THE VICTORIA CROSS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 376, 26 April 1879, Page 23

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

(From Heroes of Britain in Peace and War.) Of all prizes that men in the army and navy covet, there is none more eagerly sought, more jealously guarded, or more dearly loved, than the simple cros3 in gun-metal, bearing the inscription “For "Valor.” The "Victoria Cross was instituted by Iloyal Warrant on January 19, 1856, as a reward for individual instances of merit and valor in the army aiul navy. Although many acts of heroism had been performed in both services in the earlier part of her Gracious Majesty’s reign, it was not deemed advisable to make the action of the warrant retrospective, and the heroes of the Crimea were therefore the first who received the much-coveted decoration. The cross itself is a simple piece of gun-metal, bronze-colored, with the royal crest in the middle, and below the words, “For Valour ;” in the centre of the reverse the date of the act of heroism is inscribed, and on the bar to which the ribbon is attached, the name of the individual and of the corps to which he belongs. On this bar also is engraved a sprig of laurel, and the bar is attached to the cross by the letter "V on a red or blue ribbon, according to the service in the army or navy of the recipient. It is not to soldiers and sailors only, however, that the "Victoria Cross is awarded, and many civilians who have distinguished themselves by acts of conspicuous bravery have been enrolled among the hero-band. The actual money value of the cross is only a few shillings, but the laurel crown of the Romans cost even less, and decorations are of coux-se altogether valueless from that point of view. Thank God, the day has not come yet when chivalry lies dead, or when bravery sells itself for cash ! Many a brave knight has gone into the clash of arms and has fought bloody battles for the sake of a flower from the head of bis mistress, or a scarf which has encircled her fair neck ; and in these later times, many a man has gone into the deadly breach, and through tempests of fiery missiles for the love of country and honor, sustained in the midst of dangers by the hope that some day that simple Maltese Cross, devised by the Queen, and always when practicable conferred by her own hand, may rest upon his breast. The "Victoria Cross carries with it £lO a year pension for each nonfeommissioned officer and private, with an additional annuity of £5 for every additional bar, such bar being added upon each fresh act of bravery equal to the first.