Victoria's Cross (39 page)

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Authors: Gary Mead

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38
.
According to the
New York Times
, 29 July 2012, in 2012 the US Air Force had 1,300 ‘pilots' 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 ‘For Valour' has been changed to the Latin ‘Pro 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: ‘in 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 ‘awestruck' by the bravery of Private Johnson Beharry.

41
.
Daily Telegraph
, 23 September 2006.

42
.
John Winton, ‘The 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 ‘quota' 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 ‘shall 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: ‘Where 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, ‘Winning 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

Aberdeen Journal
ref1
,
ref2

Abols, Corporal David ‘Pig' nomination for VC
ref1
,
ref2

Abyssinia
ref1

Adams, Reverend James William
ref1

citation for VC (1881)
ref1
,
ref2

Addiscombe Military Seminary
ref1

Afghanistan
ref1
,
ref2

Helmand Province
ref1
,
ref2

Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–14)
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
,
ref5
,
ref6

casualties of
ref1

GCs awarded for actions during
ref1

VCs awarded for actions during
ref1

Operation Herrick (2002–14)
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

Albert Medal
ref1
,
ref2

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

casualties of
ref1
,
ref2

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

military of
ref1
,
ref2

26th Australian Brigade
ref1

Australian Army Training Team
ref1

Vietnam (AATTV)
ref1
,
ref2

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

death of (1917)
ref1
,
ref2

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

Flanders
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4

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 ‘Billy' 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

24th Regiment
ref1
,
ref2

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

Burma
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3

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

Canada
ref1
,
ref2

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

Chelmsford, Lord
ref1
,
ref2

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

military career of
ref1
,
ref2

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

members of
ref1
,
ref2

Committee on Honours, Decorations and Medals in Time of War
ref1
,
ref2

Commonwealth
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3

military forces of
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3
,
ref4
,
ref5

Congreve, Captain Walter Norris
ref1

recommended for VC
ref1

Conservative Party (Tories/Tory Party)
ref1

members of
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3

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, Alice
ref1
,
ref2

Cornwell, John (‘Jack') Travers

awarded VC
ref1
,
ref2
,
ref3

Courtney, William
ref1

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