THE HISTORY OE THE VICTORIA CROSS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 179, 15 July 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE HISTORY OE THE VICTORIA CROSS.

The Victoria Cross was instituted 1856 during the Crimean War. It- wasintended for tlm purpose of rowaiditig individual officers and men of th»’ navy and army who might, in this presence of the enemy, p? *'• . m t>omo signal act of valour or devotion to t.heir .-'ountry. there Luing ( 'eviouJv means of specially 1 < warding guidied bravery in action. It was nh<> erdained that in tin- ease of -any subsequent act of va'i.io M'ing’ perforimsl by a. person who ■.ilrei.dy held the < ross Midi further act should bo recorded by a bar or clasp attaches! to tho ribbon from which the Cross i* ; r.spended.

In the case of the rec ■■pients being below the rank of <■onimivsmfted officer the Cross is accompanied by a pension of £lO per niiiiuin. with a further £5 per annum for each I-ar. By subsequent warrants the scope of the distinction was enlarged. and other classes oi people were declared eligible, ’i’hat of October 29th. I S’. 7. stated that (iffieers and men <•( the Faust India Company's sorvi o wen entitled to the decoration, under the -nine conditions .”s those of the British Navy anti Ariny. while a warrant >•'. An. nst 10th. 1858. declared that cie.i < f bravery not before the enemy v. ero to be considered r.s admissable. Tins raised a p->iut. end it is interesting to know that tho only instance whore ill ? Vi'-t:>ria Cross was conferred for an art oi viilotir iinde” vuch conditions. wa.s when it ’iwus given to Private Timothy (..Fll”;i. or the Rifle Brigade. This man had behaved very courageously on the <•«• ision of a. fire which took place in a railway car containing ammunition, in aria, and the grant v. as notified in the London Gazette of January Ist, 18b7, and is t! e only rase of its kind. Th" Koya l Warrant of Dccemlier Ist. 1858. extended the grant, of the Cross to tlio'e civilians who distinguished themselves during the Indian Mutiny, while nine years later officers and men 0’ the Colonial fnni'i were also doelaretl eligible the decoration. (In Aj.ril 23rd. 18.81. tho qualifications 'were defined to b,- ‘'C’-ottspieuous bravery or devotion to the ccuntry in the pres-'im-' of the enemy.” and ibis did away with the V.C. being granted ’or eonrugeons action nat- performed <in th” fi< Id of buttle. At the time th. - grant, was exi( nded tn officers and men of t’to auxiliary and reserve forces, ar hi kt the, ■■.?me y-nr chaplains on tho Indian establiJ ‘iiicnt, although not uminv'<oi:ed officers, were lick! to 'io entitled to distinction.

The Maltese cross, of which the <!<■- coration cow-i-ts, was originally tnado .if the bronze of some of (Im Russian guns captured at Sebastopol during rim Crimean War, while the ribbon from which it- is suspende-d G crimson for the army and bliio far tftc navy. The origin of those different colours for t-he two services is not known. The Cross itself is invanab’i worn on the left Inoa-t . ’id taM* precedence of all otb •- Urn and medals idirk the wearer nuty posc-ei“'. Thus i) the person in que.-stion ha« earned ih" C.B’. or 3rd. class of tho Order of the Bath—in addition to the Victoria Cross, tho latter will bn shruvn before the badge of the Order of rijy Bath, comtnonc’ng from the ccot'-e ot tho hrca‘t. The statutes cf the V icta.ria. Crm-s ‘ provide for the exjuilsion c.f person* who. by reason of their misconduct, become unworthy of th" (ie- ” < 1. while a soldier or sailor losh u- \ u>toria. Cross through ciircV’«smi»s is charged for a new one .rt t> ‘ I<l ef £1 45.. although its intrinsic value i* said to be only two nene< \ 'll present time, also, soldiers or sailors selling or otherwise dirpos , <■>■ 1 decoration or medals am LiiMe to severe ptinishiix nt. while th.' persons buying them ire liable to proxcc’iti.m.

Medals and decorations including Ibe Victoria Gross which would have Loen conferred upon officer.’ and men had lhev livid, are. as a token «»’ respect to their memories, delivered to their families. The curious notion that is sometimes entertained that «>n.’ ar<> entitled to wear their father’,’ d's-m-.n--tions, or vice vesa. is witbrnit foundation. and there is no pr. <■. ■'•■.•it what- ! soever for such a belief. Tim mdy occivion upon which something m the sort took plime was rfter tl.o battle cf Waterloo, when tin? officers wearing medals for that action 1:a-I 'mnia--111 res made im' their wives ux v ".a.r. 1 Tiiis custom, however, has now died I out.

AVirh regard to instances of braver, ■' not thoiighr sufficiently d-- inguislu <’ to merit ilm Victoria Crc&s. two medals had been instituted, one in for tho armv “for distinguished conduct in the field.” and the other ui 1 'G4 for tho navy “for conspi u ,-:s gallantry.” Officers are not «4. ; tor these medals. Bars are given for sub- a sequent act", of bravery in ;iie same v way as for tile Victoria CT"-s. while annuities, varying from £5 to £T3. a.’Curding to tho rank of the r-cipicnt. arc also g'-autod. The rih'on for the Di-; mg” iJi. d Conduct Modal for the army ts rriirron with a broad white stripe down the centre, whilst that of the naval medal is blue with a bro;. i white stripe. The Alb-'iT Mesial is bally fide. oration for very bravo actions in time of peace It is divided into two classes “For bravery in saving life •i.i; sea.” and "For bravery in saving life on land.” each of those 'mmg of (be Ist and 2nd class. A Ist class Albert Medal is a great rarity, and is very seldom conferred. The <!dforci>t.■las's's of this decoration nr-- distinguished by the colour of the ribbons fiom u hii-h they are suspend.nl that of the sea medal being blue with white stripes, anil the land medal being crimson with v, hits’ stripes. Th-- badge <>f the Ist. eln's is worked in gold :i'>d bronze, while that of the ‘-’ii'i cLtss is in bronz ‘ a'o:ie.