The Victoria Cross

E22199

gallantry award military decoration

The Victoria Cross is the United Kingdom’s highest and most prestigious military decoration, awarded for extraordinary valour in the presence of the enemy.

Aliases (3)

Victoria Cross ×70
Victoria Cross (as commander, not recipient)? ×1
Victoria Cross (multiple recipients) ×1

Statements (49)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	gallantry award → military decoration →
awardedFor	extraordinary valour in the presence of the enemy → extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy → most conspicuous bravery → some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice →
awardingAuthority	United Kingdom Ministry of Defence → surface form: "Ministry of Defence (UK)"
awardingCountries	Dominion of Australia → surface form: "Australia (until creation of VC for Australia and then in its own form)" Canada (until creation of VC for Canada and then in its own form) → New Zealand (until creation of VC for New Zealand and then in its own form) → United Kingdom →
canBeAwardedMultipleTimes	true →
canBeAwardedPosthumously	true →
confersStyle	entitlement to use post-nominal letters VC →
country	United Kingdom →
designFeatures	St Edward's Crown → surface form: "crown of Saint Edward" lion statant guardant →
eligibility	all ranks → members of previous British Empire territories → members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth →
establishedBy	Queen Victoria →
establishedOn	1856-01-29 →
firstAwardedForConflict	Crimean War →
hasCivilianEquivalent	The George Cross → surface form: "George Cross"
inscription	FOR VALOUR →
isHighest	British honours system gallantry award → United Kingdom military decoration for valour →
languageOfInscription	English →
legalProtection	wearing without entitlement is an offence in the UK →
material	bronze →
monarchWhoAwards	British monarch →
multipleAwardDevice	Bar →
namedAfter	Queen Victoria →
obverseDepiction	crown surmounted by lion with inscription FOR VALOUR →
postNominals	VC →
precedenceOver	all other British orders, decorations and medals →
presentedBy	reigning monarch or representative →
relatedAward	The George Cross → surface form: "George Cross" Victoria Cross for Australia → Victoria Cross for Canada → Victoria Cross for New Zealand →
retroactiveTo	1854-01-01 →
reverseFeatures	date of the act of valour →
ribbonColour	crimson → dark blue (Royal Navy until 1918) →
shape	Maltese cross pattée →
status	currently awarded →
suspension	straight bar with laurel leaves →
typicalRecipientRank	any rank including private soldier or equivalent →