Victoria's Cross (39 page)
Authors: Gary Mead
38
.
According to the
New York Times
, 29 July 2012, in 2012 the US Air Force had 1,300 âpilots' controlling drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen, operating from at least thirteen bases across the US. The Pentagon estimates that by 2015 the US Air Force will need more than 2,000 drone pilots operating twenty-four hours a day.
39
.
Since 1991 Australia, New Zealand and Canada have had their own versions of the VC, the Australia and New Zealand VC design being identical to the original. The Canadian design is slightly different: it is a bronze cross suspended from a crimson ribbon bearing a lion and crown insignia, a fleur-de-lis has been added, and the English motto âFor Valour' has been changed to the Latin âPro Valore'. The first Australian VC was awarded on 16 January 2009 to Trooper Mark Donaldson for the rescue of a coalition forces interpreter from heavy fire in Afghanistan. Speaking in 2010, Robert Macklin, author of
Bravest
, a book about Australian medal winners, said: âin a battlefield like Afghanistan, it is sometimes almost impossible to pick out the most deserving soldier
for a gallantry award. Indeed, in the action where Mark Donaldson won his VC, at least two other SAS troopers deserved decorations for bravery which have yet to be awarded. It is probably time to review the system.'
40
.
Nicola T, twenty-three, from Croydon, commented from the chilly climes of p. 3 in the same edition that she was âawestruck' by the bravery of Private Johnson Beharry.
41
.
Daily Telegraph
, 23 September 2006.
42
.
John Winton, âThe High Price of Valour',
Illustrated London News
, 29 September 1979, p. 51.
43
.
Lieutenant General H. J. Stannus,
My Reasons for Leaving the British Army
(William Ridgway, 1881), p. 106.
44
.
Ethics and the senior ranks of the military are not what they used to be. Formerly a retired general might eke out a living from his pension while tending his garden and slowly writing his memoirs. Today's generals prefer to shift to a more lucrative career in the private sector. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) vets on behalf of the government all applications by senior military personnel and civil servants for jobs in the private sector. Since 1996, senior officers and MoD officials have taken 3,500 jobs in arms companies (as of the end of 2012); over that time not a single application was vetoed.
45
.
The current âquota' in the 1961 warrant stipulates one commissioned officer, one NCO and one other rank (or their RN and RAF equivalent) if the unit does not exceed 100; twice that for units greater than 100 but lower than 200; above 200, the number of Crosses âshall be the subject of special consideration'.
46
.
There is no evidence of a formal ballot at Gallipoli, but Major General Hunter Weston, commanding the 29th Division (which included the Lancashire Fusiliers' battalion), in recommending the VCs, implied that informal soundings had occurred. He said: âWhere all did so marvellously it is difficult to discriminate, but the opinion of the battalion is that Bromley and Willis are the officers, and Stubbs, Richards, Grimshaw and Keneally are the NCOs and men to whom perhaps the greatest credit is due.' Crook, op. cit., p. 109.
47
.
NA WO 32/3443.
48
.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/military-medals-review-report-by-sir-john-holmes
.
49
.
Rudyard Kipling, âWinning the Victoria Cross', first published simultaneously in
Youth's Companion
and the
Windsor Magazine
in June 1897; updated and republished in 1924 as
Land and Sea Tales for Scouts and Scoutmasters
.
Index
Aberdeen, Earl of (George Hamilton-Gordon)
ref1
administration of
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
Abols, Corporal David âPig' nomination for VC
ref1
,
ref2
Abyssinia
ref1
Adams, Reverend James William
ref1
citation for VC (1881)
ref1
,
ref2
Addiscombe Military Seminary
ref1
Operation Enduring Freedom (2001â14)
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
,
ref5
,
ref6
casualties of
ref1
GCs awarded for actions during
ref1
VCs awarded for actions during
ref1
Operation Herrick (2002â14)
ref1
Aitken, Max
ref1
Albania
ref1
Albert, Prince
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
,
ref5
,
ref6
,
ref7
,
ref8
,
ref9
,
ref10
role in development of VC
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
establishment of (1866)
ref1
extension of (1877)
ref1
posthumous awarding of
ref1
Alexandra of Kent, Princess
family of
ref1
Alison, Major General Sir Archibald
Alison Committee
ref1
Anglo-Egyptian War (1882)
ref1
Anglo-Zulu War (1879)
ref1
Battle of Isandlwana (1879)
ref1
,
ref2
Battle of Rorke's Drift (1879)
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
VCs awarded for actions during
ref1
,
ref2
Annad, Lieutenant Richard
awarded VC
ref1
Appelboom, Squadron Leader K. J.
