PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE
C.O.8
Reference :-
•885
17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
many Foreign Ship or Troops; but ail himself of any offer made to him ed on board, or to be conveyed by 's ships or boats; though he cannot attention. (Enclosed in Circular, aber, 1879.)*
R.
APPENDIX.
6. (Par. 159.)
S We, taking into Our Royal Consideration
sts no means of adequately rewarding the allant services either of Officers of the in our Naval and Military Service, or of Petty Officers, Seamen, and Marines in
ad Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers
y; and whereas the Third Class of our
ble Order of the Bath is limited, except in ses, to the higher ranks of both Services, iting of medals, both in Our Navy and y awarded for long service or meritorious er than for bravery in action or distinction hemy, such cases alone excepted, where a lal is granted for a particular action or r a clasp added to the medal for some agement, in both of which cases all share the boon, and those who by their valour larly signalised themselves remain undis- 'rom their comrades: Now, for the purpose an end so desirable as that of rewarding instances of merit and valour, We have nd created and by these Presents, for Us, and Successors, institute and create a New Military Decoration, which we are desirous
highly prized and eagerly sought after by 6 and Men of Our Naval and Military nd are graciously pleased to make, ordain,
sh the following rules and ordinances for ment of the same, which shall from hence- violably observed and kept :-
It is ordained, that the distinction shall be designated “the Victoria Cross," and shall
a Maltese Cross of Bronze, with our Royal
e centre, and underneath which an escroll,
8 inscription, “For Valour."
". It is ordained, that the Cross shall be
from the left breast, by a blue riband for
and by a red riband for the Army.
It is ordained, that the names of those
m We may be pleased to confer the Decoration
published in the "London Gazette,” and a ereof kept in the oflice of our Secretary of
Var.
so Regulation 432.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
TIT
Reference :-
C.O.88
+885
60
Fourthly. It is ordained, that anyone who, after having received the Cross, shall again perform an act of bravery, which, if he had not received such Cross, would have entitled him to it, such further act shall be recorded by a Bar attached to the riband by which the Cross is suspended, and for every additional act of bravery an additional Bar may be added.
Fifthly. It is ordained, that the Cross shall only be awarded to those Officers or men who have served Us
in the presence of the enemy, and shall have then per- formed some signal act of valour or devotion to their country.
Sixthly. It is ordained, with a view to place afl persons on a perfectly equal footing in relation to eligibility for the Decoration, that neither rank, nor long service, nor wounds, nor any other circumstance or condition whatsoever, save the merit of conspicuous bravery, shall be held to establish a sufficient claim to the honour.
Seventhly. It is ordained, that the Decoration may be conferred on the spot where the act to be rewarded by the grant of such Decoration has been performed, under the following circumstances :—
I. When the Fleet or Army in which such act has been performed is under the eye and com- mand of an Admiral or General Officer commanding the Forces.
II. Where the Naval or Military force is under the eye and command of an Admiral or Com- modore commanding a squadron or detached naval force, or of a General commanding a corps, or division, or brigade on a distinct and detached service, when such Admiral, Commodore, or General Officer shall have the power of conferring the Decoration on the spot, subject to confirmation by Us.
Eighthly. It is ordained, where such act shall not have been performed in sight of a Commanding Officer as aforesaid, then the claimant for the honour shall prove the act to the satisfaction of the Captain or Officer commanding his ship, or to the Officer com- manding the regiment to which the claimant belongs, and such Captain or such Commanding Officer shall report the same through the usual channel to the Admiral or Commodore commanding the force em- ployed on the service, or to the Officer commanding the forces in the field, who shall call for such descrip- tion and attestation of the act as he may think requisite, and on approval shall recommend the grant of the Decoration.
Ninthly. It is ordained, that every person selected for the Cross, under rule seven, shall be publicly decorated before the Naval or Military force or body to which he belongs, and with which the act of bravery
17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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It is ordained, that anyone who, after d the Cross, shall again perform an act nich, if he had not received such Cros, titled him to it, such further act shall be Bar attached to the riband by which the ended, and for every additional act of ditional Bar may be added.
is ordained, that the Cross shall only be Lose Officers or men who have serve‹l Us
e of the enemy, and shall have then per- signal act of valour or devotion to their ‹
tis ordained, with a view to place all perfectly equal footing in relation to
r the Decoration, that neither rauk, nor nor wounds, nor any other circumstance whatsoever, save the merit of conspicuous
I be held to establish a sufficient claim to