David
Wed October 6, 2004 10:58pm
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Cross of the Combatant Vo
Cross of the Combatant Volunteer of the War 1939-1945
This cross with the self-explanatory title, and which was instituted on 4 February 1953, is identical to the one award for World War 1, except the date on the reverse of the medallion : "1939-1945".
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David
Wed October 6, 2004 10:59pm
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Medal for Voluntary Servi
Medal for Voluntary Service in the Free French Forces
Those who had volunteered for service in the Free French Forces before 1 August were eligible for award on this silvered Lorraine Cross, which was instituted on 4 April 1946.
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David
Wed October 6, 2004 10:59pm
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Commemorative Medal for t
Commemorative Medal for the Italian Campaign 1943-1944
This silvered bronze award, which was instituted op 1 April 1953, could be awarded to members op the French Expeditionary Forces, who were well known for their participation at the Battle of Monte Cassino, who served in Italy or at Elba between 1 December 1943 and 25 July 1944.
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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 12:19am
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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 12:21am
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George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal was established on 24 September 1940 and is awarded only for acts of great bravery and was intended primarily for civilians. Awards to the military were confined to actions for which purely military honours were not normally granted. The George Medal is named after King George VI who recognized that there was a need to reward acts of bravery in the absence of the enemy.
The Royal Warrant authorising the award of the George Medal was published in January 1941, and it is ordained that the award shall be worn by recipients on the left breast, immediately after the King?s Police Medal and Fire Service Medal. By His Majesty?s Command : Winston Churchill.
The George Medal is a circular silver medal (1.42 inches in diameter), and the obverse shows a crowned effigy of the reigning monarch and an legend :
King George VI (facing left)
a. GEORGEIVS VID: G: BR: OMN: REX ET INDIAE IMP: (1940-1949)
b. GEORGIVS VI DEI GRA BRITT: OMN REX FID: + (1949-1952)
Queen Elizabeth II (facing right)
a. ELIZABETH II D: G: BR: OMN: REGINA F: D: (1952-1959)
b. ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F: D: (1959-1964)
The reverse of the award shows St.George on horseback slaying the Dragon with the legend THE GEORGE MEDAL around the top edge of the medal (modelled by George Kruger Gray). The crimson ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, with five equally spaced thin blue stripes, ?borrowed? from the George Cross ribbon.
Names are engraved in Roman capital letters. Service personnel normally have their first name, surname, rank and regiment or corps, while civilians have only the surname and initials. A bar is awarded for a further act of bravery.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:44am
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Distinguished Flying Cros
Distinguished Flying Cross
The DFC was established on 3 June 1918, the birthday of King George V, and is awarded to Officers and Warrant officers for on act of valour and courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemey. A straight silver bar is a further enhancement of the DFC, awarded for additional acts under the same terms as the cross.
The award has the shape of a silver cross. On the obverse aeroplane propellers are superimposed upon the vertical arms of the cross. Within a central winged roundel which is encircled by a wreath of laurels and surmounted by a Imperial Crown, appear the letters RAF. In the central circle on the reverse the Royal Cyphers, GV, GVI, EIIR, appears above the date. The year of issue is engraved on the lower arm of the award. The DFC is issued unnamed.
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of alternating violet and white stripes, each 0.125 inches wide, leaning at 45 degrees from the vertical.
Total issued during World War II :
4.018 awards a Distinguished Flying Cross.
214 awards a bar.
5 awards a second bar.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:45am
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Distinguished Service Cro
Distinguished Service Cross
Originally designated the Conspicuous Service Cross (1901-1914), this award was in October 1914 renamed the Distinguished Service Cross and awarded to naval personnel, from Warrant Officer to Lieutenant, for the performance of meritorious or Distinguished services before the enemy. In 1939, Commanders and Lieutenant-Commanders were also made eligible for this award. Members of the Air Force or Army serving with the Fleet were also eligible.