ref1
Argentina
military of
ref1
Ashcroft, Lord Michael
ref1
,
ref2
Victoria Cross Heroes
ref1
Ashworth, Lance Corporal James
posthumous awarding of VC (2013)
ref1
Atticus
ref1
Australia
ref1
Canberra
ref1
Australian War Memorial
ref1
26th Australian Brigade
ref1
Australian Army Training Team
ref1
Sydney
ref1
Australian Imperial Force (AIF)
ref1
Australian National University
faculty of
ref1
Baden-Powell, Robert
ref1
Badsell, Andrew
eligibility for VC
ref1
Bagehot, Walter
ref1
Ball, Albert
ref1
Bankes, Cornet
posthumous award of VC
ref1
Barnard, General
ref1
Bauward, Major A. C.
ref1
Beale, Lieutenant Colonel Percy
ref1
Beharry, Private Johnson
ref1
awarding of VC (2013)
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
,
ref5
Belgium
River, Dyle
ref1
Ypres
ref1
Bengal Civil Service
personnel of
ref1
VCs awarded to
ref1
Bengal Ecclesiastical Service
ref1
Bhagat, Second Lieutenant Premindra Singh
awarded VC
ref1
recommended for MC (1940)
ref1
Bishop, William âBilly' Avery
ref1
,
ref2
gazetted with VC (1917)
ref1
,
ref2
Black & White
ref1
Blair, Tony
ref1
Bleicher, Hugo
ref1
Bonaparte, Napoleon
ref1
Brade, Sir Reginald
Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War
ref1
Brett, Lieutenant Colonel
ref1
British Army Review
ref1
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
ref1
Antiques Roadshow
ref1
British Empire
ref1
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
ref1
personnel of
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
British military xvii,
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
,
ref5
,
ref6
,
ref7
,
ref8
,
ref9
1st Cheshire Regiment
ref1
1st Royal Irish Regiment
ref1
10th Foot
ref1
14th Batteries
ref1
14th Hussars
ref1
14th Royal Irish Rifles
ref1
2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force
ref1
20th Battalion
ref1
2nd Rifles Battle Group
ref1
20th Hussars
ref1
21st Lancers
ref1
42nd Royal Highlanders
ref1
44th Foot
ref1
46th Regiment
ref1
54th Foot
ref1
57th Regiment
ref1
60th Regiment
ref1
66th Batteries
ref1
7th Hussars
ref1
90th Light Infantry
ref1
Army Nursing Service
ref1
Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS)
ref1
Bengal Army
Meerut Division
ref1
British Indian army
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
1st Battalion
Burma Rifles
ref1
1st Punjab Cavalry
ref1
19th Hyderabad Regiment
ref1
104th Bengal Fusiliers
ref1
4th Punjab Rifles
ref1
Coldstream Guards
ref1
Corp of Indian Engineers
ref1
Dublin Fusiliers
ref1
Durham Light Infantry
ref1
2nd Battalion
ref1
First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY)
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
Fusilier Guards
ref1
Gordon Highlanders
ref1
1st Battalion
ref1
Gurkhas
ref1
8th Rifles
ref1
Irish Guards
ref1
1st Battalion
ref1
King's Royal Rifle Corps
ref1
Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS)
ref1
Parachute Regiment
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
2nd Battalion
ref1
Rifle Brigade
1st Battalion
ref1
Rifles, The
1st Battalion
ref1
Royal Army Medical Corps
ref1
,
ref2
Royal Artillery
Territorial Reserve
ref1
Royal Berkshire Regiment
ref1
Royal Field Artillery
ref1
7th Battery
ref1
Royal Horse Artillery
ref1
Q Battery
ref1
U Battery
ref1
Royal Irish Fusiliers
ref1
Royal Irish Regiment
ref1
1st Battalion
ref1
Royal Logistic Corps
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
ref1
Royal Marines
ref1
Reserve
ref1
Royal Scot Fusiliers
ref1
Royal Welch Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
ref1
service of women in
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
Special Air Service (SAS)
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
Welsh Guards
ref1
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)
ref1
creation of (1917)
ref1
Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC)
ref1
Broad Arrow
ref1
Broadwood, Brigadier General Robert George
ref1
Brodrick, William
Under-Secretary of State for War
ref1
Bromhead, Lieutenant Gonville
ref1
Bronze Stars
ref1
Brooke, Field Marshal Sir Alan
ref1
Brown, Father G.
