The Elizabeth Cross
The U.K. has never really recognised its' wounded or killed Servicemen/Women like the U.S. does with the Award of the Purple Heart, but recently after hundreds of thousands have asked for something similar as the excellent American Award and especially due to the current numbers of casualties the British Armed Forces are suffering from, our Queen came up with The Elizabeth Cross:
The Elizabeth Cross – Died On Operations Recognition Award
This new award has been created to provide national recognition for the families of Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism.
The Elizabeth Cross
The Elizabeth Cross
Background
The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll are granted to the Next of Kin of UK Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism in national recognition of their loss and sacrifice. The Elizabeth Cross is not a posthumous medal for the fallen but an emblem demonstrating tangible national recognition for Service families for their loss.
Not all deaths of Service personnel are included in this scheme. The death of any service person, whatever the circumstances, is a tragic loss to his or her family and to the Armed Forces as a whole, but the Elizabeth Cross was instituted specifically to recognise the unique challenges that service personnel face on operations and from terrorism, and the particular burden this places on Service families.
The Elizabeth Cross is made of hallmarked silver and is in the form of a cross with a laurel wreath passing between the arms. The arms of the Cross bear floral symbols representing England (Rose), Scotland (Thistle), Ireland (Shamrock) and Wales (Daffodil). The centre of the Cross bears the crowned Cypher of Her Majesty The Queen. The reverse of the Cross is engraved with the name of the Service person in whose memory it is granted. The Elizabeth Cross, accompanied by a miniature version, is presented in a black leather style presentation box with the Royal Cypher on the lid and the Royal Coat of Arms on the inner silk lining.
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