| VC | Victoria Cross | 1856 - introduced as the premier award for gallantry, available to all ranks |
The Royal Warrant for the instigation of the Victoria Cross was laid before Queen Victoria and signed by her on Tuesday, 29 January 1856. The award of the Cross was made retrospective to include the Crimean War which formulated the idea of a new gallantry award in the mind of Queen Victoria after meeting some of the wounded from the conflict.
The selection of servicemen to receive the VC took place on the recommendation from regiments' commanding officers. A list of names, 'selected from numerous applications', was forwarded to Lord Panmure, Secretary of State for War, on 2 February 1857 before being sent to Queen Victoria for approval on 15 February 1857. After the Queen's signature had been obtained, the two lists of names to receive the award of the Victoria Cross were published in the "London Gazette" of 24 February 1857.
The first investiture of the Victoria Cross took place in Hyde Park, London, on 26 June 1857 where Queen Victoria personally pinned the Cross on the breasts of sixty-two recipients - twelve Royal Navy, two Royal Marines and forty-eight of the Army.
The recipient's service number, rank, name, regiment or ship, is engraved on the reverse of the suspension bar, and the date of the VC action engraved on the reverse of the Cross. For example:
| Maj. (A/Lt.Col.) O.C.S. Watson D.S.O. | 25136865 Pte. J. Beharry, PWRR | ||||
| Late 5th. Bn. K.O.Yorks L.I. | |||||
| 28. | 1st 11th | ||||
| Mar. | May June | ||||
| 1918. | 2004 |
| GC | George Cross | 1940 - awarded for actions for which military honours would not normally be granted |
| DSO | Distinguished Service Order | 1886 - awarded for gallantry. 1993 - awarded for 'Leadership' only |
| CGC | Conspicuous Gallantry Cross | 1993 - replaces the DSO for 'gallantry, CGM and DCM |
| DSC | Distinguished Service Cross | 1901 & 1993 - incorporates the DSM ( Distinguished Service Medal ) |
| MC | Military Cross | 1914 & 1993 - incorporates the MM ( Military Medal ) |
| DFC | Distinguished Flying Cross | 1918 & 1993 - incorporates the DFM ( Distinguished Flying Medal ) |
| AFC | Air Force Cross | 1918 & 1993 - incorporates the AFM ( Air Force Medal ) |
| QGM | Queen's Gallantry Medal | 1974 - awarded for actions not deemed suitable for a military decoration |
| GM | George Medal | 1940 - awarded for actions for which military honours would not normally be granted |
| DCM | Distinguished Conduct Medal | 1854 & 1993 - replaced by the CGC ( Conspicuous Gallantry Cross ) |
| CGM | Conspicuous Gallantry Medal | 1855 & 1993 - replaced by the CGC ( Conspicuous Gallantry Cross ) |
| DSM | Distinguished Service Medal | 1914 & 1993 - replaced by the DSC ( Distinguished Service Cross ) |
| MM | Military Medal | 1916 & 1993 - replaced by the MC ( Military Cross ) |
| DFM | Distinguished Flying Medal | 1918 & 1993 - replaced by the DFC ( Distinguished Flying Cross ) |
| AFM | Air Force Medal | 1918 & 1993 - replaced by the AFC ( Air Force Cross ) |
| India GSM | 1854 - 1895 | to cover minor campaigns and operations in India |
| Baltic Medal | 1854 - 1855 | for operations against the Russians in the Baltic Sea |
| Crimea Medal | 1854 - 1856 | for operations against the Russians during the Crimean War |
| Indian Mutiny Medal | 1857 - 1858 | awarded for the suppression of the Indian Mutiny |
| 2nd China War Medal | 1857 - 1860 | awarded to British servicemen for operations against China |
| New Zealand Medal | 1860 - 1866 | First and Second Maori Wars |
| Canada GSM | 1866 - 1870 | for operations to put down Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870 |
| Abyssinian War Medal | 1867 - 1868 | awarded for a punitive expedition against King Theodore of Abyssinia |
| Ashantee Medal | 1873 - 1874 | for operations against King Kalkali of the Gold Coast |
| South Africa Medal | 1877 - 1879 | for operations against the Galeka, Gaika and Zulu tribes |
| Afghanistan Medal | 1878 - 1880 | for operations during the Second Afghan War |
| Egypt Medal | 1882 - 1889 | for operations against the mutineering army of Egypt |
| Central Africa Medal | 1891 - 1898 | awarded for numerous campaigns in Central Africa |
| India Medal | 1895 - 1902 | replaced the India GSM to cover minor campaigns and operations in India |
| Queen's Sudan Medal | 1896 - 1897 | for operations against the Sudanese |
| Queen's South Africa Medal | 1899 - 1902 | 2nd Boer War, South Africa ( Queen Victoria ) |
| King's South Africa Medal | 1901 - 1902 | 2nd Boer War, South Africa ( King Edward VII ) |
| China War Medal | 1900 | instituted for service during the Boxer Rebellion and subsequent expeditions |
| India GSM | 1908 - 1935 | for minor campaigns and operations in India before and after WW I |
| 1914 Star | 1914 | for service in France & Belgium between 5 August - 22 November 1914 |
| 1914 - 15 Star | 1914 - 1915 | for service in any theatre of war between 5 August 1914 - 31 December 1915 |
| British War Medal | 1914 - 1920 | awarded for the conclusion of WW I and for further operations up to 1920 |
| Mercantile Marine War Medal | 1914 - 1918 | awarded by the Board of Trade to members of the Merchant Navy |
