THE ROMANCE OF MILITARY INSIGNIA 



473 



Photograph from Paul Thompson 



AMERICAN OFFICERS AFTER RECEIVING BRITISH DECORATIONS FOR VALOR AND 



DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN DEFEATING THE COMMON ENEMY 



Note that the seven officers nearest the camera are wearing the newly bestowed badges 

 suspended from ribbons around the neck. This indicates either second or third class of an 

 order. The star on the breast of the nearest officer definitely marks his status as the second 

 class; the absence of the star on the other six shows them to be in the third class (sec text, 

 page 490). The medals, being on the breasts of the remaining officers, show a lower decoration, 



hereditary grounds, and in no case does wonderful effect on the morale of the 



the son inherit any of those distinctions troops, as our recent war has abundantly 



conferred upon the father. They are in- proved. 



variably given because of the services On the other hand, what can we say 



performed by that individual, and have a for a system which rewards only those in 



