Serbia, Kingdom. An Order of the White Eagle, Commander to Colonel William Frederick Holford Godson, United States Army, c.1925

(Orden Belog Orla). Instituted January 23rd, 1883. Type II (1903-1941). In silver gilt, a white enamelled double headed eagle the obverse with a central oval shield with a red enameled background and a white enameled cross, the reverse with a similar central red enameled medallion dated “1882” in gilt, the top of the award with a ribbon in blue enamels, suspended from a hollow swivel crown, pierced ball suspension, and swivel ring from its correct modern replacement ribbon, unmarked, measures 44.7 mm (w) x 90.1 mm (h - inclusive of crown suspension), worn on full length neck ribbon, light enamel wear, remains in extremely fine condition. 

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.