COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
Victoria Cross: 150th Anniversary
Issue Date: 11 November 2006
THE CROSS OF BRONZE
2006 marks the 150th Anniversary of the founding of
the Victoria Cross although the first presentations of the
world’s most coveted award for gallantry were not made
until the following year. It came about as a result of the
public being made aware for the first time of the sacrifices
that her servicemen would go through to uphold the honour
of their country. Previous to 1854, the campaigns of the
1840’s in India and the Far East, went largely unreported
so individual acts of gallantry were only known to those
who took part and went unrecognised.
The outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854 found the British
involved in the first conflict with a major European military
power since the Napoleonic wars. It was also the first major
conflict since Queen Victoria succeeded to the throne in
1837 and came at a time that history has regarded as the
heyday of her reign.
It was this war which led to the institution on 29 January
1856 of the first bravery award to all ranks. The Prussians
had their Iron Cross and the French were lavish with the
Legion d’Honneur, both of which were totally democratic.
Clearly there was a need for a single separate award for
the many acts of outstanding bravery that could be given
to officers and other ranks alike.
The design and manufacture of the new award was
entrusted to the relatively recently established company
of Hancocks, who are still the sole supplier. The War Office
suggested that the design should follow on the lines of
the Army Gold Cross, which had been awarded to generals
and officers of field rank who had fought in four or more
battles of the Peninsular War. It was further decided that
the cross should be made from the bronze of captured
Russian cannon. There were two reasons for this; the first
being that it was symbolic of a British victory. The second
being that the metal was of no intrinsic value and less of a
temptation for the recipient to sell Her Majesty’s personal
award for drink!
Both Victoria and Albert spent much time in considering
the designs that were submitted for their approval. The
Queen approved a design of a cross pattee with a lion
statant gardant on the royal crown, with the words FOR
VALOUR on a semi-circular scroll. She had amended the
original wording from “For the Brave” to “For Valour”, on the
grounds that it would appear that only the brave received
the Cross. A popular myth is that Victoria and Albert
designed the Cross, but they did little more than make
suggestions for minor changes. At Albert’s suggestion the
award was named after his wife.
A board of examiners then had to be formed and it was not
until February 1857 that a list of recipients was published
in the London Gazette. Upon being asked how her Majesty
wanted the recipients decorated, she replied that she
wished to confer the award in person. Another five months
lapsed until the Queen was gently reminded in a letter
dated 8 June. The reply dated the 12th must have thrown
Whitehall into a panic. Victoria decided that the 26th June
would be a convenient day and that it should be a grand
public ceremony to be held in Hyde Park. This left just two
weeks to organise a major royal event, contact and bring
together all the recipients and have the medals correctly
engraved.
An estimated 100,000 crowded around the enormous area
where 10,000 troops were paraded. Hastily constructed
stands and pavilions decked with bunting held another
26,000 invited guests. Queen Victoria wearing a specially
designed military-styled dress and accompanied by her
family, remained mounted on her horse “Sunset” as she
presented her new award to the 62 recipients. First came
the 14 members of the Royal Navy and Marines. Because
of his seniority, Commander Henry Raby was the first man
to receive the Cross. In fact the very first VC act was that
of fourth in line, Charles Lucas, who, as a midshipman,
had picked up a live Russian shell that had landed on the
deck of HMS Hecla, and dropped it overboard, where it
exploded.
The first Army VC was Sergeant Major John Grieve of the
2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) for gallantry during the Charge
of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava.
Despite the great interest shown in the new award, which
had attracted such large crowd, the event was rather a let
down. The Queen took just ten minutes to dispense her
new award and the whole thing was over in an hour. Also,
the new award was something of a disappointment, with
The Times reporting it as “…nothing can be more plain
and homely not to say coarse-looking…the cross is poor
looking and mean in the extreme”.
Despite its initial lukewarm reception, this simple bronze
cross has achieved a mystique and standing unlike any
other and has become the highest gallantry award in
the world and the most difficult to achieve. The Victoria
Cross holds a fascination for not only those interested in
military history but also the public at large; a fascination
that shows no sign of fading
Victoria Cross Society
www.victoriacrosssociety.com
SERGEANT IAN McKAY VC
“As I Knew Him”
By Lieutenant General Sir Hew
Pike KCB DSO MBE (Commanding
Officer, 3rd Battalion The Parachute
Regiment (3 PARA) in 1982)
After the campaign in the South
Atlantic in 1982, many of us in 3
PARA felt that the posthumous award
of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant Ian McKay reflected not
only his own courage and example, but the valour and
sacrifice of a Battalion that bore the loss of many good
comrades and friends during the long night battle for
Mount Longdon. Further casualties were suffered from the
heavy shelling that we endured over the subsequent 48
hours. In achieving our mission on Mount Longdon, the 3
PARA team lost twenty-three killed, with many soldiers also
sustaining serious wounds. This level of sacrifice, and not
his own part in the action, would have been uppermost in
Ian McKay’s mind.
