The Cross of Saint George was established in 1807 to decorate the lower ranks, including soldiers and non-commissioned officers, for service in battle. Initially, there was only a single class with no restriction as to the number of awards per person.

Half a century later, a royal decree divided the Decoration of the Military Order of Saint George into four classes. The first- and second-class orders were made of gold, while the third- and fourth-class orders were made of silver. The lowest class of the order was the fourth class. After 1916, the crosses were no longer made of precious metals. However, it was still a great honor to receive a Saint George Cross.

The award is a cross pattée. In the center, it has a round medallion, with the obverse bearing a relief sideway image of Saint George slaying a dragon with his spear.

The reverse of the medallion features the Cyrillic monogram of the Order of Saint George “СГ” (“SG”). The horizontal arm of the cross bears the serial number of the award, with the class of the award embossed on the lower arm: for the fourth class.

Grigory Melekhov is the main character of Mikhail Sholokhov’s epic novel “And Quiet Flows the Don”. He was the first Cossack in the Tatarsky hamlet to receive this award. He earned it for his service during World War I in 1914. The text of the novel features an excerpt from orders, saying, “For saving the life of Colonel Gustav Grosberg, commander of the 9th Dragoon Regiment, Grigory Melekhov, 12th Don Cossack Regiment, is promoted to the rank of corporal and recommended for the Saint George cross, 4th class” (Chapter 20).

After the October Revolution of 1917, the Cross of Saint George was abolished, but older people did not change their sentiments toward this award and took great pride in it. Stalin repeatedly received suggestions to legalize pre-Soviet awards, and even a corresponding draft act of the Council of People’s Commissars was prepared. However, the Order of Glory with a similar ideology had already been established in the Soviet Union, which is why the Cross of Saint George was not legalized.

The award was reinstated in 1992 by the Decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation.

In the early 19th century, a new decoration, the medal “For Bravery”, was added to the award system of the Russian Empire. It was awarded to members of irregular forces and units. The medal was also intended for people who did not have an officer or a civil service rank but had distinguished themselves in combat. Moreover, it was awarded “for heroic deeds accomplished when fighting disturbers of peace and wild animals both in time of war and peace.”

Based on the decision by Nicholas II and the new edition of the Statute of the Order of Saint George, in August 1913, the four classes of medals “For Bravery” were attached to this Order and became known as “Saint George Medals”. They were intended for the lower ranks (soldiers, sailors, and non-commissioned officers) for service in the time of peace and war which did not qualify for the Cross of Saint George.

The medal was made of silver and worn on the chest with an orange and black ribbon without a knot, to the right of other decorations. Each recipient was entitled to an annual cash payment depending on the class. A 4th-class medal was accompanied by an annual payment of 12 rubles. A medal could be awarded not only to an individual but also to a military unit: between two and five medals for one troop or sotnia. This is why, during World War I, the Saint George medal became the most common decoration for the lower ranks of the Imperial Russian Army.

The medal is round with a narrow raised edge around the circumference. The obverse shows a sideway image of Nicholas II. The inscription along the rim reads “Б.М. НИКОЛАЙ II ИМП.” on the left and “И САМОД. ВСЕРОСС.” on the right. This is the shortened version of the tsar’s full title “By the Grace of God, Nicholas the Second, Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia”. The reverse features the inscription “For Bravery”, the medal’s number and class.

In his novel “And Quiet Flows the Don”, Mikhail Sholokhov often mentioned that his characters had Saint George Medals “For Bravery”. Characters awarded with these medals included Grandfather Grishaka and Daria Melekhova.

Name: 4th-class medal “For Bravery”
Date of creation: 1896–1917
State catalog number: 24148220
Place of creation: the Russian Empire
Technique: stamping, silver
Dimensions: 3×3 cm