George Cross
Encyclopedia
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration
of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations
. The GC is the civilian counterpart of the Victoria Cross
(VC) and the highest gallantry award for civilians as well as for military personnel in actions which are not in the face of the enemy or for which purely military honours would not normally be granted.
. At this time, during the height of the Blitz
, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage. The existing awards open to civilians were not judged suitable to meet the new situation, therefore it was decided that the George Cross and the George Medal would be instituted to recognise both civilian gallantry in the face of enemy action and brave deeds more generally.
Announcing the new award, the King said: "In order that they should be worthily and promptly recognised, I have decided to create, at once, a new mark of honour for men and women in all walks of civilian life. I propose to give my name to this new distinction, which will consist of the George Cross, which will rank next to the Victoria Cross, and the George Medal
for wider distribution."
The medal was designed by Percy Metcalfe
. The Warrant for the GC (along with that of the GM), dated 24 January 1941, was published in the London Gazette
on 31 January 1941.
The GC was intended to replace the Empire Gallantry Medal
(EGM); all holders of the EGM were instructed to exchange their medals for a GC, a substitution of awards unprecedented in the history of British decorations. This substitution policy ignored holders of the Albert Medal
(AM) and the Edward Medal
(EM), awards which both took precedence over the EGM. The anomaly was only rectified in 1971, when the surviving recipients of the AM and the EM were invited to exchange their award for the George Cross. Of the 64 holders of the Albert Medal and 68 holders of the Edward Medal eligible to exchange, 49 and 59 respectively took up the option.
The cross is primarily a civilian award; however the George Cross may be awarded to military personnel for gallant conduct which is not in the face of the enemy. As the Warrant states:
Bars are awarded to the GC in recognition of the performance of further acts of bravery meriting the award, although none have yet been awarded. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters GC. In common with the Victoria Cross, a distinction peculiar to these two premier awards for bravery, in undress uniform or on occasions when the medal ribbon alone is worn, a miniature replica of the cross is affixed to the centre of the ribbon.
The details of all awards are published in the London Gazette with the exception of the two collective bestowals.
and the Royal Ulster Constabulary
); including those who were originally awarded other medals, the total number of recipients is 406.
The Ministry of Defence
announced on 18 March 2010 that Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid
was posthumously awarded the George Cross for making safe 70 improvised explosive devices in his time in Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes
was also awarded the George Cross for improvised explosive disposal efforts. Two other soldiers have been awarded the George Cross for actions carried out in the conflict in Afghanistan.
The Iraq conflict saw two military recipients of the George Cross, Peter Norton and Christopher Finney
.
The most recent civilian recipient was Sergeant Stewart Guthrie
of the New Zealand Police
, who received his award posthumously for his part in apprehending a gunman in the 1990 Aramoana massacre
in New Zealand
.
The George Cross has, on the express instruction of the Sovereign, been awarded twice on a collective basis, to the island of Malta and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
:
The Governor answered:
The cross and the messages are today found in the War Museum in Fort Saint Elmo
, Valletta
. The fortitude of the population under sustained enemy air raids and a naval blockade which almost saw them starved into submission, won widespread admiration in Britain and other Allied nations. Some historians argue that the award was in fact a propaganda gesture to justify the huge losses sustained by Britain to prevent Malta from capitulating as Singapore
had done in the Battle of Singapore
.
The George Cross is woven into the Flag of Malta
and can be seen wherever the flag is flown.
following the advice of her Government. Buckingham Palace
announced,
The Queen paid her own personal tribute to the RUC by presenting the George Cross to the organisation in person at Hillsborough Castle
, County Down
.
The citation published by Buckingham Palace on 23 November 1999 states:
Two years later (on 4 November 2001), the RUC was renamed and is now the Police Service of Northern Ireland
.
(including those by substitution for awards superseded by the GC): nine men and one woman. The GC is no longer awarded to Canadians by the Queen of Canada, who awards the Cross of Valour
(Canadian) instead.
14 George Crosses were awarded to Australians between 1940 and 1978, five of this total going to civilians. Of the 14, four awards were made to officers of the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve who served in the extremely dangerous role of mine disposal during World War II
. Courage of a different sort was displayed by two prisoners of war who endured terrible suffering without flinching, with Madden dying of privations while assisting fellow prisoners, and Matthews eventually being executed by his captors for building a resistance network. The last Australia
n to be awarded the GC (in 1978), and the most recent surviving civilian recipient, was Constable Michael Kenneth Pratt
of the Victoria Police, Melbourne
, for arresting two armed bank robbers in June 1976.