ref1
Brown, William
ref1
Brownlow, Field Marshal Sir Charles
ref1
Buckmaster, Colonel Maurice
Head of SOE F Section
ref1
Budd, Corporal Bryan
posthumous awarding of VC (2006)
ref1
Budgen, Patrick Joseph
awarded VC
ref1
Buller, General Sir Redvers Henry
ref1
Burke's Peerage
ref1
Mewado
ref1
Rangoon
ref1
Byce, Acting Sergeant Charles Henry
awarded DCM
ref1
citation for VC
ref1
Byrne, Private Thomas
acquisition and sale of duplicate VC by family of
ref1
Callwell, Colonel Charles
ref1
Cameron, Lieutenant Donald
ref1
awarded VC
ref1
Cameronians Regimental Museum
ref1
Campbell, Lieutenant General Sir Colin
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
,
ref5
military of
1st Army
ref1
Lake Superior Regiment (Motor)
ref1
1st Canadian Division
ref1
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
ref1
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry
ref1
Canning, Lord Charles John
Governor-General of India
ref1
Cardigan, Lord (George Brudenell-Bruce)
ref1
Cardwell, Edward
Colonial Secretary
ref1
Carve Her Name With Pride
(1956)
ref1
Cather, Lieutenant Geoffrey St George Shillington
death of
ref1
Catholicism
ref1
Chamberlain, Crawford
ref1
Chard, Lieutenant John Rouse Merriot
ref1
Charlotte of Wales, Prince
ref1
Charlton, Guardsman Edward
awarded VC
ref1
Chatfield, Lord
Admiral of the Fleet
ref1
Cheshire, Group Captain Leonard
awarded VC
ref1
Cheshire Observer, The
ref1
Chicken, George Bell
ref1
China
ref1
Christian Victor, Prince
ref1
Christianity
ref1
Church of England
ministers of
ref1
Churchill, Peter
ref1
Churchill, Winston
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
,
ref5
,
ref6
,
ref7
,
ref8
,
ref9
,
ref10
,
ref11
First Sea Lord
ref1
River War, The
ref1
Secretary of State for War
signing of extended VC warrant (1920)
ref1
,
ref2
signing of GC warrant (1940)
ref1
Clark, Major R.
ref1
Clay, Lieutenant Colonel H. Clay
ref1
Clery, Major Francis
ref1
Clinton, Bill
ref1
Coghill, Lieutenant Nevill Josiah Aylmer
ref1
posthumous awarding of VC
ref1
Colliss, Gunner James
recommended for VC (1880)
ref1
Committee on Co-ordination etc. of Warrants Relating to the V. C. (1918)
ref1
findings of
ref1
Committee on Honours, Decorations and Medals in Time of War
ref1
,
ref2
military forces of
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
,
ref5
Congreve, Captain Walter Norris
ref1
recommended for VC
ref1
Conservative Party (Tories/Tory Party)
ref1
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC)
ref1
,
ref2
awarding to women
ref1
eligibility standards of
ref1
establishment of (1993)
ref1
posthumous awarding of
ref1
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM)
ref1
establishment of (1854)
ref1
Coppard, George
ref1
Cornwell, John (âJack') Travers
Courtney, William
ref1