Victoria Cross

• Cross instituted on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria.
• Cross awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.
• It was originally intended that the VCs would be cast from the bronze cascabels of two cannon that were captured from the Russians at the siege of Sevastopol.
• The decoration is a bronze cross pattée, bearing the crown of Saint Edward surmounted by a lion, and the inscription FOR VALOUR. The cross is suspended by a ring from a seriffed "V" to a bar ornamented with laurel leaves, through which the ribbon passes. The reverse of the suspension bar is engraved with the recipient's name, rank, number and unit. On the reverse of the medal is a circular panel on which the date of the act for which it was awarded is engraved in the centre.

Decorations