Bars were awarded for the performance of subsequent acts of service before the enemy. The slip-on bar is silver, with a crown in the centre. Bars for second awards were authorised in 1916 and in 1931 eligibility for the award was enlarged to include officers of the Merchant Navy. In 1940 Army and RAF officers serving abroad naval vessels also became eligible for the award and since 1945 fewer than 100 DSC?s have been awarded.
The silver coloured award, which has a height of 44 mm. and a maximum width of 35 mm., has the shape of a cross and on the obverse the Royal Cypher ?GRI?, surmounted by a crown. The reverse of the award is plain apart from the hallmark, with the year of the award engraved on the lower arm. The ribbon is 34.9 mm wide and consists of three equal vertical stripes, navy blue, white and navy blue.
A total of 199 DSC?s have gone to Canadians, with 34 first and 5 second Bars.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:46am
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Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross
The Air Force Cross was established on 3 June 1918, the birthday of King George V, and is awarded to officers and warrant officers of the RAF for an act of valour and courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations but not while in active operations against the enemy. Since the 1993 review of gallantry awards it is now available for all ranks of the RAF services. A bar is awarded for an additional act which would have warranted the AFC. The bar has an eagle in the centre and the year of the award is engraved on the reverse.
The Air Force Cross has the shape of a silver cross and is composed of aeroplane propellor blades, with the end of the four blades enscribed with the Royal Cypher G (top), R (left), VI (bottom) and I (Right). The top arm is ensigned by a crown. In the centre of the obverse is a roundel displaying Hermes, mounted on a hawk in flight, bestowing a wreath. On the reverse of the award, within a central circle, the Royal Cypher GV, GVI, EIIR are engraved, above the date 1918, the year when the award appeared. The AFC is issued unnamed.
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide and consists of alternating red and white stripes (0.125 inches) leaning to the left at 45 degrees. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:46am
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Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was established during the First World War by King George V on 25 March 1916, a year and a half after Britain declared war against Germany. Its inception was intended to meet the enormous demand for medals during the First World War. The medal was initially awarded tot Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the army, including the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Division, for individual or associated acts of bravery which were insufficient to merit an award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
The Military Medal, which was recommended by a Commander-in Chief in the field, was not restricted to British or Commonwealth subjects, but also foreign subjects could be awarded. The medal was subsequently awarded to women and awards of the medal were announced in the London Gazette.
Recipients of the medal, which was silver and circular of 36 mm in diameter, were allowed to use the letters ?MM? after their name. A bar is awarded for a subsequent act or acts of bravery. On the obverse is the head of the monarch shown and on the rim the regimental or equivalent number, rank, initials, surname and unit of the recipient is engraved in plain block capitals.
The ribbon is dark blue, 1.25 inches wide, with five equal vertical centre stripes of white, red, white, red and white, each 0.125 inches wide.
As many as 115,600 Military Medals were awarded during the First World War, along with 5,796 first bars, 180 second bars and 1 third bar. A further 15, 000 Military Medals were awarded during the Second World War.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:52am
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Defence Medal 1939-1945
Defence Medal 1939-1945
The Defence Medal was awarded for service in the forces in non-operational areas subjected to air attack or closey threatened for at least three years service in Great Britain until 8th May 1945 or six months in territories overseas until 2 September 1945. In the case of mine and bomb disposal units the time qualification was three months and Canadians serving for one year in Newfoundland were eligible and persons serving for six months in Hong Kong were also eligible. Service in West Africa, Palestine and India, other than operational air crew, qualified also for this award. Those awarded the George Cross or the George Medal for civil defence received this award and the Home Guard gualified also for this award.
Owing to the terms of reference it was not unusual to find a person with this awards who had never heard a shot fired, but a person with only the Defence Medal, for example, whilst serving in the rescue services in London earned also this award and only the man who wears this award knows how it was earned.
The award has the coinage head of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse shows the Royal Crown resting above a small oak tree and flanked by two heraldic lions. The dates 1939 and 1945 appear in the top left and right respectively on the reverse, whilst beneath are the words THE DEFENCE MEDAL.
