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The Victoria
Cross
The Victoria Cross is the British realm's highest award
for gallantry in the face of the enemy. It has absolute
precedence over any other United Kingdom Sovereign's
awards or Commonwealth decorations.
The Victoria Cross was founded by Royal Warrant January
29, 1856 in recognition of the bravery of those who were
at that time fighting the Crimean War. The medal was
available to all soldiers and "neither rank, nor long
service, nor wounds, nor any other circumstance or
condition whatsoever, save the merit of conspicuous
bravery" could make one eligible - truly a democratic
award.
The Cross itself is cast from the bronze of cannons
captured at Sevastopol during the Crimean War. The
design, which was chosen by Queen Victoria, consists of
a cross patee ensigned with the Royal Crest resting upon
a scroll bearing the words "For Valour." The reverse of
the suspender bar is engraved with the recipients' name,
rank and unit while the reverse of the cross is engraved
with the date of the deed for which the recipient was
honoured.
The George Cross
In 1940, King George VI instituted the George Cross and
George Medal the total nature of World War Two had
brought war into all of civilian life, there were many
acts of outstanding gallantry for which the terms of
award of the existing non-military medals were deemed to
be inappropriate. Initially only the George Cross could
be issued posthumously, but following a new warrant in
1978, the George Medal can be now be issued
posthumously.
During World War Two (1939-45) there were instances when
it was not easy to decide whether a Victoria Cross or a
George Cross was the more proper award. The George Cross
was intended to be an award for outstanding civilian
bravery, but as many people in the armed forces were
unavoidably engaged in work not appropriate for strictly
military awards, they became eligible for the George
Cross equally with civilians. Consequently, 76 of the
first 100 awards were made to members of the armed
forces. A complete tally of the 152 direct awards of the
George Cross up to 1985 shows that only 49 have gone to
civilians. Awards of the George Cross have now become so
rare that few people are ever likely to see one, or its
recipient.
The George Cross is of silver, with the words "For
Gallantry" as described in the warrant, and is suspended
from a dark blue ribbon one and half inches wide, and is
worn on the left breast before all other medals and
orders except the Victoria Cross. Ladies not in uniform
wear the Cross, suspended from a wide bow of blue
ribbon, below the left shoulder. Each Cross is made by
the Royal Mint and engraved on the reverse with the
recipient's name and date of the London Gazette in the
case of direct awards and for the exchanged EGMs, and
the date of the action for exchanged AMs and EMs
4 Victoria Crosses and 1 George cross have been awarded
to members of the regiment.
VC's: Michael Murphy,
Samuel Morley,
James Dalton,
Richard Masters,
Alfred Herring
GC's: Joseph Hughes
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