The Greek Royal Navy Campaign Cross
In this article, we are going to follow the process through which the Greek Royal Navy Campaign Cross (Greek: Σταυρός Αγώνος Βασιλικού Ναυτικού – Σ.Α.Β.Ν., literally translated to Royal Navy Struggle Cross) was instituted, had its original design defined and later changed to the one known today.
The award was instituted in the Middle East with the Emergency Law (E.L.) 3229/43, which was republished after the Liberation in the Official Government Gazette (O.G.G.), Issue No 129 of May 30, 1945. According to the E.L., the Cross was to be “awarded to all serving personnel of the ships taking part in operations during the present war”. Leaving the design of the medal itself to be defined by Royal Decree (R.D.) in the future, the E.L. did define the one of the ribbon, which was to be made of silk and “of the regular length of Greek awards”, meaning 34 mm. Moreover:
The award was instituted in the Middle East with the Emergency Law (E.L.) 3229/43, which was republished after the Liberation in the Official Government Gazette (O.G.G.), Issue No 129 of May 30, 1945. According to the E.L., the Cross was to be “awarded to all serving personnel of the ships taking part in operations during the present war”. Leaving the design of the medal itself to be defined by Royal Decree (R.D.) in the future, the E.L. did define the one of the ribbon, which was to be made of silk and “of the regular length of Greek awards”, meaning 34 mm. Moreover:
“The ribbon is divided into three vertical spaces of equal length.
The two spaces on the edges are of dark blue colour. The central space is white, bearing three stripes, with a length of 1 mm, which, from right to left for the person bearing the Cross, are the first black, the central red and the third green. The spaces between the aforementioned stripes are of 1mm in length each.” According to the R.D. defining the first –and finally not adopted- design of the 1940-1941 and 1941-1945 Commemorative War Medals, which also bore black, red, and green stripes, these represented the “enemy colours”. Article 3 of the E.L. makes mention of the devices to be used on the ribbon. |
“The Cross is awarded independently of the rank of the awardee. Each semester gives the right to an [additional] award. Each award is represented with a five-pointed star of 6 mm, up to the third one. The fourth, fifth and sixth semester are represented with a silver star. From the seventh semester on, the star is gold.
Article 4 mentions that “every award prerequisites active and meritorious service, appropriately certified”, while Article 6 regulates the awarding periods, namely twice a year, every January and July. Article 9 dictates that the Cross is to be worn “on the left side of the chest, like the other medals, after the Medal for Outstanding Acts”.
E.L. 3278/44, published in the same issue of the O.G.G., modified the earlier E.L. The most important modifications were that:
E.L. 3278/44, published in the same issue of the O.G.G., modified the earlier E.L. The most important modifications were that:
“The Cross is awarded independently of the rank of the awardee. Each semester gives the right to an [additional] award. Each award is represented with a five-pointed star of 6 mm, up to the third one. The fourth, fifth and sixth semester are represented with a silver star. From the seventh semester on, the star is gold.
Article 4 mentions that “every award prerequisites active and meritorious service, appropriately certified”, while Article 6 regulates the awarding periods, namely twice a year, every January and July. Article 9 dictates that the Cross is to be worn “on the left side of the chest, like the other medals, after the Medal for Outstanding Acts”.
E.L. 3278/44, published in the same issue of the O.G.G., modified the earlier E.L. The most important modifications were that:
“[…]
b) Each additional award is represented with a five-pointed star of 4 mm, which is copper for the sailors, silver for the NCOs and gold for the officers.
[…]
e) The wounded in action during the course of the present war bear on the ribbon of the cross [the device of] a small laurel, similar to the class of the stars.”
Article 4 mentions that “every award prerequisites active and meritorious service, appropriately certified”, while Article 6 regulates the awarding periods, namely twice a year, every January and July. Article 9 dictates that the Cross is to be worn “on the left side of the chest, like the other medals, after the Medal for Outstanding Acts”.
E.L. 3278/44, published in the same issue of the O.G.G., modified the earlier E.L. The most important modifications were that:
“[…]
b) Each additional award is represented with a five-pointed star of 4 mm, which is copper for the sailors, silver for the NCOs and gold for the officers.
[…]
e) The wounded in action during the course of the present war bear on the ribbon of the cross [the device of] a small laurel, similar to the class of the stars.”