A memorial to Australian recipients was opened in the Capital, Canberra, on 4 April 2001 by the Governor General of Australia, Sir William Deane
. George Cross Park is in Blamey
Crescent bounded by Moten Street, Campbell
.
The George Cross is no longer awarded to Australians. The Queen established the Cross of Valour
in 1975 to be awarded by the Crown "only for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril". This is now used instead of the George Cross.
1,495 per year. As at January 2005, under the Canadian Gallantry Awards Order, members of the Canadian Forces
, or people who joined the British forces before 31 March 1949 while domiciled in Canada or Newfoundland, receive $
3,000 per year. For Australian holders, the amount is determined by clause 11A1.2 of the Australian Defence Force
Pay and Conditions, and as of January 2005 is $
250 per year.
it is unlawful to use the George Cross or an imitation of it or the words George Cross, for the purposes of trade or business without the authorisation of the Prime Minister
.
:Category:Recipients of the George Cross
Civil decoration
A civil decoration is a decoration awarded to civilians for distinguished service. Military personnel might also be eligible for services of a non-military nature...
of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. The GC is the civilian counterpart of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(VC) and the highest gallantry award for civilians as well as for military personnel in actions which are not in the face of the enemy or for which purely military honours would not normally be granted.
Creation
The GC was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VIGeorge VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
. At this time, during the height of the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage. The existing awards open to civilians were not judged suitable to meet the new situation, therefore it was decided that the George Cross and the George Medal would be instituted to recognise both civilian gallantry in the face of enemy action and brave deeds more generally.
Announcing the new award, the King said: "In order that they should be worthily and promptly recognised, I have decided to create, at once, a new mark of honour for men and women in all walks of civilian life. I propose to give my name to this new distinction, which will consist of the George Cross, which will rank next to the Victoria Cross, and the George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
for wider distribution."
The medal was designed by Percy Metcalfe
Percy Metcalfe
Percy Metcalfe, CVO, RDI , was an English artist sculptor and designer.He studied art in Leeds, and in 1914 attended the Royal College of Art London....
. The Warrant for the GC (along with that of the GM), dated 24 January 1941, was published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 31 January 1941.
The GC was intended to replace the Empire Gallantry Medal
Empire Gallantry Medal
The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, usually known as the Empire Gallantry Medal , was a British medal awarded for acts of the highest civilian gallantry . King George V introduced it on 29 December 1922...
(EGM); all holders of the EGM were instructed to exchange their medals for a GC, a substitution of awards unprecedented in the history of British decorations. This substitution policy ignored holders of the Albert Medal
Albert Medal (lifesaving)
The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was a British medal awarded to recognise the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.The Albert Medal was first instituted by a Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866 and discontinued in 1971 with the last two awards promulgated in the London Gazette of...
(AM) and the Edward Medal
Edward Medal
The Edward Medal is a British civilian decoration which was instituted by Royal Warrant on 13 July 1907 to recognise acts of bravery of miners and quarrymen in endangering their lives to rescue their fellow workers...
(EM), awards which both took precedence over the EGM. The anomaly was only rectified in 1971, when the surviving recipients of the AM and the EM were invited to exchange their award for the George Cross. Of the 64 holders of the Albert Medal and 68 holders of the Edward Medal eligible to exchange, 49 and 59 respectively took up the option.
Award
The George Cross, which may be awarded posthumously, is granted in recognition of "acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger."The cross is primarily a civilian award; however the George Cross may be awarded to military personnel for gallant conduct which is not in the face of the enemy. As the Warrant states:
Bars are awarded to the GC in recognition of the performance of further acts of bravery meriting the award, although none have yet been awarded. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters GC. In common with the Victoria Cross, a distinction peculiar to these two premier awards for bravery, in undress uniform or on occasions when the medal ribbon alone is worn, a miniature replica of the cross is affixed to the centre of the ribbon.
The details of all awards are published in the London Gazette with the exception of the two collective bestowals.
Recipients
Since its inception in 1940, the GC has been awarded posthumously to 87 recipients and to 74 living people (excluding the two collective awards to MaltaMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
); including those who were originally awarded other medals, the total number of recipients is 406.
