The reader who has noted the facts set out in the two previous chapters will remember how, in the earliest days of medal awarding, the general plan was to decorate none but the soldiers who had performed exceptional service, and that, as time wore on, the idea developed into granting medals to all who took part in warfare, irrespective of the merits of each individual. The latter plan must certainly be considered the more satisfactory, for personal bravery is so frequent a quality displayed on the battlefield that all who take part in these life-and-death struggles should, of necessity, receive a token of the King's recognition.
But though the granting of campaign medals was a step in the right direction, it tended to level up the ordinary brave soldier and the soldier possessing exceptional merit, and this, of course, was a principle unsympathetic to English feeling. Accordingly, we find that running side by side with the campaign medals are decorations for special merit. Undoubtedly the most popular and the most coveted of all such awards is the V.C.
The Victoria Cross was instituted by a Royal Warrant of January 29, 1856—during the Crimean War, in fact—and its inception was largely due to the thoughtfulness of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort. The cross itself is severe and plain in design, but loses nothing on this account; it was formerly struck from the metal of old cannon taken in the campaign against the Russians, but to-day we can only claim that its metal composition once formed part of artillery pieces of some kind or other. The pattern is too well known to need description, but it may be added that the shape and design were modelled on the Peninsular gold cross. The ribbon is crimson for the Army and blue for the Navy.
The Victoria Cross may be won by soldiers of all ranks; when awarded to non-commissioned officers and privates it carries with it an annuity of £10, though this sum may be increased in special cases. If the medal be sold during the lifetime of the recipient the pension can be withdrawn, and if the possessor be convicted in the civil or military courts for any but trivial offences, the same punishment may be enforced.
There are many rules regulating the granting of this coveted award; the following are perhaps the most interesting:—
"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 then have performed some signal act of valour or devotion to their country.
"It is ordained with a view to place all 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.
"It is ordained that in the event of a gallant and daring act having been performed by a squadron not under 50 in number, or by a brigade, regiment, troop, or company in which the admiral, general, or other officer commanding such force may deem that all are equally brave and distinguished, and that no special selection can be made by them; then in such case, the admiral, general, or other officer commanding, may direct, that for any such body of sailors or soldiers, one officer shall be selected by the officers engaged for the decoration; and in like manner one petty officer or non-commissioned officer shall be selected by the petty officers and non-commissioned officers engaged; and two seamen or private soldiers or marines shall be selected by the seamen or private soldiers or marines engaged respectively for the decoration, and the names of those selected shall be transmitted ... to the admiral or general officer commanding, who shall in due manner confer the decoration as if the acts were done under his own eye."
There has been much discussion of late as to whether bars are ever awarded with the Victoria Cross. Undoubtedly, these additional marks of valour are at times given, but instances where they have been received are rare. It should perhaps be stated definitely, that where a second act of sufficient bravery is performed before the cross is conferred, details of the second act are engraved with details of the first upon the rear of the medal, but where the second act is carried out after the medal has been conferred, a bar is awarded and the £10 grant increased to £15. The fourth clause of the Royal Warrant of January 29, 1856, makes this point quite clear:—