Decorations
The decorations awarded are, in order of wear:
| Complete name | Post-nominal letters | Ribbon | Established | Founder | Awarded to/for | Associated awards | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Cross | VC | 29 January 1856 | Queen Victoria | British Empire/ Commonwealth and allied Military personnel for "... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy." | |||
| George Cross | GC | 24 September 1940 | King George VI | Commonwealth subjects for "... acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger." | |||
| Conspicuous Gallantry Cross | CGC | October 1993 | British and allied forces for "... an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy." | ||||
| Royal Red Cross, Class I | RRC | 27 April 1883 (Associate class added in 1917) | Queen Victoria | Members of the Military Nursing Service for "... exceptional services in military nursing" | |||
| Distinguished Service Cross | DSC | 1901 (as the Conspicuous Service Cross; renamed the Distinguished Service Cross in October 1914) | British, (formerly) Commonwealth and allied forces for "... gallantry during active operations against the enemy." | ||||
| Military Cross | MC | 1914 | British, (formerly) Commonwealth, and allied forces for "... gallantry during active operations against the enemy." | ||||
| Distinguished Flying Cross | DFC | 3 June 1918 | British, (formerly) Commonwealth, and allied forces for "... gallantry during active operations against the enemy." | ||||
| Air Force Cross | AFC | 3 June 1918 | British, (formerly) Commonwealth, and allied forces for "... gallantry while flying but not on active operations against the enemy." | Air Force Medal | |||
| Royal Red Cross, Class II (Associate) | ARRC | 1917 | Members of the Military Nursing Service for "... exceptional services in military nursing." | ||||
| Order of British India | OBI | Original Ribbon 1837–1838 Second Ribbon 1838–1939 1939–1947 version First Class 1939–1947 version Second Class |
1837–1947 | East India Company | for "long, faithful and honourable service" | ||
| Indian Order of Merit | IOM | 1837–1947 | Indian citizens in the armed forces and civilians for gallantry | ||||
| Kaisar-i-Hind Medal | no post-nominal entitlement | 10 April 1900 - 1947 | Queen Victoria | Civilians of any nationality for "... distinguished service in the advancement of the interests of the British Raj" |
The last three decorations have not been awarded since the Indian independence in 1947.
On 1 July 2009, BBC News reported that the Queen had approved a new posthumous award, the Elizabeth Cross, to honour members of the armed forces killed in action or by terrorist attack since World War II. The cross itself is given to the family of the deceased.
Read more about this topic: Orders, Decorations, And Medals Of The United Kingdom
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