Recent recipients
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
announced on 18 March 2010 that Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid
Olaf Schmid
Staff Sergeant Olaf Sean George Schmid GC was a British Army bomb disposal expert who was killed in action in the Afghanistan conflict. Schmid was posthumously awarded the George Cross after he made safe 70 devices before his death in October 2009...
was posthumously awarded the George Cross for making safe 70 improvised explosive devices in his time in Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes
Kim Hughes (GC)
Warrant Officer Class 2 Kim Spencer Hughes GC is a British Army bomb disposal expert who was awarded the George Cross as a Staff Sergeant for gallant acts carried out in the Afghanistan conflict. Hughes made safe over 80 improvised explosive devices on his tour of Afghanistan...
was also awarded the George Cross for improvised explosive disposal efforts. Two other soldiers have been awarded the George Cross for actions carried out in the conflict in Afghanistan.
- L/Cpl Matthew CroucherMatthew CroucherLance Corporal Matthew Croucher GC is a member of the Royal Marines Reserve and recipient of the George Cross, the highest British medal for gallantry not in the face of the enemy, for his extreme valour in risking his life to safeguard the lives of his comrades...
of the Royal Marines ReserveRoyal Marines ReserveThe role of the Royal Marines Reserve of the United Kingdom is to support the regular Royal Marines in times of war or national crisis. The RMR consists of some 600-1000 trained ranks distributed among the five RMR Centres within the UK...
was awarded the George Cross for smothering a grenade explosion with his body and equipment on an operation in Afghanistan. Croucher was the first reservist to receive either a VC or GC since current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan began. - Mark WrightMark Wright (GC)Corporal Mark William Wright, GC was a soldier in the British Army. He served in the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. He died in Helmand Province in Afghanistan after entering a minefield in an attempt to save the lives of other injured soldiers...
, of the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, was posthumously awarded the George Cross for entering a minefield in an attempt to save the lives of other injured soldiers. He maintained the morale of the other wounded soldiers, despite his serious injuries, but died of his wounds during the flight to the field dressing stationField hospitalA field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
.
The Iraq conflict saw two military recipients of the George Cross, Peter Norton and Christopher Finney
Christopher Finney
Lance-Corporal of Horse Christopher Finney GC is a British soldier of the Blues and Royals awarded the George Cross for bravery under friendly fire during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Finney grew up in Marple, near Stockport, before moving to Dorset and then joining the British Army in September 2000...
.
- Norton was an Ammunition Technical OfficerAmmunition Technical OfficerAn Ammunition Technical Officer is an officer involved in all aspects of the army's use of ammunition. This includes; bomb disposal, explosives accident investigation, procurement, in service management, storage, and inspection and repair....
of the Royal Logistic CorpsRoyal Logistic CorpsThe Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength...
and the GC was awarded for gallantry on 24 July 2005 when he led a bomb disposalBomb disposalBomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
team at the site of an IEDImprovised explosive deviceAn improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
attack on a US military patrol in Iraq, sustaining serious injuries. - Trooper Christopher FinneyChristopher FinneyLance-Corporal of Horse Christopher Finney GC is a British soldier of the Blues and Royals awarded the George Cross for bravery under friendly fire during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Finney grew up in Marple, near Stockport, before moving to Dorset and then joining the British Army in September 2000...
of the Blues and RoyalsBlues and RoyalsThe Blues and Royals is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. The Colonel-in-Chief is Her Majesty The Queen and the Colonel is HRH The Princess Royal...
was awarded the George Cross on 31 October 2003 for gallantry during a friendly fire incident in the 2003 invasion of Iraq2003 invasion of IraqThe 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. Finney is also the youngest military recipient of the decoration.
The most recent civilian recipient was Sergeant Stewart Guthrie
Stewart Graeme Guthrie
Stewart Graeme Guthrie, GC of New Zealand is the most recent civilian recipient of the George Cross, the highest award for conspicuous gallantry not in the face of an enemy awarded in certain Commonwealth countries...
of the New Zealand Police
New Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
, who received his award posthumously for his part in apprehending a gunman in the 1990 Aramoana massacre
Aramoana massacre
The Aramoana massacre was a mass murder that occurred on 13 November 1990 in the small seaside township of Aramoana, New Zealand. Resident David Gray, a 33-year-old unemployed man, began indiscriminately shooting people in the township with a scoped semi-automatic rifle, after a verbal dispute with...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Female recipients
In its history, the GC has been awarded directly to only four women (although a number of others have received the awards superseded by the GC):- Odette SansomOdette SansomOdette Sansom Hallowes GC, MBE, Chevalier de la légion d'honneur was an Allied heroine of the Second World War.-Early years:...
