The Victoria Cross traces its history back to the Crimean War and has become one of the most admired and prized medals in military history.
For Valour
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award within the United Kingdom honours system. Since it was introduced in 1856 the VC has been awarded 1,358 times to 1,355 individual recipients.
The VC is awarded for gallantry ‘in the face of the enemy’ and can be presented to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians under military command-although no civilian has received the award since 1879.
The Crimean War (1853-1856) was one of the first conflicts fought amidst modern reporting and the dispatches sent back by The Times’ war correspondent, William Howard Russell, described many acts of unrewarded bravery.
At this point there was no official standardised system for the recognition of gallantry within the British armed forces. Sometimes senior officers would be awarded medals; occasionally junior grades were presented with the Order of the Bath or promotions while a Mention in Despatches existed for acts of lesser gallantry.
Meanwhile, other European countries had awards that did not discriminate against class or rank; France awarded the Lég…