The light green ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with a central stripe of orange, which is 0.5 inches wide, and a narrow black stripe in the middle of each green stripe. The orange (flame colour) represents the enemy attacks on the green land of England and the black stripes represents the black-outs.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:53am
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War Medal 1939-1945
War Medal 1939-1945
The War Medal 1939-1945 was awarded for all the personnel of the armed forces and merchant marines for serving for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. For members of the Merchant Navy the 28 days had to be served at sea. A few categories of civilians, such as war correspondents, also qualified.
A single oak leaf emblem is worn to signify a ?Mention-in-Despatches? and the silver oak leaf signifying a ?King?s Commendation for Brave Conduct? is worn on the medal. There is no bar or clasps other than these emblems.
The medal is a silver circular medal, 1.42 inches in diameter. The obverse shows the crowned coinage effigy of King George VI, facing left, and the legend GEORGIVS VI D : BR : OMN : REX ET INDIAE IMP :. The reverse of the medal shows a lion standing on the body of a dragon. This dragon is double-headed, one of an eagle and one of a dragon to signify the principal occidental and oriental enemies. At the top are the dates 1939/1945.
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide and consists of the following vertical coloured stripes : red, dark blue, white, red, (narrow in the centre), white, dark blue and red.
The medal was issued unnamed, except those awarded to personnel of the Canadian Merchant Marine and RCMP, and the Australian and South-African versions, which were named on the rim.
The awards was established on 16 August 1945 and there were 700,000 issued, including 4,450 to the Canadian Merchant Marine.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:58am
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Atlantic Star
Atlantic Star
The Atlantic Star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic to crew of the Royal Navy and the Royal Merchant Navy for operational services afloat for 6 months in the Atlantic, Home waters and Russian convoys or 2 months for air crew in this areas between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945 or 2 september 1945 for operational services in the Pacific.
The Atlantic Star may not be awarded unless the 1939-1945 STAR has been qualified for by 180 days operational service afloat or by 2 months service for airborne service and therefore, the total requirement for the Atlantic Star is 12 months afloat or 4 months for airborne service.
Though this award was normally granted to the Royal Navy and the Royal Merchant Navy, many Army and Royal Air Force personnel could qualify for this award. For example, soldiers were frequently used to man the guns of armed merchant ships, but to qualify for this award a soldier must go to sea for the same time and in the same areas as the service with which he served.
Those who also qualified for the France & Germany Star and the Aircrew Europe Star could wear a clasp on the ribbon of the first star earned.
The Atlantic Star is a six pointed star with the Royal Cipher ?GRI VI? surmounted by a crown with the inscription ?THE ATLANTIC STAR?. The reverse is plain and blank and the award is issued unnamed.
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with three equal stripes of dark blue, white and green and respresents the colours of the Atlantic Ocean.
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David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:59am
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Pacific Star
Pacific Star
The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the area round the Pacific from the 8th of December 1941 until the 2nd. September 1945. Qualifying service for the Army units was restricted to that territory which had been subjected to enemy or allied invasions. Operational service in Burma was excluded for this award as its had its own Star, but operational service in China and Malaya between the 8th of December 1941 and the 15th of February 1942 was qualified for the Pacific Star. Also operational service in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea was qualified for this award. The award was issued for one day or more of operational service in these areas. However, for Army personnel there was no minimum service period required for this award. RAF crews had to complete at least one operational sortie in these areas.
Those who also qualified for the Burma Star could wear a bar or a rose emblem on the ribbon, of the first star earned.
The Pacific Star is a bronze six pointed star with the Royal Cipher ?GRI VI? surmounted by a crown with the inscription ?THE PACIFIC STAR?. The reverse is plain and blank and the award is issued unnamed.
The ribbon consists of seven coloured stripes : red, dark blue, green, yellow, green, light blue and red and the colours respresent the jungle, the beaches and the Army, Navy and Air Force.
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