His own part, though, was of exemplary significance, as
his Citation emphasises, and his actions were wholly
consistent with his qualities and leadership as a Platoon
Sergeant throughout the operation. Ian McKay was a good
man, of warmth, sincerity, and intelligence. He had a most
friendly and outgoing manner, naturally reassuring and
encouraging others through his enthusiasm and energy.
Physically strong and quite stocky in build, he was a
Battalion footballer and also a keen squash and tennis
player. He was above all a most committed professional
soldier, who loved his Regiment and the Army and who
would do all that he could to foster its spirit of adventure
and opportunism - “Utrinque Paratus” as our motto says
- “Ready for Anything”. For him it was quite natural and
no more than his duty to be at the front, leading and
energising his soldiers through his own example. It is
how he was, and how he had been trained as a young
recruit and as an NCO on his demanding career courses
at Brecon.
In his Forward to “The Red Beret”, a history of The
Parachute Regiment, Field Marshal Montgomery
describes parachute soldiers as being “as tenacious and
determined in defence as they are courageous in attack.
They are, in fact, men apart. Every man an Emperor.”
“Of all the factors which make for success in battle”, he
continues, “the spirit of the warrior is the most decisive”.
In his quiet modesty and integrity of character, Ian McKay
was indeed a warrior of true valour.
I salute him as a comrade and a friend, whose sacrifice
is remembered every day. “Greater love has no man than
this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
LIEUTENANT COLONEL
H. JONES VC OBE
By General
Sir John Wilsey GCB CBE DL
Widely known as Colonel H, this
brave officer had left his mark
on the Army long before his lone
charge against the enemy on the
Darwin/Goose Green battlefield
made him famous. He was half-American (on his father’s
side) and was a sensitive and intelligent man who had
already served with distinction in a variety of military
appointments and being appointed an OBE.
As a headstrong young officer in his first Regiment, The
Devon and Dorsets, he was popular and much admired for
his sense of adventure and fun. His total commitment to
his soldiers, coupled with his integrity and determination,
were noted at that early stage of his career.
Years later, commanding 2nd Battalion, The Parachute
Regiment, Colonel H was ordered to take Darwin and
Goose Green, an isthmus connecting two of the Falkland
Islands held by the Argentineans and threatening
the British landings at San Carlos Water. Colonel H’s
battalion began its advance on the enemy during the
night of 27th/28th May. At dawn on 28th May A Company,
on the left flank, was held up by a stubborn Argentine
position commanding the approach to Darwin. Colonel H
went forward to investigate and found A Company stalled.
Extracts from the official citation describe what followed:
“It was clear…that desperate measures were needed
in order to overcome the enemy position and rekindle
the attack.... It was a time for personal leadership and
action. Colonel Jones immediately seized a sub machine
gun and calling on those around him and with total
disregard for his own safety, charged the nearest enemy
trench….As he charged up a short slope…. he was seen
to fall and roll backward downhill. He immediately picked
himself up, and again charged....firing his machine gun
and seemingly oblivious to the intense fire directed at
him. He was hit....and fell dying only feet from the enemy
he had assaulted. A short time later a company of the
Battalion attacked the enemy, who quickly surrendered.
This devastating display of courage by Colonel Jones had
completely undermined their will to fight further.”
The citation concludes:
“This was an action of the utmost gallantry by a
commanding officer whose dashing leadership and
courage throughout the battle were an inspiration to all
about him.”
“The Last Post”
The FDC shows the opening of the British Military
Cemetery at San Carlos. Just visible in the background
is RFA Sir Bedivere, transporting the bodies of those
whose families wished them to be buried in the United
Kingdom.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Photographs reproduced courtesy of:
Sgt. Ian McKay Cassidy and Leigh
Col. H. Jones Airborne Forces Museum
“The Last Post” Airborne Forces Museum
Designer: Andrew Robinson
Printer: Cartor Security Printing
Process: Lithography
Perforation: 13 per 2cms
Stamp size: 30.6 × 38mm
Souvenir Sheet: 120 × 60mm (includes additional £1
stamp depicting the Victoria Cross)
Layout: 50 (2 × 25) Se-tenant 60p values
Release date: 11 November 2006
Production
Co-ordination: Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd
Copyright: FI Philatelic Bureau Created and Maintained by: Cyberpoint Limited