, (FANY), Violette SzaboViolette SzaboViolette Reine Elizabeth Bushell Szabo, GC, was a Second World War French-British secret agent.-Early life and marriage:...
, (ATSATS-Societies:*Adventist Theological Society*American Temperance Society, an early American civic organization promoting temperance*American Thoracic Society, a society for lung physicians, health related professionals and researchers-Systems:...
), and Noor Inayat KhanNoor Inayat KhanAssistant Section Officer Noor Inayat Khan / Nora Baker, GC, MBE , usually known as Noor Inayat Khan was of Indian Muslim origin...
, (WAAFWAAFWAAF may refer to:*Women's Auxiliary Air Force, a British military service in World War II**Waaf, a member of the service*WAAF , a radio station licensed to Westborough, Massachusetts, United States...
) (in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
) - Barbara Jane HarrisonBarbara Jane HarrisonBarbara Jane Harrison, GC , was a British air stewardess. She is one of four women to have been awarded the George Cross for heroism, and the only one of the four not to have served with the Special Operations Executive in occupied France during the Second World War...
, an air stewardess on BOAC Flight 712BOAC Flight 712BOAC Flight 712 for Monday 8 April 1968 was a British Overseas Airways Corporation service operated by a Boeing 707-465 from London Heathrow Airport bound for Sydney via Kloten, Zürich and Singapore, which suffered an engine failure at takeoff that quickly led to a major fire. The engine fell...
, who died on 8 April 1968 after helping many passengers escape from an onboard fire at Heathrow Airport.
Collective awards
Malta
The GC was awarded to the island of Malta in a letter dated 15 April 1942 from King George VI to the island's Governor Lieutenant-General Sir William DobbieWilliam Dobbie
Lieutenant-General Sir William George Shedden Dobbie GCMG, KCB, DSO was a British Army veteran of the Second Boer War, and First and Second World Wars.-Early life:...
:
The Governor answered:
The cross and the messages are today found in the War Museum in Fort Saint Elmo
Fort Saint Elmo
Fort Saint Elmo is a fortification in Valletta, Malta. It stands on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour, and commands the entrances to both harbours.-History:...
, Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
. The fortitude of the population under sustained enemy air raids and a naval blockade which almost saw them starved into submission, won widespread admiration in Britain and other Allied nations. Some historians argue that the award was in fact a propaganda gesture to justify the huge losses sustained by Britain to prevent Malta from capitulating as Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
had done in the Battle of Singapore
Battle of Singapore
The Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
.
The George Cross is woven into the Flag of Malta
Flag of Malta
The Flag of Malta is a basic bi-colour, with white in the hoist and red in the fly: colours from the blazon of the arms of Malta. Tradition states that the colours of the flag were given to Malta by Count Roger of Sicily, in 1091...
and can be seen wherever the flag is flown.
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The GC was awarded to the RUC in 1999 by Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
following the advice of her Government. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
announced,
The Queen paid her own personal tribute to the RUC by presenting the George Cross to the organisation in person at Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Castle is an official government residence in Northern Ireland. It is the residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the official residence in Northern Ireland of HM Queen Elizabeth II The Secretary of State combines two roles...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
.
The citation published by Buckingham Palace on 23 November 1999 states:
Two years later (on 4 November 2001), the RUC was renamed and is now the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
.
Awards by nation
There have been 10 GCs awarded to CanadiansCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(including those by substitution for awards superseded by the GC): nine men and one woman. The GC is no longer awarded to Canadians by the Queen of Canada, who awards the Cross of Valour
Cross of Valour (Canada)
The Cross of Valour is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest award , the highest honour available for Canadian civilians, and the highest of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations...
(Canadian) instead.
