Air Force lists > Monthly Air Force lists > 1922 > July

3063
THE VICTORIA CROSS.
GEORGE R. AND I.
Whereas Her late Majesty Queen Victoria by a
Warrant under Her Royal Sign Manual dated
29th January, 1856, did create a Naval and
Military Decoration to be styled and designated |
“ The Victoria Cross,” and did express Her desire I
that this decoration should be highly prized and
eagerly sought after by the Officers and Men of
Her Naval and Military Services.
And whereas by divers subsequent Warrants
other Officers and Men were admitted to and made
eligible for the decoration, and certain amend¬
ments were made to the Rules and Ordinances
attaching thereto.
And whereas We deem it expedient that the
said Warrant and subsequent Warrants before
referred to, as also the Rules and Ordinances
affecting the same, shall be consolidated, varied
and extended.
Now, therefore, We do hereby declare that the
said Warrants, and the Rules and Ordinances
heretofore in force for the Government of the said
Decoration, shall for that purpose be amended,
varied, modified and extended; and in sub¬
stitution thereof We by these presents, for Us,
Our Heirs and Successors, are graciously pleased
to make, ordain and establish the following Rules
and Ordinances for the Government of the same
which shall from henceforth be inviolably observed
and kept:—
Firstly, it is ordained that the distinction shall
as heretofore be styled and designated “ The
Victoria Cross,” and shall consist of a Maltese
Cross of bronze with our Royal Crest in the centre
and underneath it an escroll bearing this inscrip¬
tion : “ For Valour.”
Secondly, it is ordained that the Cross shall be
suspended from the left breast by a red riband,
and on those occasions when only the riband is
worn a replica of the Cross in miniature shall be
affixed to the centre of the riband.
Thirdly, it is ordained that the Cross shall only
be aw’arded for most conspicuous bravery or some
daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self- !
sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the I
presence of the enemy.
Fourthly, it is ordained that the Cross may be
awarded posthumously.
Fifthly, it is ordained that the names of all i
those persons upon or on account of whom We j
may be pleased to confer or present the decoration
shall be published in the London Gazette, and a
Registry thereof kept in the Office of Our Secre¬
tary of State for War.
Sixthly, it is ordained that: —
(1) Officers, Warrant Officers and sub- ;
ordinate Officers hereinafter referred
to as Officers, Chief Petty Officers and
Petty Officers hereinafter referred to
as Petty Officers, men and boys
hereinafter referred to as Seamen,
serving in—(a) our Navy or in ships
of any description for the time being
under .Naval Command; (b) our
Indian Marine Service ; (c) Navies or
Marine Services of our Dominions,
Colonies, Dependencies or Protecto¬
rates ; and (d) our Mercantile Marine
whilst serving under Naval or Military
Authority, or who in the course of
their duties may become subject to
enemy action ;
(2) Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Com¬
missioned Officers, men and boys
hereinafter referred to as Marines,
serving in our Marines;
(3) Officers, Warrant Officers (Classes I and
II), Non-Commissioned Officers, men
and boys hereinafter referred to as
Privates, of all ranks serving in our
Army, our Army Reserve, our Terri¬
torial or other forces, and the Forces
of our Dominions, Colonies, Depen¬
dencies or Protectorates;
(4) Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Com¬
missioned Officers, and Airmen in the
ranks of Our Air Force, or the Air
Forces of our Dominions, Colonies,
Dependencies or Protectorates;
(5) British and Indian Officers and men of
all ranks of Our Indian Army, the
Imperial Service Troops of Native
States of India, or any other Forces
there serving under the Command,
guidance, or direction of any British
or Indian Officer, or of a Political
Officer attached to such Forces on Our
behalf, and
(6) Matrons, sisters, nurses and the staff of
the Nursing Services and other Ser¬
vices pertaining to Hospitals and
Nursing, and Civilians of either sex
serving regularly or temporarily under
the Orders, direction or supervision
of any of the above mentioned Forces
shall be eligible for the decoration of
the Cross.
Seventhly, it is ordained that if any recipient
of the Cross shall again perform such an act of
bravery, as would have made him or her eligible
to receive the Cross, such further act of bravery
shall be recorded by a Bar to be attached to the
Riband by which the Cross is suspended, and for
every such additional act of bravery, an ad¬
ditional Bar shall be added, and any such Bar or
Bars may be awarded posthumously. For every
Bar awarded a replica of the Cross in miniature
shall be added to the riband when worn alone.
Eighthly, it is ordained that every recommenda¬
tion for the Award of the decoration of the Cross
shall be made and reported through the usual
channel to the Senior Naval, Military or Air Force
Officer Commanding the Force, w’ho shall call for
such description, conclusive proof as far as the cir¬
cumstances of the case will allow, and attestation
(6710)
F