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The Victoria Cross is Britain’s highest military honor, awarded to any member of the military or civilians working under military command who demonstrate remarkable valor in the face of the enemy. The medal was developed in 1856 and is traditionally bestowed by the British monarch. Recipients are entitled to an annuity and the medal is highly regarded. The Victoria Cross is rare, with fewer than 2,000 awarded as of 2008, and commands a hefty price when auctioned off to collectors. Since 1920, it has not been allowed to lose the Victoria Cross.
The Victoria Cross is Britain’s highest military honour. It can be awarded to any member of the military, regardless of rank, and to civilians working under military command. This honor is offered to people who have demonstrated remarkable valor in the face of the enemy and is traditionally bestowed by the seated British monarch in a ceremony in London. Receiving a Victoria Cross, also known as a VC, is a great honor and these medals are highly regarded.
This medal was developed in 1856 and originally awarded to individuals who had served in the Crimean War. Queen Victoria wanted to be able to award a medal that was not distinguished by rank, giving all soldiers an equal opportunity to win major honors when fighting for Britain. By tradition, the Victoria Cross is supposed to be cast from the metal of cannons that were captured during the siege of Sevastopol. Analysis of several VC medals has called this tradition into question, as some older medals appear to be made of metal of Chinese origin, rather than the original cannons, which are kept under guard so they can be brought out when a new Victoria Cross is awarded.
Since 1856, the medals have been manufactured by Hancocks of London, a jewelery firm which holds numerous royal warrants. The medal has the shape of a pattée cross, a cross with arms that widen at the edges and narrow in the center, and has an inscription that reads “al valor”. A crown and a lion are centered in the center of the cross.
As well as receiving the medal, recipients of a Victoria Cross are also entitled to an annuity. The amount of the annuity varies, with the government determining how much should be awarded. Some Victoria Cross recipients have dedicated their medals to museums and, periodically, a medal comes onto the market, usually from the survivors of a recipient who has died. Because the Victoria Cross is rare, with fewer than 2,000 awarded as of 2008, the medal commands a hefty price when auctioned off to collectors.
Since 1920, it has not been allowed to lose the Victoria Cross. King George V supported this rule change, arguing that while other military decorations and privileges may be stripped of people, the Victoria Cross should never be taken away, even if it meant that a murderer would take it to the gallows. Several recipients were stripped of their Victoria Crosses prior to this rule change and their medals were retroactively reinstated.
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