Military Cross

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The Military Cross is a British military decoration awarded to officers and, later, other ranks for exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land.

Aliases (1)
  • Military Cross with Bars ×1

Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf military award
military decoration
awardedFor exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land
awardedTo allied foreign military personnel
members of Commonwealth forces
members of the British Armed Forces
awardingAuthority Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
awardingBody British Armed Forces
awardingCountry United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
campaign Falklands War
First World War
Iraq War
Korean War
Second World War
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
conflictType land warfare
country United Kingdom
dateEstablished 1914-12-28
decorates acts of bravery in the field
eligibility officers of the British Army
officers of the Royal Air Force serving with the Army
officers of the Royal Marines
officers of the Royal Navy serving with the Army
other ranks
warrant officers
eligibilityChange extended to other ranks in 1993
establishedBy King George V
higherAward Distinguished Service Order
inscription recipient’s name and date of award
introducedDuring First World War
locationOfInscription reverse of the cross
lowerAward Military Medal
material silver
notableRecipient Bernard Freyberg
Bernard Montgomery
Harold Macmillan
John Profumo
Winston Churchill
originalEligibility commissioned officers
warrant officers
postnominalLetters MC
presentedBy British monarch
replaced Military Medal for other ranks after 1993
ribbonColor purple and white
shape cross pattée
status currently awarded
theatre land operations
type gallantry award
yearEstablished 1914


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