Australia
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Courage of a different sort was displayed by two prisoners of war who endured terrible suffering without flinching, with Madden dying of privations while assisting fellow prisoners, and Matthews eventually being executed by his captors for building a resistance network. The last Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n to be awarded the GC (in 1978), and the most recent surviving civilian recipient, was Constable Michael Kenneth Pratt
Michael Kenneth Pratt
Michael Kenneth Pratt GC is a former constable of the Victoria Police Force of Melbourne, Australia, and a recipient of the George Cross, gazetted on 4 July 1978...
of the Victoria Police, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, for arresting two armed bank robbers in June 1976.
A memorial to Australian recipients was opened in the Capital, Canberra, on 4 April 2001 by the Governor General of Australia, Sir William Deane
William Deane
Sir William Patrick Deane, AC, KBE, QC , Australian judge and the 22nd Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:William Deane was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He was educated at Catholic schools including St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill and at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in...
. George Cross Park is in Blamey
Thomas Blamey
Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, ED was an Australian general of the First and Second World Wars, and the only Australian to date to attain the rank of field marshal....
Crescent bounded by Moten Street, Campbell
Campbell, Australian Capital Territory
Campbell is a suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Covering an area to the South East of the central business district, Campbell sits at the base of Mount Ainslie. On Census night 2006, Campbell had a population of 4,797 people...
.
The George Cross is no longer awarded to Australians. The Queen established the Cross of Valour
Cross of Valour (Australia)
The Cross of Valour is Australia's highest civilian award for bravery. It was established in 1975 to replace the British George Cross, previously awarded to Australians....
in 1975 to be awarded by the Crown "only for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril". This is now used instead of the George Cross.
Annuity
Holders of the George Cross or Victoria Cross are entitled to an annuity, the amount of which is determined by the awarding government. Since 2002, the annuity paid by the British government is £Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1,495 per year. As at January 2005, under the Canadian Gallantry Awards Order, members of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, or people who joined the British forces before 31 March 1949 while domiciled in Canada or Newfoundland, receive $
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
3,000 per year. For Australian holders, the amount is determined by clause 11A1.2 of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
Pay and Conditions, and as of January 2005 is $
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
250 per year.
Restriction of use
As of 1943 in accordance with the George Cross (Restriction of Use) Ordinance, in MaltaMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
it is unlawful to use the George Cross or an imitation of it or the words George Cross, for the purposes of trade or business without the authorisation of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malta
The Prime Minister of Malta is the Head of Government of Malta.-Establishment of the office and developments:The office of "Head of Ministry" was created as soon as Malta was granted autonomous government in 1921. The 1921 constitution was suspended twice before being revoked...
.
See also
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
:Category:Recipients of the George Cross
- List of George Cross recipients
- List of living George Cross recipients
- George MedalGeorge MedalThe George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
- Cross of St. GeorgeCross of St. Georgethumb|Original Cross of St. George.Ist and 2nd class were in gold.The Cross of St. George ', or simply the George's Cross, was, until 1913, officially known as the Sign of Distinction of the Military Order of St. George....
, a Russian award - St. George's cross, the flag of EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- Flag of MaltaFlag of MaltaThe Flag of Malta is a basic bi-colour, with white in the hoist and red in the fly: colours from the blazon of the arms of Malta. Tradition states that the colours of the flag were given to Malta by Count Roger of Sicily, in 1091...
, a flag bearing the cross - Soham Rail Disaster - 2 June 1944
- The Victoria Cross and George Cross Association
- Elizabeth CrossElizabeth CrossThe Elizabeth Cross is a commemorative emblem given to the recognised next of kin of members of the British Armed Forces killed in action or as a result of a terrorist attack after the Second World War...
- PDSA Gold MedalPDSA Gold MedalThe PDSA Gold Medal is an animal bravery award that acknowledges the bravery and devotion to duty of animals. It was created by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in 2001, and is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the George Cross...
- seen as the animal equivalent of the GC
External links
- New Zealand Defence Force - Medal information page
- Search recommendations for the George Cross on The UK National Archives' website.
- Canadian World War II recipients
- Ceremonial Secretariat - Types of Bravery Award
- Royal Engineers Museum: George Crosses awarded to Royal Engineers (Bomb Disposal)
- BBC On This Day 1942: Malta gets George Cross for bravery
- George Cross at Sea in World War 2, including Naval bomb Disposal
- Soham Rail Disaster 2 June 1944
- GC winners from The Times obituaries
- George Cross recipients from the county of Essex
- "Stolen from Himachal, George Cross to go under hammer in UK", Times of India, 26 November 2009.