David
Wed October 6, 2004 11:44pm
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Resistance Cross
Resistance Cross
When the Netherlands was liberated in May 1945, the Dutch government in London had succeeded in developing a good and balanced system of both military and civilian decorations. Apart from the already existing Military Order of William, new decorations aroused like the Bronze Lion, the Bronze Cross, the Cross of Merit and the Flyers Cross. Deeds of courage could be awarded in a very efficient way. However there was not a good decoration to award people of the resistance organisations. In surrounding countries the government had already succeeded in filling this gap. The Dutch government also tried to achieve this goal. Because of the fact that there could not be found an agreement whether deeds of resistance could be awarded with an existing Military Decoration or there was to be developed a special decoration, time passed on.
Especially within the Dutch Resistance there was a forceful movement against the decoration of resistance deeds. During war, every deed of resistance was thought to be equal to any other. However, other countries did decorate Dutch resistance people. A significant number of Dutch people were awarded decorations like the British King?s Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom and the American Medal of Freedom for their resistance work. Strengthened by this the Dutch government pushed on. Apart from that it was a personal wish of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands that resistance work should be decorated.
A special commission was formed to seek the possibilities. This Raad voor Onderscheiding en Eerbetoon ( Council for Decoration and Honour), with Prof. Ir. W. Schemerhorn, dr. L.J.M. Beel, J.M. de Booy, mr. E.N. van Kleffens, Prof. Dr. P. Lieftinck, mr. J. Meynen and General-major mr. H.J. Kruls, first asked the Grote Adviescommissie der Illegaliteit ( Great Committee of the Resistance, GAC) for advise on the matter. It should not be any surprise that this committee advised negative. On the other hand, another organisation of the former resistance, the former members of the Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten (Inland Forces B.S) that was formed at the end of the war by combining the forces of the many weaponed resistance groups in the Netherlands, did announce they were positive about decorating deeds of resistance. Finally the Dutch government took its own decision and on November 28th 1945, the order was given to the Rijksmunt to develop a new medal. Finally the choice was made for the Resistance Cross which was developed by L.O. Wenckenbach.
By Royal Decree of May 3rd 1946 the Resistance Cross was finally instituted. The formal disruption was: ?The Bronze decoration of the Resistance Cross resembled a four armed cross, imbedded on a star of flames and covered with the Royal Crown. On the front one can find St. Joris fighting the dragon. On the arms of the cross are engraved the words ?Trouw tot in den dood?. On the obverse one can find a flaming sword wit two broken chains?, all according to article 4 of the Royal Decree. The ribbon is coloured in Crimson Red with two golden orange lines.
Although presenting the decoration to a living person, a compromise was found with the opposing people of the former Dutch Resistance and the decoration was only given to people that already died. Only once this promise was broken, when on July 19th 1946 a Resistance Cross was awarded by Queen Wilhelmina to Gerard Tieman, living in the Blindeninstituut in Bussum (Home for the Blind).
The first Resistance Crosses were awarded by Royal Decree of May 7th 1946 and were given to the relatives on May 9th of the same year. The group of people that was awarded was very carefully chosen from all the different groups of the Dutch Resistance movement. Very high rules were used to make the decoration one of the highest in ranking in the Dutch system, coming only second after the highest, the Military Order of William. The Resistance Cross was also awarded to foreign people for their part in the Dutch Resistance network. On October 24h 1946 the first ?foreign? decorations were awarded to Belgian Resistance Fighters.
One remarkable Resistance Cross must not be forgotten. To commemorate the millions of Jews that were killed during the Second World War, there was to be build a monument in New York. Mr. E.N. Kleffens, then Dutch Ambassador in the United States was asked to be a member of the Commission of Recommendation for the monument to be called the ?American Memorial to six million martyred Jews and the Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Battle?. Kleffens was asked to present a decoration as forms of publicity for the monument. By his doing a Royal Decree no.4 was announced on October 17th 1947, giving a Resistance Cross to the ?Unknown Jewish Soldier of the Warsaw Ghetto who died for the Freedom of all People?. Although the monument never was finished, on the place of the monument in the Riverside Park a memorial stone was erected with the lines: ?This is the site for the American Memorial to the heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Battle April-May 1943 and to the six million Jews of Europe martyred in the cause of human liberty?.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:09am
Rating: 10
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Badge for the Wounded
Badge for the Wounded
Under the pressure of several Dutch Veteran organisations, the Dutch Government finally istituted a special Badge for the Wounded in October 1990 as an equivalent of the American Purple Heart. The decoration can be obtained when wounded during the cause of engeging enemy activities. It can also be awarded to members of the Merchant Marine.
