The George Cross

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The George Cross is the United Kingdom’s highest civilian decoration for bravery, awarded for acts of the greatest heroism or most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
George Cross 4

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf civilian decoration
decoration of the United Kingdom
gallantry award
announcedIn London Gazette
awardedBy letters patent
awardedFor acts of the greatest heroism
civilian gallantry
military gallantry not in the presence of the enemy
most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger
awardingAuthority monarch of the United Kingdom
canBeAwardedCollectively true
canBeAwardedPosthumously true
category Bravery awards
British honours system
surface form: Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom
collectiveAwardsKnownAs George Cross to a collective body
country United Kingdom
eligibility Commonwealth citizens
allied nationals
civilians
military personnel
establishedBy George VI
surface form: King George VI
establishedDuring World War II
surface form: Second World War
establishedOn 1940-09-24
firstAwardsMade 1941
hasPostNominalEntitlement true
higherAward none
isHighestCivilianDecorationOf United Kingdom
isHighestGallantryAwardFor civilians in the United Kingdom
isOftenGroupedWith The Victoria Cross
surface form: Victoria Cross
isPartOf British honours system
languageOfInscription English
material silver
namedAfter George VI
surface form: King George VI
notableCollectiveRecipient Malta
surface form: Island of Malta

National Health Service
surface form: National Health Service of the United Kingdom

Royal Ulster Constabulary
obverseDesign Saint George and the Dragon
surface form: St George slaying the dragon
obverseInscription FOR GALLANTRY
postNominalLetters GC
rankInOrderOfWear second only to Victoria Cross
recommendationBy Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom
surface form: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
relativeRank equal to Victoria Cross
replaced The Queen's Gallantry Medal
surface form: Empire Gallantry Medal
reverseFeature recipient’s name and date engraved
ribbonColor dark blue
shape silver cross
status currently awarded
type non-combat gallantry award

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Royal Ulster Constabulary awardReceived The George Cross
this entity surface form: George Cross
RUC awardReceived The George Cross
subject surface form: Royal Ulster Constabulary
this entity surface form: George Cross
The Victoria Cross hasCivilianEquivalent The George Cross
subject surface form: Victoria Cross
this entity surface form: George Cross
British honours system includes The George Cross
The Victoria Cross relatedAward The George Cross
subject surface form: Victoria Cross
this entity surface form: George Cross