Decorations and awards
Victoria Cross & VC
Decorations and awards
Victoria Cross & VC
Victoria Cross (with blue 'Naval' ribbon) awarded during the First World War to Boy, 1st Class John Travers Cornwell for gallantry displayed as a sight setter for the cew of the 5.5-inch gun on the forecastle of the light cruiser HMS Chester during the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916.

Jack Cornwell’s Victoria Cross, awarded posthumously in September 1916.
- Created 29 January 1856
- Recognises acts of extreme bravery carried out under direct enemy fire
- First bravery medal that could be earned by anyone in the Army or the Navy
- The act which earns the award must be witnessed by several individuals
- Named after Queen Victoria, who personally chose the inscription
- Inscribed 'For Valour'
- Design shows a lion guarding the Royal Crown
- Design emphasises the personal link between the British monarch and recipients of the VC
- Hand-made, traditionally using bronze taken from a gun captured in the Crimean War
- Awarded to over 1,300 people since its creation
- Deliberately intended to have little actual value – its value lies in what it stands for and what people do to earn it
Decorations and awards
George Cross & GC
Decorations and awards
George Cross & GC
George Cross awarded to Captain Mahmood Durrani, 1st Bahawalpur Infantry, for supreme bravery as a prisoner of war in the Second World War.
- Created 24 September 1940
- Recognises acts of extreme bravery carried out by civilians and military personal when not under enemy fire
- The act which earns the award must be witnessed by several individuals
- Named after King George VI, who personally designed many details on the medal
- Inscription reads 'For Gallantry'
- The words surround an image of St George slaying a dragon
- Made from solid silver by the Royal Mint
- Since its creation, more than 400 people have been awarded the GC