The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration that may be bestowed upon members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces for acts of valour or gallantry performed in the face of the enemy. Within the British honours system and those of many Commonwealth nations it is the highest award a soldier can receive for actions in combat. It was established in 1856 and since then has been awarded 1,356 times; three service personnel have received the award twice.
The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. The traditional explanation of the source of the gunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russian cannon captured at the siege of Sevastopol. Recent research has thrown doubt on this story, suggesting a variety of origins. The original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously. Between 1897 and 1901, several notices were issued in the London Gazette regarding soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, six of the soldiers mentioned were granted the VC, but not "officially" awarded the medal. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six officers and men. The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to explicitly allow posthumous awards until 1920 but one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous.Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
Due to its rarity, the VC is highly prized and the medal has fetched over £400,000 at auction. A number of public and private collections are devoted to the Victoria Cross. The private collection of Lord Ashcroft, amassed since 1986, contains over one-tenth of all VCs awarded. Following a 2008 donation to the Imperial War Museum, the Ashcroft collection went on public display alongside the museum's Victoria and George Cross collection in November 2010. Since 1990, three Commonwealth countries that retain the Queen as head of state have instituted their own versions of the VC. As a result, the original Victoria Cross is sometimes referred to as the "Commonwealth Victoria Cross" or the "Imperial Victoria Cross", to distinguish it from the newer awards.
The British Royal Regiment of Artillery was formed at Woolwich in 1716. Being present at almost every battle the British Army has been involved in, several of its batteries are now named after Victoria Cross actions. J (Sidi Rezegh) Battery Royal Horse Artillery is one of these units, and is named after the Battle of Sidi Rezegh during which Second Lieutenant George Gunn performed the deeds for which he was later awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
Since its introduction there have been sixty-five awards of the Victoria Cross to artillerymen, awarded for bravery in eight different wars. The first award was during the Crimean War and the last for the Second World War. The recipients include an Indian serving in the Indian Artillery, a member of the Royal Australian Artillery, and sixteen members of the then Bengal or Bombay Armies. The remainder have been from the three branches of the British Royal Artillery: the Royal Horse Artillery, the Royal Field Artillery, and the Royal Garrison Artillery. Two artillerymen received the award for actions performed while they were serving with other formations, one in the First World War with the Royal Flying Corps, and one in the Second World War with the British Commandos.
Artillery recipients
Name Branch Date Conflict Location Royal Field Artillery First World War Elouges Royal Field Artillery Crimean War Sevastopol Royal Field Artillery Second Anglo-Boer War Itala Royal Horse Artillery First World War Néry Royal Field Artillery Indian Mutiny Jhansi Royal Field Artillery Crimean War Sevastopol Royal Horse Artillery Second World War Sidi Rezegh Royal Horse Artillery Second Anglo-Afghan War Maiwand Bengal Horse Artillery Indian Mutiny Jhelum Royal Australian Artillery Second World War Merdjayoun Royal Field Artillery Crimean War Sevastopol Bengal Horse Artillery Indian Mutiny Bolandshahr Royal Field Artillery Crimean War Sevastopol Royal Field Artillery Crimean War Sevastopol Royal Horse Artillery First World War Néry Royal Field Artillery First World War Messines Royal Field Artillery First World War Le Cateau Bengal Horse Artillery Indian Mutiny Bolandshahr Royal Horse Artillery Second Anglo-Boer War Sanna's Post Royal Field Artillery First World War Ledeghem Royal Field Artillery First World War Arras Royal Field Artillery First World War Cambrai Royal Horse Artillery Second World War Sidi Rezegh Bengal Artillery Indian Mutiny Lucknow Royal Field Artillery Crimean War Inkerman Royal Field Artillery First World War Vendresse Bengal Horse Artillery Indian Mutiny Delhi Royal Horse Artillery Second Anglo-Boer War Tafelkop Bengal Artillery Indian Mutiny Lucknow Bombay Artillery Indian Mutiny Chanderi fort Bengal Artillery Indian Mutiny Lucknow Royal Horse Artillery Second Anglo-Boer War Sanna's Post Royal Field Artillery First World War Le Cateau Royal Field Artillery New Zealand Wars Tauranga Royal Field Artillery Indian Mutiny Lucknow Royal Garrison Artillery First World War Feuchy Bengal Artillery Indian Mutiny Lucknow Royal Field Artillery Crimean War Inkerman Royal Horse Artillery Second Anglo-Afghan War Maiwand Royal Horse Artillery First World War Néry Royal Field Artillery Second Anglo-Boer War Colenso Bengal Artillery Indian Mutiny Lucknow Bengal Artillery Indian Mutiny Lucknow Royal Horse Artillery Second Anglo-Boer War Sanna's Post Royal Horse Artillery Second Anglo-Boer War Sanna's Post Royal Field Artillery New Zealand Wars Rangiriri Royal Artillery Second World War Dieppe Royal Field Artillery First World War Béthune Royal Field Artillery Second Anglo-Boer War Colenso Royal Garrison Artillery First World War Double Crassieurs Bengal Horse Artillery Indian Mutiny Delhi Royal Field Artillery First World War Le Cateau Bengal Horse Artillery Indian Mutiny Khudaganj Bengal Artillery Indian Mutiny Kuthirga Royal Field Artillery Second Anglo-Boer War Colenso Indian Artillery Second World War Kaladan River Royal Field Artillery Mahdist War Abu Klea Royal Field Artillery First World War Caponne Farm Royal Field Artillery Crimean War Inkerman Royal Field Artillery Crimean War Kars Royal Field Artillery New Zealand Wars Waikato Bengal Artillery Indian Mutiny Lucknow Bengal Horse Artillery Indian Mutiny Delhi Royal Field Artillery First World War Gallipoli Royal Field Artillery First World War Gonnelieu
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