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Rank devices, qualification badges and service marks — and none of them mean the same thing everywhere.
There is no international standard for rank insignia and no body with authority across armies, so a device is unreadable without knowing the country and the service. Three stars is a captain in the British Army and a lieutenant general in the United States. A chevron points up on a US sleeve and down on a British one. Position matters too: chevrons sit high on the arm and count rank, service stripes sit at the cuff and count years.
Any source that tells you what a number of stars or stripes means without naming a country is telling you about one army and implying it is all of them.
These records say so themselves — the setting appears in the symbol's own reviewed description or in one of its documented meanings.
An anchor on a decoration or badge, marking naval service.
Its a documented meaning places it there: “…a grave the two readings genuinely compete; on a uniform they do not”
A pair of outspread wings worn as a qualification badge by aircrew.
Its a documented meaning places it there: “…wings, generally flanking a central emblem, worn on the breast to indicate a qualification as pilot or aircrew”
A V-shaped stripe worn on the sleeve to mark non-commissioned rank.
Its description places it there: “A V-shaped stripe worn on the sleeve to mark non-commissioned rank”
A star worn as a rank device, most familiar on general officers' insignia.
Its a documented meaning places it there: “…singly or in groups, used as a rank device on shoulder boards, collars or sleeves”
A small star-shaped device marking junior officer rank in British practice.
Its visual description places it there: “…centre containing a motto ring, worn small on a shoulder board”
A diagonal or horizontal sleeve stripe marking completed years of service.
Its a documented meaning places it there: “…position and meaning: service stripes sit low on the sleeve and count time, not authority”
If you can describe what you saw as well as where, say both: “winged skull on a gravestone” narrows a list of 6 to a handful.