The R.D. defining the first design of the Cross came on January 7, 1946 and was published in the O.G.G., Issue No 16 of January 20, 1946. The shape of the award was to be:
“[…] in the shape of a cross, made of bronze, in the size of 38 x 38 mm, […] bearing on the obverse a destroyer crossing rough waters and over it a cloud, through which sun rays are passing, falling on the surface of the sea and the destroyer. On the reverse, it bears a ship convoy protected by two guns.
On the two vertical edges of the Cross, the following words are inscribed: On the top one “ΤΙΜΗ” (HONOUR) and on the bottom one “ΠΑΤΡΙΣ” (FATHERLAND), while on the two horizontal edges, on the left the year “1940” and on the right “1944”, the digits positioned vertically.
The Cross bears an anchor on the top edge, through which the suspension ring is passing.”
Unfortunately, the single available drawing in the Gazette only shows a rather generic design of the reverse, without any details of the reliefs of both sides.
On the two vertical edges of the Cross, the following words are inscribed: On the top one “ΤΙΜΗ” (HONOUR) and on the bottom one “ΠΑΤΡΙΣ” (FATHERLAND), while on the two horizontal edges, on the left the year “1940” and on the right “1944”, the digits positioned vertically.
The Cross bears an anchor on the top edge, through which the suspension ring is passing.”
Unfortunately, the single available drawing in the Gazette only shows a rather generic design of the reverse, without any details of the reliefs of both sides.
It seems that, since no examples of this particular design have surfaced yet, it was never minted and awarded and that all awardees only bore the respective ribbon and devices on their uniforms for a long period of time. The well-known form of the Cross was regulated by the R.D. of January 17, 1948, published in O.G.G., Issue No 23 of January 27, 1948, also cancelling the previous R.D.
"The inner part of the Cross is in the colour of aged bronze, while the Royal Diadem, the anchor and the rim are of a lighter colour. The length of the Cross is 42 mm, the width 31.5 mm, the width of the arms 10.5 mm and the thickness 3 mm. On the reverse and on the middle of the Cross, there is Our monogram [note: the one of King Paul] in relief, inside a circle of 10.5 mm in diameter. The words “ΑΤΛΑΝΤΙΚΟΣ – ΜΕΣΟΓΕΙΟΣ – ΙΝΔΙΚΟΣ” (ATLANTIC OCEAN – MEDITERRANEAN SEA - INDIAN OCEAN) are inscribed in relief, in capital letters and in circle on the three arms of the Cross, while on the bottom part, is inscribed the date “1940 – 1944” in two rows, one over the other, as seen in the […] drawing.” |
“The suspension ring is made of the same metal and of 1 mm in thickness, passing through the sphere mounted on the top part of the Royal Diadem.”
The three texts shed light to a little researched area, providing interesting details, although leaving room for further archival research. I hope that drawings of the reliefs of both sides of the initial design of the medal will be located in the future.
The three texts shed light to a little researched area, providing interesting details, although leaving room for further archival research. I hope that drawings of the reliefs of both sides of the initial design of the medal will be located in the future.
Sources:
1) ΦΕΚ 129, 30/5/1945, Τεύχος Α': Α.Ν. 3229, "Περί Σταυρού Αγώνος Β.Ν." και Α.Ν. 3278/1944 "Περί τροποποιήσεως του Α.Ν. 3229/43 περί Σταυρού Αγώνος Β.Ν."
2) ΦΕΚ 16, 20/1/1946, Τεύχος Α': Β.Δ. "Περί καθορισμού του τύπου και της αναγλύφου μορφής του Σταυρού Αγώνος Βασιλικού Ναυτικού"
3) ΦΕΚ 23, 27/1/1948, Τεύχος Α': Β.Δ. "Περί καθορισμού του τύπου του διασήμου του Σταυρού Αγώνος Β. Ναυτικού"
1) ΦΕΚ 129, 30/5/1945, Τεύχος Α': Α.Ν. 3229, "Περί Σταυρού Αγώνος Β.Ν." και Α.Ν. 3278/1944 "Περί τροποποιήσεως του Α.Ν. 3229/43 περί Σταυρού Αγώνος Β.Ν."
2) ΦΕΚ 16, 20/1/1946, Τεύχος Α': Β.Δ. "Περί καθορισμού του τύπου και της αναγλύφου μορφής του Σταυρού Αγώνος Βασιλικού Ναυτικού"
3) ΦΕΚ 23, 27/1/1948, Τεύχος Α': Β.Δ. "Περί καθορισμού του τύπου του διασήμου του Σταυρού Αγώνος Β. Ναυτικού"