Victoria Cross (United Kingdom)

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The Victoria Cross (United Kingdom) is the highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded for extraordinary valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf military decoration
approvalProcess awarded in the name of the monarch
associatedWith British honours system NERFINISHED
Commonwealth honours systems
awardedFor extraordinary bravery
gallantry in combat
valour in the face of the enemy
awardedToRank all military ranks
awardingAuthority monarch of the United Kingdom
awardingBody United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (administration) NERFINISHED
branchEligibility British Army NERFINISHED
Royal Air Force NERFINISHED
Royal Navy NERFINISHED
canBeAwardedPosthumously true
confersStyle entitlement to use post-nominal letters VC
country United Kingdom
eligibility certain allied forces
members of Commonwealth armed forces
members of the British armed forces
establishedBy Queen Victoria NERFINISHED
establishedOn 1856-01-29
firstAwardedForConflict Crimean War NERFINISHED
firstYearAwarded 1857
hasHigherAward none
hasVariant Victoria Cross (Canada) NERFINISHED
Victoria Cross for Australia NERFINISHED
Victoria Cross for New Zealand NERFINISHED
inscription FOR VALOUR on the obverse
isMilitaryOnly true
isMostPrestigiousGallantryAwardOf Commonwealth armed forces NERFINISHED
United Kingdom NERFINISHED
isNonDiscriminatoryByBranch true
isNonDiscriminatoryByRank true
languageOfMotto English
material bronze
motto FOR VALOUR
notableFeature can be awarded regardless of rank or length of service
postNominals VC NERFINISHED
precedence highest military decoration in the United Kingdom honours system
reverseFeatures date of the act of valour
ribbonColour crimson
shape bronze cross pattée
status currently awarded
suspension decorative suspension bar with laurel leaves
symbolizes self-sacrifice in combat
supreme courage

Referenced by (1)

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

Victoria Cross for Australia hasEquivalent Victoria Cross (United Kingdom)