| Victory Medal | 1914 - 1919 | awarded for the successful conclusion of WW I |
| Victory Medal + MiD | 1914 - 1919 | Victory Medal with 'Mentioned in Despatches' Oakleaf |
| Naval GSM | 1915 - 1962 | for service in minor operations for which no separate medal might be issued |
| General Service Medal | 1918 - 1962 | for numerous campaigns and operations that fell short of full-scale war |
| India GSM | 1936 - 1939 | introduced when change of effigy from George V to George VI became necessary |
| 1939 - 45 Star | 1939 - 1945 | awarded to personnel who had completed six months' service overseas |
| Atlantic Star | 1939 - 1945 | Royal Navy for six months' service afloat in Atlantic, home waters & North Russia |
| Air Crew Europe Star | 1939 - 1944 | for operational flying from UK bases over Europe |
| Africa Star | 1940 - 1943 | awarded for operations in North Africa |
| Pacific Star | 1941 - 1945 | for operations in the Pacific theatre of war |
| Burma Star | 1941 - 1945 | for operational service in the Burma campaign, Bengal and Assam |
| Italy Star | 1943 - 1945 | for operations in Italy, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Greece & Yugoslavia |
| France & Germany Star | 1944 - 1945 | for operational service in France, Belgium, The Netherlands & Germany |
| Defence Medal | 1939 - 1945 | awarded for 3 years' service at home or 6 months' service overseas |
| War Medal | 1939 - 1945 | awarded to all fulltime personnel of the armed forces |
| Korea Medal | 1950 - 1953 | awarded for operations during the Korean War |
| General Service Medal | 1962 - 2007 | for numerous campaigns and operations that fell short of full-scale war |
| Vietnam Medal | 1964 - 1968 | awarded to Australian and New Zealand forces who served in Vietnam |
| South Atlantic Medal | 1982 | awarded for operations to liberate South Georgia & the Falkland Islands |
| Gulf War Medal | 1990 - 1991 | awarded for operations to liberate Kuwait and the subsequent invasion of Iraq |
| NATO Service Medal | 1994 - | Yugoslavia - awarded to those who took part in the Alliance cooperations in Yugolsavia |
| NATO Service Medal | 1994 - | Kosovo - awarded to those who took part in the Alliance cooperations in Kosovo |
| NATO Service Medal | 1994 - | Macedonia - awarded to those who took part in the Alliance cooperations in Macedonia |
| Operational Service Medal | 2000 - | Afghanistan - intended for minor campaigns for which a seperate medal is not awarded |
| Operational Service Medal | 2000 - | Sierra Leone - intended for minor campaigns for which a seperate medal is not awarded |
| Iraq Medal | 2003 - | awarded for operations in the invasion of of Iraq, and subsequent operations |
| Victoria | Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal - 1887 |
| Victoria | Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal - 1897 |
| Edward VII | King Edward VII Coronation Medal - 1902 |
| George V | King George V Coronation Medal - 1911 |
| George V | King George VI Silver Jubilee Medal - 1935 |
| George VI | King George VI Coronation Medal - 1937 |
| Elizabeth II | Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal - 1953 |
| Elizabeth II | Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal - 1977 |
| Elizabeth II | Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal - 2002 |
| KG | - | The Most Noble Order of the Garter ( King Edward III - 1348 ) |
| KT | - | The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle ( 1687 ( 787? )) |
| KP | - | The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick ( 1783 ) |
| GCB | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath ( 1725 ) |
| KCB | - | Knight Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath ( 1725 ) |
| CB | - | Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath ( 1725 ) |
| OM | - | The Order of Merit ( 1902 ) |
| GCSI | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India ( 1861 ) |
| KCSI | - | Knight Commander of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India ( 1861 ) |
| CSI | - | Companion of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India ( 1861 ) |
| GCMG | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George ( 1818 ) |
| KCMG | - | Knight Commander of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George ( 1818 ) |
| CMG | - | Companion of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George ( 1818 ) |
| GCIE | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire ( 1878 ) |
| KCIE | - | Knight Commander of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire ( 1878 ) |
| CIE | - | Companion of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire ( 1878 ) |
| GCVO | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Royal Victorian Order ( 1896 ) |
| KCVO | - | Knight Commander of The Royal Victorian Order ( 1896 ) |
| CVO | - | Commander of The Royal Victorian Order ( 1896 ) |
| GBE | - | Knight Grand Cross of The Order of the British Empire ( 1917 ) |
| KBE | - | Knight Commander of The Order of the British Empire ( 1917 ) |
| CBE | - | Companion of The Order of the British Empire ( 1917 ) |
Iain Stewart, 21 April 2006
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