Badge and star: Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky

Awarded to Admiral of the Fleet John Arbuthnot Fisher (1841-1920). Badge: Gold Maltese cross, enamelled red, with gold double-headed eagles between the limbs. In the centre, a circular plaque of enamel depicts the saint on horseback. The badge is suspended from a sash of scarlet moire over the right shoulder. Star: A silver rayed star of eight points. In the centre on a white enamel ground edged silver, the cypher 'S.A.' in gilt surrounded by a red enamel band inscribed in Russian 'FOR THE SERVICE OF THE COUNTRY', at base two sprays of laurel enamelled green with a crown in between.

Fisher was a notable technical and strategic innovator who played a major role in modernising the Royal Navy prior to World War I. In 1886 he was appointed Director of Naval Ordinance and Torpedoes. His time as First Sea Lord from 1904 to 1910 saw the introduction of the turbine engine in the Royal Navy and the construction of HMS ‘Dreadnought’. The fleet was concentrated closer to the British Isles to meet the threat from Germany. He was briefly appointed First Sea Lord again during 1914 after the British defeat at Coronel, but resigned after seven months following disagreements with Churchill over the Dardanelles expedition.