A silver and a bronze Serbian charity plaques by Tony Szirmai, with original presentation cases. A charity medal by Szirmai. || This is a pair of French-made plaques and a medal awarded for notable donations to Serbian war-time charities. They were created in 1917 by Hungarian-born, Paris-based sculptor and engraver, Tony Szirmai, and two metal versions of the plaque were made to give to major benefactors, bronze and silver, the latter for exceptional charitable donations. The overall designs on both plaques are the same. On one side is a female figure and three children, perhaps symbolising a family that is missing the husband and father who is away at the war. In the background is the sun on the horizon, rays of light extending, symbolising hope. The initials of the artist are in the lower, left-side of the plaque. The other side has a seated figure of a child with his arm and hand extended, seeking help. He is surrounded by destruction, houses burning in the background as he sits on a damaged wall. Above him is the French text, ‘OEUVRE POUR SAUVER LE ENFANTS SERBES’, which translates as ‘Work to Save the Serbian Children’, and the year, 1917, in Roman numerals. The edge of the silver plaque is stamped with the French world for silver, ’ARGENT’, with the number ’20’, which might have been a serial production number. The edge of the bronze plaque is stamped with ‘BRONZE’, and the number ‘209’ - if this was a serial number, then it might indicate more bronze versions of this plaque being produced than silver. The name of the recipient on both plaques is Leopold Pralon, the French steel industrialist. Also shown is a charity medal by Szirmai. One side shows a figure in armour in profile, with the French text ‘OEUVRE POUR SAUVER LES ENFANTS SERBES’, as appears on the plaques, surrounding it. Szirmai’s signature also appears in the right-side. The other side of the medal shows, in the lower centre, Serbia’s King Peter I in profile next to his son, Prince Regent Alexander. Above them is a mythical Vila, nymph-like figure carrying a trumpet. Surrounding this is the French text, ‘GLOIRE AUX INTREPIDES HEROS SERBES’, which translates as ‘Glory to the Intrepid Serbian Heroes’.

This is a US-made medal which first appeared during a charity event in Boston, at the end of 1916, to raise money to support the Allies. At this time, the United States was not officially involved in the war. On one side is a figure of the Serbian mythological Vila (nymph), Ravijojla, with the text around the edge reading 'SERBIA SURRENDERS ONLY TO GOD'. Under the top of the arm of the Vila figure, though worn down on this example, you can see the name 'Ladd', which refers to the artist Anna Ladd, who designed the medal. The other side of the medal is blank, except for the copyright symbol and the name of Gorham Co., who were based at the time in New York and Rhode Island. || Serbian charity fundraising medal by Gorham Co.

First awarded in 1913, with the Second Balkan War, this medal continued to be awarded through the First World War, and was given to Serbian and Allied nationals, male and female, civilian or military, any rank, for caring of the sick and wounded during the war. One side has the Serbian Cyrillic text 'ЗА НЕГУ РАЊЕНИКА И БОЛЕСНИКА', which transliterates to 'Za Negu Ranjenika i Bolestnika', and translates as 'For Nursing the Wounded and Sick'. The other side of the medal shows a Serbian eagle. When this medal was awarded to women, it came on a bow ribbon, and when it was awarded to men, it came with a triangular medal. People who were awarded this medal in either the First or Second Balkan Wars, in 1912 and 1913 respectively, could conceivably have already been wearing this medal while doing further nursing work during the First World War, but it doesn't appear to be a type of award that could be given twice to the same individual. Some higher order medals or orders, for example, when awarded for a second time, would have an oak leaf bar pinned to the ribbon to signify a second award, while others were not awarded twice. It would all depend on the official legislation for whichever award was being considered. Shown here are both types, women's version with a bow ribbon, and men's version with triangular ribbon bow, as well as a miniature version of the award. || Serbian Cross of Charity, two versions of the full size medal, one of the type awarded to women and another type awarded to men. Miniature version of the medal.