VICTORIA CROSS
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces. It may be awarded posthumously. It was previously awarded to Commonwealth countries, most of which have established their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians under military command although no civilian has received the award since 1879. Since the first awards were presented by Queen Victoria in 1857, two-thirds of all awards have been personally presented by the British monarch. These investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.
The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to honour acts of valour during the Crimean War. Since then, the medal has been awarded 1,358 times to 1,355 individual recipients. Only 15 medals, of which 11 were to members of the British Army and four were to members of the Australian Army, have been awarded since the Second World War. The traditional explanation of the source of the metal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russian cannons captured at the Siege of Sevastopol. However, research has indicated another origin for the material. Historian John Glanfield has established that the metal for most of the medals made since December 1914 came from two Chinese cannons, and that there is no evidence of Russian origin.
Owing to its rarity, the VC is highly prized and the medal has fetched over £400,000 at auctions. A number of public and private collections are devoted to the Victoria Cross. The private collection of Lord Ashcroft, amassed since 1986, contains over one-tenth of all VCs awarded. Following a 2008 donation to the Imperial War Museum, the Ashcroft collection went on public display alongside the museum's Victoria and George Cross collection in November 2010.
Beginning with the Centennial of Confederation in 1967, Canada, followed in 1975 by Australia and New Zealand, developed their own national honours systems, separate from and independent of the British or Imperial honours system. As each country's system evolved, operational gallantry awards were developed with the premier award of each system—the Victoria Cross for Australia, the Canadian Victoria Cross and the Victoria Cross for New Zealand—being created and named in honour of the Victoria Cross. These are unique awards of each honours system, recommended, assessed, gazetted, and presented by each country.
SURNAME
Cairns
FORENAME
George Albert
UNIT
Somerset Light Infantry,att 1 Bn South Staffordshire Regiment (77 Ind.Bde)
RANK
Lieutenant (A/Captain)
NUMBER
198186
AWARD
Victoria Cross
PLACE
Burma 1944
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Lassen
FORENAME
Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau
UNIT
Special Boat Squadron (S Detachment + M Squadron)
RANK
T/Captain + Major
NUMBER
234907
AWARD
Victoria Cross,2 bars to Military Cross
PLACE
SBS 1943-44 (2 bars MC) Italy 1945 (VC)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent...
SURNAME
Porteous
FORENAME
Patrick Anthony (Pat)
UNIT
4 Commando (D Troop)
RANK
Major
NUMBER
73033
AWARD
Victoria Cross
PLACE
Dieppe 1942
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Artillery
born 1.1.1918 Abbottabad,India
son of Brig.-Gen. C.McL. Porteous,7th Gurkha Rifles...
SURNAME
Newman
FORENAME
Augustus Charles
UNIT
2 Commando (Commanding Officer)
RANK
Lieutenant Colonel
NUMBER
33927
AWARD
Victoria Cross,Mention in Despatches
PLACE
St Nazaire 1942
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Essex Regiment
born 19.8.1904Chigwell,Essex
later awards...
SURNAME
Knowland
FORENAME
George Arthur
UNIT
1 Commando (4 Troop)
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
323566
AWARD
Victoria Cross
PLACE
Burma 1945
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Norfolk Regiment
born 16.8.1922 Catford,London SE
former 3 Commando
died 1945 - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Keyes
FORENAME
Geoffrey Charles Tasker
UNIT
11 Commando (C.O.) and Middle East Commando (3 Troop)
RANK
Lieutenant Colonel
NUMBER
71081
AWARD
Victoria Cross,Military Cross,Croix de Guerre (Fr)
PLACE
North Africa 1941
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Scots...
SURNAME
Hunter
FORENAME
Thomas Peck
UNIT
43 Commando (C Troop)
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
CH/X 110296
AWARD
Victoria Cross
PLACE
Italy 1945
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 6.10.1923 Aldershot,Hampshire
died 1945 - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Harden
FORENAME
Henry Eric
UNIT
45 R.M. Commando
RANK
Lance Corporal
NUMBER
11006144
AWARD
Victoria Cross
PLACE
Holland 1945
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Army Medical Corps
born 23.2.1912 Northfleet,Kent
died 1945 - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Durrant
FORENAME
Thomas Frank
UNIT
1 Commando
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
1874047
AWARD
Victoria Cross
PLACE
St Nazaire 1942
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Engineers
died 1942 - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Payne
FORENAME
Keith
UNIT
Royal Australian Infantry
RANK
Warrant Officer Second Class
NUMBER
AWARD
Victoria Cross,Distinguished Service Cross(US)
PLACE
South Vietnam 1969
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 30.8.1933 Ingham,Queensland
son of Henry Thomas...
SURNAME
Simpson
FORENAME
Rayene Stewart
UNIT
Royal Australian Infantry
RANK
Warrant Officer Second Class
NUMBER
AWARD
Victoria Cross,D.C.M.,Silver Star(US),Bronze Star(US)
PLACE
South Vietnam 1964(DCM) 1969(others)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 16.2.1926 Chippendale,NSW
son...
SURNAME
Badcoe
FORENAME
Peter John
UNIT
Royal Australian Infantry
RANK
Major
NUMBER
41400
AWARD
Victoria Cross,Silver Star (US)
PLACE
South Vietnam 1967
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 11.1.1934 Adelaide,South Australia
KIA (see Roll of Honour)
IMAGES:
SURNAME
Wheatley
FORENAME
Kevin Arthur (Dasher)
UNIT
Royal Australian Infantry
RANK
Sergeant and T/Warrant Officer Second Class
NUMBER
29890
AWARD
Victoria Cross, Silver Star (US)
PLACE
South Vietnam 1965
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 13.3.1937 Sydney,NSW
KIA (see Roll of...
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