United States. A Distinguished Service Medal Bar to Colonel William Frederick Holford Godson, Military Attache in Switzerland, c.1920

The Russian style medal bar of nine beautiful decorations, the reverse is reinforced by a dark blue felt, presenting a horizontal swing pin, with a small metal hook for each of the medals along the bottom, measures 215mm in length x 120 mm from the top of the bar to the 6 o’clock arm of the Legion of Honor. The bar consists of:

A Distinguished Service Medal, in bronze and enamel, numbered 1791 on the rim, attached to the medalbar via a twisted medal wire, light wear, with original ribbon on the bar, in very fine condition. 

A Polish Cross of Valour, in bronze, full size, numbered 38648 on the obverse 12 o’clock arm, dark patina, clasp on original ribbon, very fine.

A Philippines Campaign Medal, in bronze, full size, rim impressed No.1519, original ribbon, lightwear, very fine. 

An Army Of Cuban Occupation Medal, in bronze, full size, rim impressed No.266, original ribbon, light wear, very fine. 

A Mexico Border Service Medal, in bronze gilt, full size, rim is impressed 23283, loss of gilt notable, small edge bruises, original ribbon, better than fine condition. 

A First War Victory Medal, in bronze gilt, full size, on original ribbon with  DEFENSIVE SECTOR, in very fine condition. 

A Swiss Families Gratitude Medal, in silver, full size, marked 800 silver at 8 o’clock, replacement ribbon, dark patina around the edges, missing suspension ring  very fine condition. 

Poland, An Order of Polonia Restituta, Officer, in bronze gilt and multi coloured enamels, 50.4 mm (w) x 51 mm (h), original ribbon with rosette, light enamel wear. 

France, An Order of the Legion of Honour, III Republic Officer, in gold and multicoloured enamels, measures 40.2mm (w) x 58.2mm (h - inclusive of surmounting wreath), marked with an eagle’s head on the 6 o’clock ribbon denoting gold composition, enamel loss and cracks to white arms and surmounting wreath on both sides, remains in near very fine condition. 

Accompanied by the ribbon bar, three rows of four ribbons inclusive of the medal bar ribbons and the foreign orders (Belgian Order of Leopold, Italian Order of the Crown, Greek Order of the Redeemer, Serbian Order of the White Eagle, Polish Order of Polonia Restituta), reinforced reverse with horizontal swing pin, measures 147 mm (w) x 47 mm (h), several ribbons showing some fraying to the edges and rosettes, pin functional, in very fine condition. 

The medal mounting style is attributed to second wife Thais Ferapont Constantinoff, of Russian descent. 

Footnote: William Frederick Holford Godson was born on September 3, 1868 in Surrey, England. He was educated at the Long Course Royal Military College, the Royal School of Cavalry and the Royal School of Mounted Infantry in Canada. He also attended the Royal School of Infantry in Toronto. 

From 1886-1888, he served in the North West Mounted Police, and later served as a Private and Corporal I in the United States Cavalry from 1891-1894. In 1899, he was appointed First Lieutenant of the 35th United States Volunteer Infantry, and was a Captain of Cavalry in 1911. In 1920, he became the Lieutenant Colonel of Cavalry, and was ultimately promoted to Colonel of Cavalry in 1929. 

He served as the Military Attache in Switzerland from 1917-1921, earning his Distinguished Service Medal. He also served in Serbia and Greece between the years 1923-1928. 

Godson served in 1, 10, 8 and 14 Cavalry, during the Philippine Insurrection, Cuban Occupation, Mexican Border, and First World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, United States Army; Officer Legion Honor (French); Officer Polonia Restituta (Polish); Cross of the Brave (Polish); Grand Officer Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem); Commander White Eagle (Serbia); Commander Order of Our Saviour (Greece); Commander Leopold 2 (Belgium); and Commander Crown of Italy (Italian). 

The medal rolls show:

Philippine Campaign Medal No.1519 to Godson, First Lieutenant, 10th Cavalry

DSM to Godson, Colonel, as Military Attache, Berne, Switzerland

Cuban Occupation No.266 as Captain, 8th Cavalry

He was married to Josepha Boyd Bently in 1894. They had two children, William Frederick Holford Godson Jr,. and Elizabeth Annis Godson. Following the death of his first wife in 1925, he later married Thais Ferapont Constantinoff, a Russian woman in 1927. Colonel William Frederick Holford Godson died on May 8, 1958 in Pasadena, California.