The injury can be either fysical or psychological trauma, endured in the cause of war or situations that can be compared to war, like peacekeeping enforcements. The decoration can also be obtained for injurys endured during wars in the past.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:19am
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Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
On 29 January 1856 Queen Victoria of Great Britain signed a Royal Warrant, which instituted a new decoration for officers and men deserving some sort of recognition. On the Queens request the award was made retrospective to 1854. In this year Great Britain became involved in a war with Russia, this conflict would be known as the Crimean War.
The Royal Warrant mentioned that the Victoria Cross could only be awarded to those officers and men who have served in the presence of the enemy, and shall have then performed some signal act of valour or devotion to their country. It is further mentioned that neither rank, nor long service, nor wounds, nor any other circumstance or condition whatsoever, save the merit of conspicuous bravery, shall be held to establish a sufficient claim to the honour.
The Victoria Cross is highly valued in British military history and has developed into the highest decoration for gallantry that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces since 1854.
The Victoria Cross is made from metal taken of Chinese cannons captured from the Russians during the Crimean War.The decoration is formed as a Maltese Cross ensigned with a lion upon the Royal Crest. On the obverse side of the decoration the text ?For Valour? is mentioned. On the reverse side of the decoration some details about the Victoria Cross recipient are mentioned. Common details are name, rank, unit and the date of the act of gallantry.
Originally the ribbon was dark blue for the Royal Navy and crimson for the Army. A Royal Warrant dated 22 May 1920, signed by Winston Churchill, authorized that the Crimson ribbon should be adopted by all services of the English Forces.
Some facts about the Victoria Cross:
Ever since 1856 each Victoria Cross is handmade by Hancocks, a London Jewellers, and therefore every decoration is unique in its sort.
The Victoria Cross was, and is only awarded by Royal assent and is usually presented by the monarch.
The Victoria Cross has been presented 1354 times since its institution. The first presentation was to C.D. Lewis, for his heroic actions in the Baltic Sea on 21 June 1854. The last two decorations are presented to Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Jones and Sergeant Ian McKay, for their heroic actions during the Falklands War on 12 June 1982.
The first presentation of the Victoria Cross was made in Hyde Park on 26 Jun 1857 where Queen Victoria decorated 62 officers and men for their heroic actions during the Crimean War.
Only three men have received the Victoria Cross twice. These are Arthur Martin-Leake, Noel Chavasse and Charles Upham.
There are three cases where both father and son have received the Victoria
Cross. Only four times the Victoria Cross was presented to brothers. During the Second World War the Victoria Cross was presented 182 times, Charles Upham received the Victoria Cross twice during this campaign. For actions during the Normandy Landings of 6 June 1944 only one Victoria Cross was awarded, this went to Stanley Hollis, a member of the Green Howards.
Since 1920 the Victoria Cross can be awarded posthumously, and until 1977 this was the only English decoration that could be awarded posthumously.
The largest number of Victoria Crosses won in a single day was on 16 November 1856 during the Indian Mutiny. On this day 24 men were awarded this British decoration.
The largest number of Victoria Crosses won in a single action was on 22 January 1879 at Rorke?s Drift during the Zulu War. In reference to this action 11 men were awarded this English decoration.
Fourteen men not born British or Commonwealth citizens have received the Victoria Cross. These were five Americans, one Belgian, three Danes, two Germans, one Swede, a Swiss and a Ukrainian.
The Royal Artillery is the corps that has won the highest number of Victoria Crosses since its institution. This unit has won the Victoria Cross 51 times, the Royal Engineers have won the Victoria Cross 41 times and the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Rifle Brigade have each won the Victoria Cross 27 times.
Since 1945 the Victoria Cross has been awarded only 11 times, the last two during the Falklands War in 1982.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:20am
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George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is awarded for an act of the greatest heroism or the most conspiciuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger. It was intended primarily for civilians but later also in the for military service personnel for actions for which military honours were not granted and awarded for actions not in the face of the enemy. Recipients of the Empire Gallantry Medal and the next of kin of four recipients could exchange their award for the George Cross and in 1971 recipients of the Albert Medal could also exchange their award for the George Cross. A total of four women have been directly awarded the George Cross an by three of them it was made posthumously. Three women received their George Cross for service in the resistance SOE in enemy occupied territory during the Second World War.
