Navy lists > Quarterly > 1915 > October

926
THE VICTORIA CROSS.
Every such Warrant as aforesaid shall contain a
clause providing that His Majesty's licence and
permission docs not authorize the assumption of any
style, appellation, rank, precedence, or privilege
appertaining to a Knight Bachelor of His Majesty's
Kealms.
9. When a British subject in the Service of the
Crown has received the Koyal permission, full or
private, to accept av d wear the Decoration of a
Foreign Order, he will not he allowed to accept
and wear the Decoration of a Higher Class of
the same Order w:thout His Majesty's approval,
which will only be given if ttie higher honour is being
conferred in circumstances contemplated by these
Regulations.
MEDALS.
10. Medals which constitute a particular class of a
Foreign Order are subject in all respects to tho
Regulations in tho same manner as higher grades of
the Order, except that permission to wear will be
given by Letter and not by Royal Warrant.
11. The King's unrestricted permission to accept
and wear a Foreign Medal will only be given in thj
case of a Foreign Medai conferred by the Head or
Government of a Foreign State for saving or
attempting to save life at sea or on land.
12. The King's unrestricted permission to accept
aod wear a Foreign War Medal will only bo Riven
10 (1) Officers of His Majesty's Military or Naval
forces if serving with a foreign Army or Navy
with His Majesty's licence, and (2) Military orj
Naval Attaches or other officers officially attached,
to Foreign Armies or Navies during hostilities.
13. In exceptional eases, when for special reasons
it is deemed expedient, 'hat. the acceptance of the
Medal should not be declined, His Majesty will
graut restricted permission. Seen ca es will be,<
judged on thsir merits, ana the circumstances in
wuich trie Medal may be worn wih be specified in j
the Letter conveying His Majesty's permission. ]
11. Theterm " person iuthe.Service of 'he Crows "
includes persons in receipt of a saary or pension
from Public Funds, or holding a Royai Commission
in any pare of iils Majesty's Dominions, Prjtec-
t.ruies, or Possessions.
is. Ladies are subjeco tJ tho Regulations in all
respects iu the same manner as men.
foreign Offlce, March 10, 1914.
THE VICTORIA CROSS.
V1CXOIUA li.
Whereas, We, taking into Our Royal consideration
that there exists no means of adequately rewarding
the individual gallant services either of Officers of
the lowor grades in Our Naval and Military Service,
or of Warrant and Petty Officers, Seamen, and
Marines, in our Navy, and Non-commissioned Offi-
cers and Soldiers in Our Army, and whereas the
Third Class of Our Most Honourable Order of tho
Bath is limited, except in very rare cases, to the
higher ranks of both Services, and the granting of
medals, both in our Navy and Army, is only
awarded for long service or meritorious conduct,
rather than in bravery in action or distinction before
an enemy, such cases alone excepted where a general
medal is granted for a particular action or cam-
paign, or a clasp added to the medal for some
especial engagement, in both of which cases all share
equally in tho boon, and those who by their valour
have particularly signalised themselves remain un-
distinguished from their comrades. Now, for the
purpose of attaining an end so desirable as that of
rewarding individual instances of merit and valour,
We have instituted and created, and by these
presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, institute
and create a New Naval and Military Decoration,
which We are desirous should be highly prized and
eagerly sought after by the Officers and Men of Our
Naval and Military Services, and 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 should
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 which an
esftroll bearing this inscription " For Valour.
Secondly.— It is ordained that the Cross shall be
suspended from the left breast by a blue riband for
the Navy, and by a red riband for the Army.
Thirdly.— it. is' ordained, that the names of those
upon whom We may be pleased to confer the Decor-
ation shall be published in the "London Gazette,'
and a registry thereof kept In the office of Our Secre-
tary •■'' "•'•.>.'* tor war.
Fourthly.- It is ordained, that anyone who, after
having received the Cross, shall again perform an
act of tirsvory, which, if he bad not received such
Oross would have entitled him to it, such further
act shall be recorded bv a Bar attached to the riband
by which tho Cross is susDcnded, and for every
additional act of bravery an additional Bar man
be added. ,, ,1
Fifthly— It is ordained, that the Cross shall only
be awarded to those Officers or men who have served
Us in the presenco of the enemy, and shall have
then performed some signal act of valour, or del
votion to their country.
Sixthly.— It is ordained, with a view to placo allj
persons on a perfectly equal footing in relation to
eligibility for the Decoration, that neither rank, noi,
long service, nor wounds, nor any other circumstance
or condition whatsoever, save the merit of conspicu-
ous 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 :— 1
1. When the Fleet or Army, in which such act has
been performed is under the eye and command of any
Admiral or General Officer commanding the Forces.
li. Where the Naval or Military force is under
the eye and command of an Admiral or Commodore
commanding a squadron or detached naval force, or
of a General commanding a corps, or division or
brigade on a distant and detached service, when
such Admiral. Commodore, or General Officer shall
have the power of conferring the Decoration on the
spot, subject to continuation 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
commanding the regiment to which the elaiman*
belongs, and such Captain or such Commanding
Officer shall report tho same through tho usual
channel to the Admiral or Commodore commanding
tho force employed on the service, or to the Officer
commanding the forces in the held, who shall call
for such description and attestation of the act as he
may think requisite, and on approval shall recom-
mend the grant of tho Decoration.
Ninthly.— It is ordained, that every person selected
for the i'ross, under rule seven, shall be pubiicM
leeorated before the Naval or .Military force or body
lo which he belongs, and with which the art ol
braverv for which he is to be rewarded shall have
been performed: and his name shall bo recorded
in a General order, together wi 'i the cause of his
especial distinction.