Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross. It is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be bestowed upon members of the British Armed Forces and associated Commonwealth forces. Instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856 during the Crimean War, it recognises acts of extreme valour. The award's simple design and profound significance have made it a revered symbol of courage across the British Empire and beyond.

History and origin

The award was formally instituted by a Royal Warrant under Queen Victoria on 29 January 1856, backdated to recognise bravery during the Crimean War. Its creation was influenced by public and governmental dissatisfaction with the limited recognition for gallantry available from the Order of the Bath. The first investiture was held in Hyde Park in 1857, where Queen Victoria personally decorated 62 of the 111 Crimean War recipients. The tradition of the monarch presenting it was firmly established by King Edward VII and continues to this day. Its origins are deeply intertwined with the military reforms of the era and the reporting of war correspondents like William Howard Russell.

Description and design

The decoration is a Maltese Cross fashioned from bronze sourced from Chinese cannons captured from the Russians at the Siege of Sevastopol. The obverse features a lion guardant standing upon the Royal Crown, with a ribbon bearing the inscription "FOR VALOUR". The reverse has a circular panel engraved with the date of the act of gallantry, and the recipient's details are engraved on the reverse of the suspension bar. The ribbon was originally blue for the Royal Navy and red for the Army, but was standardised to crimson for all services in 1918. The design was executed by the London jewellers Hancocks, who remain its makers.

Criteria and award process

The sole criterion, as stated in the original Royal Warrant, is "most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy". It can be awarded posthumously and to all ranks without distinction. Recommendations are processed through rigorous military channels, culminating in approval by the monarch on advice from the government. Since 1920, a number of awards have been made for actions in the Russian Civil War, North-West Frontier, and beyond. The process is notably stringent, with many acts of heroism instead recognised by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross or the George Cross.

Recipients and notable actions

Since its inception, there have been 1,358 awards to 1,355 individual recipients. The first awards were for actions in the Baltic and the Crimea, with Charles Davis Lucas performing the earliest recognised deed. Notable recipients include Thomas Henry Kavanagh for the Indian Mutiny, Neville Howse of the Second Boer War, and Jack Cornwell of the Battle of Jutland. The First World War saw 634 awards, including to Albert Jacka at Gallipoli and Billy Bishop of the Royal Flying Corps. Second World War recipients include John Hannah of the Royal Air Force and Charles Upham of the New Zealand Army. More recent awards were made for service in the Falklands War and the War in Afghanistan.

Precedence, privileges, and legacy

It takes precedence over all other British orders, decorations, and medals. Living recipients or their widows are entitled to a tax-free annuity, a tradition begun by Queen Victoria. Recipients are invited to major national events, such as the Trooping the Colour and ceremonies at the Cenotaph. The award's legacy is preserved in institutions like the Imperial War Museum and the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, which houses the largest public collection. Its profound cultural impact is reflected in literature, film, and its status as a pinnacle of military honour within the Commonwealth, inspiring similar awards like the Param Vir Chakra of India and the Cross of Valour in Australia.

Category:Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom Category:British honours system