Order of St Anne

Is there any way i can find out when and why some one was given the St Anne?
I'm still on the Biffy dunderdale Trail and was told by a friend of his that he was given the order for helping members of the royal family escape.
And not for his time in the Navy.
Thanks Chris.

Chris, probably I've said it before but nevertheless: the lower classes (4th & 3rd) of St. Anne were quite widespread awards. They were given out by dozens to officers of visiting foreign navy ships, to foreign technicians and officials who worked for Russian shipbuilding and armament projects, etc. To be awarded St. Anne or St. Stanislav, an allied officer didn't have to perform something extraordinary - just to be there at the right time. It doesn't exclude the possibility of Biffie having done something unusual, but it can hardly be found out without digging into Russian or British archives. And even when discovered, the citation would probably say just "for meritorious service" or something like that.

Hi Mike I now im sorry, some new info. has come to light just trying to pin it down
Thanks Chris.