The George Cross was created on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. On 9 September 1940 London was bombed by the German Air Force whereby also Buckingham Palace was hit. This experience created a new emotional bond between the Monarch and the British people because the King could understand now what the British people were going through. The planning and the design for the George Cross and George Medal was therefore almost entirely his own work.
The decoration concists of a plain silver cross and in the centre is a circular medallion showing St.George and the dragon and surrounded by the inscription ? For Gallantry ?. The reverse of the award is plain and bears the name of the recipient and the date of the award. The George Cross, which is worn before all other decorations except the Victoria Cross, is suspended from a dark blue ribbon, which is 1.5 inches wide, threaded through a bar adorned with laurel leaves.
One of the four women who has been awarded with the George Cross was Noor Inayat Khan. This Russian woman was dropped above occupied France on 16 June 1943 to help the French resistance with their activities. After approximately three months she was betrayed and captured by the Gestapo. Through the many interrogations she refused to give them any information and was send to a prisonercamp into Germany. There also she refused to give any information and on 12 September 1944 she was send to Dachau concentration camp where she was shot on 13 September 1944.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:49am
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Distinguished Conduct Med
Distinguished Conduct Medal
This decoration was instituted by Queen Victoria on 4 December 1854, during the Crimean War, as a mean of recognising acts of gallantry in action performed by Warrant-officers, non-commissioned officers and men. The decoration was recommended by the Commander-in-Field, and the D.C.M. was the second highest award for gallantry in action, after the Victoria Cross, for all ranks below commissioned officers. Recipients may use the letters DCM after their name.
Acting upon the fear during the First World War that the overwhelming demand for medals would devalue the prestige of those already available, the Military Medal was issued as an alternative to the D.C.M. from March 1916. Although the D.C.M. remained available, the lesser Military Medal was usually awarded from this date and the D.C.M. was reserved for exceptional acts of bravery.
The silver coloured award has a diameter of 36 mm, and the obverse shows the head of the reigning monarch. The reverse contained the legend ?For Distinguished Conduct in the Field? and the rank, initials, surname and unit of the recipient are impressed on the reverse. In 1993 the Distinguished Conduct Medal was replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Awards of the medal were announced in the London Gazette accompanied by a citation.
The crimson ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with a vertical dark blue central stripe (0.375 inches). A bar was awarded for a subsequent act or acts of distinguished conduct in the field.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 4:57am
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Wounded Badge
Wounded Badge
This decoration has two variants:
- Sen-sho for persons wounded in battle;
- Ko'sho for persons wounded in other circumstances.
The Sen-sho variant is shown here.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:28am
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Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross was established in 1856, during the Crimean War. The VC is the most highly coveted and highly valued decoration which a British serviceman might be awarded for a performing a single act of valor and devotion to their country in the presence of an enemy. Bars were awarded for subsequent acts of valor. Until 1942, VC medallions were made from the bronze of cannons captured in the Crimean War.
The escalation of the First World War after the deadlock of 1914 led the British military to recognize the need for a more definitive hierarchy of awards for gallantry in action.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:37am
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Croix de Guerre
Croix de Guerre (War Cross 1914-1918 ) Probably the best known French decoration, this cross was awarded to all those who were mentioned in dispatches since the outbreak of war (2 August 1914).
It was instituted on 8 April 1915 as an outward recognition for being mentioned in the order of the day of an army, corps, division, brigade or batallion. Award of the Legion of Honour for valour displayed on the field or of the Military Medal automatically brought entitlement to the War Cross.
According to the nature of the mention, emblems were affixed on the ribbon:
Bronze palm for mention on army level (5 bronze palms to be replaced by a silver one by decree of 8 January 1917)
Gilt star for mention on corps level
Silver star for mention on division level
Bronze star for mention on brigade or batallion level.
By 1 March 1920 already more than 2,055,000 crosses had been awarded. The reverse side bears the year 1914 together with the year in which they were struck (1915, 1916, 1917 or 1918).
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:41am
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M
M?daille de la Victoire 1914-1918 - also called "M?daille Interalli?e" as all allies issued one with this particular ribbon. Awarded to all members of the armed forces who served for a minimum of 3 months during WWI.
It was instituted on 20 July 1922 and was also conferred on medical personnel, prisoners of war, escaped prisoners etc. It is worn immediately after French orders and decorations, i.e. before any colonial orders or decorations and before any campaign or commemorative medals. A number of unofficial medals were struck and can be found regularly.
