for military virtue (I know I saw that picture somewhere, not sure where). These are just a few inconsistencies which helped me make a point, and this is the main reason why I've asked for a complete order of precedence. Best regards, Radmilo

Thanks Obi, It is understandable why he does not want to sell you the order. I would be very grateful if you could maybe upload couple of pictures of your cousin's order. Of course if you personally or your cousin doesn't mind. In any case thank you. Regards, Radmilo