Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross (official post-nominal letters VC) is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. It is only awarded for bravery "in the face of the enemy".

Awards

A total of 1,355 Victoria Crosses have been awarded since 1856. Originally, the Victoria Cross could only be awarded to surviving recipients and could not be awarded to colonial troops (although it could be awarded to their European officers). Not until the 20th century was it made available to be awarded posthumously and to all troops in the service of the Crown (the first Indian soldier received it in 1914).

Related Topics:
India - 1914

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The largest number of VCs awarded in a single day was 24 on November 16 1857 at the relief of Lucknow. The largest number awarded in a single action was 11 at Rorke's Drift on January 22 1879.

Related Topics:
November 16 - 1857 - Lucknow - Rorke's Drift - January 22 - 1879

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Since the end of the Second World War the VC has been awarded only twelve times. Four were awarded during the Korean War, one in the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation in 1965, four in the Vietnam War, two during the Falklands War in 1982, and one in the Second Gulf War in 2004.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Korean War - Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation - 1965 - Vietnam War - Falklands War - 1982 - Second Gulf War - 2004

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Only three people have been awarded the Victoria Cross twice, Noel Chavasse, Arthur Martin-Leake, both members of The Royal Army Medical Corps, and New Zealander Charles Upham. The second award is designated by a bar worn on the suspension ribbon of the original decoration and this is thus known as a VC and Bar and since a small cross device is worn on the VC ribbon when worn alone, a recipient of the VC and bar would wear two such crosses on the ribbon.

Related Topics:
Noel Chavasse - Arthur Martin-Leake - Royal Army Medical Corps - Charles Upham

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The VC has, exceptionally, been awarded to the American Unknown Soldier; the US Medal of Honor was reciprocally awarded to the British Unknown Warrior.

Related Topics:
Unknown Soldier - Medal of Honor - Unknown Warrior

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As the VC is awarded for acts of valour "in the face of the enemy", it has been suggested by some that the changing nature of warfare will result in few VCs being awarded. Only one in ten VC recipients in the 20th century is said to have survived the action for which they received the VC.

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The corresponding honour for acts of valour that do not qualify as "in the face of the enemy" is the George Cross.

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Between 1858 and 1881, the Victoria Cross could be awarded for actions taken "under circumstances of extreme danger" not in the face of the enemy. Six such awards were made during this period - five of them for a single incident (a shipwreck off the Andaman Islands in 1867).

Related Topics:
Andaman Islands - 1867

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Australia, Canada and New Zealand have each introduced their own honours system, replacing British medals such as the Military Cross with their own awards. However each country has kept the Victoria Cross as their highest honour. The Canadian Victoria Cross, instituted in 1993 and never awarded, as of 2005, is inscribed in Latin rather than English.

Related Topics:
Military Cross - Canadian Victoria Cross

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Awards of the Victoria Cross are always announced in the pages of the London Gazette.

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