Imperial Russian Order of St Vladimir, 4th Class

Order of St Vladimir, 4th Class. Unnamed as issued. A red enamelled straight armed cross pattee with narrow black and goldedges and crossed swords between the arms. Obverse: A black enamelled medallion with the initials of the Saint on a crowned mantle. Reverse: In the centre on a black medallion, the date of foundation '22...1782'. The medal is fitted with a double wire loop flat ring and a piece of 27 mm ribbon of black, red and black in equal widths, folded in a Russian style.

The Order of StVladimir was instituted in 1782 in four classes, originally as a civil order of merit for saving life or for famine relief. During the Crimean War (1854-55) it was awarded for military merit as well. For military awards crossed swords were placed between the cross arms. A person would be awarded the order's lowest class for their first award; a second meritorious act would be rewarded with the next higher class and so on. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.