The medal's reverse bearing the text "RF La Grande Gverre povr la Civilisation 1914-1918" (RF = R?publique Fran?aise - The Great War for Civilization)
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:03pm
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Order of St.Vladimir
The Order of St.Vladimir was instituted in 1782, originally as a civil order of merit, such as for life saving or famine relief. There were four classes. During the Crimean War, it was awarded for military merit as well. If awarded for deeds in arms, crossed swords were placed between the cross arms. To be included in the Order of St. Vladimir (of any class) also granted the recipient hereditary noble rank. After 1826, only the Order of St. George shared this distinction.
A person would be awarded the order's lowest class for the first heroic act. A second meritorious act could be rewarded with the next higher class and so on. Usually only the badge of the highest class was worn. If a recipient had been awarded a lower class with swords, for valor in battle, crossed swords would be set between the cross arms. If the recipient went on to be awarded a higher class, but in peace time, small crossed swords would be set across the upper cross arm.
The Order of St. Vladimir can sometimes be seen in medal groups of non-Russian Allied soldiers, including examples awarded by the White Russian armies after the fall of the Czar. It ranked above the Order of Saint Anne, and below the Order of Saint George. The order of St. Vladimir, fourth class, can be seen as the solitary decoration worn by Czar Nicholas II in the photos taken of him during his final days of captivity before he and his family were executed.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:07pm
Rating: 10
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Virtuti Militari
The Order "Virtuti Militari" (for Military Merit) The was established in the late1700s by King Stanislaw August Poniatowski of Poland as the highest military decoration for gallantry the Polish nation bestows upon it's soldiers for acts of heroism above and beyond the call of duty. The VIRTUTI MILITARI is equivalent to the American MEDAL OF HONOR or the British VICTORIA CROSS.
It came in 5 classes:
First Class, Black enamel cross edged in gold, with crown, worn on sash, star on breast.
Second Class, Black enamel cross in gold, with crown, worn at the neck. star on breast.
Third Class, Black enamel cross (smaller), no crown.
Fourth Class, Gold cross with black lettering.
Worn on breast
Fifth Class, Silver cross with black lettering.
Worn on breast
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:20pm
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Navy Medal of Honor
The Navy Medal of Honor Created by an Act of Congress of December 21, 1861, and designed by Christian Schussel, this medal was awarded to Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Unlike the Army Medal of Honor, it was originally given for noncombat, as well as combat, heroism; many early awards were for lifesaving. After World War I, a new version of the medal was designed by Tiffany & Co as a combat-only decoration. On February 4, 1919, this version was authorized by Congress, primarily for personnel who had distinguished themselves in combat during WWI. The older form of the medal was awarded for noncombat heroism until 1942.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:21pm
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Distinguished Service Cro
The Distinguished Service Cross Second only to the Medal of Honor for Army personnel, this decoration was created by executive order on January 2 1918 and authorized by Congress on July 9, 1918. It is awarded to "a person who while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguished himself or herself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor; while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing or foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing Armed Force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her comrades." During World War I, approximately 100 awards of an early variation of this medal known as the "French" or "first" style were also given. In this form, the arms of the cross were ornamented with oak leaves, the eagle was mounted on a diamond-shaped plaque, and the scroll bore the words "E Pluribus Unum", rather than the present-day "For Valor".
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:22pm
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Navy Cross
The Navy Cross This decoration was originally awarded for combat and noncombat heroism. Although most of the early awards were issued for World War I service, others were presented for heroism in rescue opertions involving submarine disasters. The medal was designed by James E. Fraser and was authorized by Congress on February 4, 1919. It was made a combat-only award in 1942 and was also given precedence over the Distinguished Service Medal at this time, making it the Navy's second highest decoration.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:28pm
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Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriege
Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-18 (Cross of Honor for the Great War, 1914-1918) The Honor Cross is a general service medal, recognizing service during the war. Three classifications were instituted as one of the last acts of President Hindenburg on 13 July 1934. Since Germany did not win the war, it cannot be construed as a "victory" medal, but it was awarded in much the same manner. These crosses are easily the most common German decoration of WWI -- by 15 November 1936 more than 8 million were already issued. Both crosses and ribbons were derived from the 1870-71 War Commemorative Medal, (itself a Prussian award) using the same ribbons and very similar crosses (but for the dates). The reverse of all crosses is plain (mostly with a maker's mark) and the obverse is identical.
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