Pictured is a The Victoria Cross.
The Victoria Cross (VC) was introduced as the premier award for gallantry, available for all ranks, to cover all actions since the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854, it was allegedly created on the suggestion of Prince Albert, the Prince Consort.
The design is of is a cross pattee with a lion statant gardant on the Royal Crown, with the words, “FOR VALOUR” on the semi-circular scroll. The Cross is suspended by a ring from a seriffed V attached to a suspension bar decorated with laurel leaves.
If awarded a second time a bar is worn on the medal. The facility for posthumous awards, made retrospective to 1856, began in 1902 and was confirmed in 1907, while the early practice of forfeitures was discontinued after the First World War. Two posthumous awards were made in the Falklands War.
The metal used is bronze, originally from Russian guns captured in the Crimea..The diameter width is 36mm, with a height of 41mm.
The ribbon is Crimson. A miniature cross emblem is worn on the ribbon alone in undress uniform.
Date of issue was January 1856.
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Photographer: Harland Quarrington MOD Head Office Chief Photographer
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Pictured is a The George Cross.
The George Cross is plain bordered cross in silver with a circular medallion in the centre depicting the effigy of St George and the Dragon after Benedetto Pistrucci, surrounded by the words for GALLANTRY.
In the angle of each limb is the Royal cypher GVI. The cross hangs by a ring from a bar adorned with laurel leaves.
The George Cross (GC) is the highest gallantry award for civilians for acts of heroism and courage in extreme danger, as well as for members of the Armed Forces in actions for which purely military honours would not normally be granted.
It superseded the Empire Gallantry Medal whose holders were then required to return it and receive the GC in exchange.
By warrant of December 1971 surviving recipients of the Albert and Edward Medals (Edward Medal Mines (EMM) and Edward Medal Industry (EMI) were invited to exchange their awards for the GC, a move which created a controversy which is still continuing, particularly among those who received the Albert Medal (AM).
Instituted on 24th September 1940..The ribbon measures 38mm across in dark blue (originally 32mm). A silver miniature cross emblem is worn on the ribbon..The medal is made of silver..The diameter width is 45mm, with a height of 48mm.
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© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: Harland Quarrington MOD Head Office Chief Photographer
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Pictured is The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is a silver cross pattee imposed on a wreath of laurel, with the Royal Crown in a circular panel in the centre. The cross is suspended by a ring from a plain suspension bar.
As part of the decision to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery this decoration replaced the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for gallantry as well as the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) was first awarded in 1995 to Corporal Wayne Mills of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment for action during service with the UN Peacekeeping Forces in Bosnia.
First instituted in October 1993.
The ribbon is white with blue edges with a central stripe in red.
The size of the diameter is 36mm.
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© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: Harland Quarrington MOD Head Office Chief Photographer
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Pictured is Distinguished Service Cross.
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is a plain silver cross with rounded ends with the Royal cypher of HM Queen Elizabeth II in the centre. The medal is suspended by a silver ring attached to the ribbon.
Known as the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) when instituted in June 1901, it was awarded to Warrant and Subordinate Officers of the Royal Navy who were ineligible for the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
In October 1914 it was renamed the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and thrown open to all Naval Officer below the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.
Bars for second awards were authorised in 1916 and in 1931 eligibility for the award was enlarged to include officers of the Merchant Navy.
In 1940 Army and Royal Air Force Officers serving aboard Naval vessels also became eligible for the award. Since 1945 fewer than 100 DSCs have been awarded.
As a result of the 1993 review of gallantry awards and resultant changes to the operational gallantry award system, this award is now available to both officers and other ranks, the DSM having been discontinued.
The medal is made from silver.
Ribbon is 36mm across with three equal parts of dark blue on the outside with a white striped centre.
The size of the medal has a height of 43mm and a width of 43mm.
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© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: Harland Quarrington MOD Head Office Chief Photographer
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Pictured is The Military Cross.
The Military Cross is an ornamental cross with straight arms terminating in broad finials decorated with Imperial Crowns.
The Royal Cypher of HM Queen Elizabeth II appears at the centre and the cross is suspended from a plain silver suspension bar.
There wasn’t a gallantry award, lesser than the VC or DSO for junior Army Officers and Warrant Officers until after the outbreak of the First World War when the Military Cross (MC) was instituted.
Originally awarded to Captains, Lieutenants and Warrant Officers of the Army, including the Royal Flying Corps, it was subsequently extended to include equivalent ranks of the Royal Air Force when performing acts of bravery on the ground and there was even provision for the Royal Naval Division and the Royal Marines during the First World War.
Awards were extended to Majors by an amending Warrant of 1931. Bars for second and subsequent award have a crown at the centre.
The MC is always issued unnamed, although since 1937 the reverse of the cross or the bar is officially dated with the year of issue.
As a result of the 1993 review of gallantry awards and resultant changes to the operational gallantry award system, this award is now available to both Officers and other ranks with the Military Medal (MM) having been discontinued.
The MC is made from silver.
Instituted on 31 Dec 1914.
The height of the MC is 46mm and the width is 44mm.
The ribbon is 38mm wide and made from three equal stripes of white on the outside with a deep purple in the centre.
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© Crown Copyright 2014
Photographer: Harland Quarrington MOD Head Office Chief Photographer
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Use of this image is subject to the terms and conditions of the MoD News Licence at www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/20121001_Crown_copyrigh...
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Tags: Gallantry Awards Medal Decoration Awards Medals Ribbon Military Cross. MC Defence Defense UK British Military