Conspicuous_Gallantry_Cross

Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

British military award

The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) is a second level military decoration of the British Armed Forces. Created in 1993 and first awarded in 1995, it was instituted after a review of the British honours system to remove distinctions of rank in the awarding of gallantry decorations. The Victoria Cross is the only higher combat gallantry award presented by the United Kingdom.[3]

Quick Facts Type, Awarded for ...

History

The CGC was instituted in the aftermath of the 1993 review of the honours system. As part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the CGC replaced both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Army) and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Naval and Air) as second level awards to other ranks and ratings. The CGC also replaced the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), in its role as an award to officers for gallantry. The DSO was retained as an award for outstanding leadership. The CGC now serves as the second level award for gallantry for all ranks across the whole armed forces. It was designed and sculpted by Michael Rizzello for the Royal Mint.

Eligibility

The CGC, which may be awarded posthumously, is awarded "in recognition of an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy". All ranks of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, and Royal Air Force may be awarded the CGC in recognition of qualifying acts of gallantry.[3] Bars are awarded to the CGC in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. When the ribbon bar alone is worn, a silver rosette on the ribbon indicates the award of a bar.[4] Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters CGC.[5]

Appearance

The CGC (left) as worn on a dress uniform with campaign medals. The medals shown are those awarded to Lance Corporal of Horse Andrew Radford, CGC.

The medal is in the shape of a cross pattée in silver. Arranged behind the cross, visible between the arms is a laurel wreath. On the obverse of the medal, the circular medallion in the centre depicts St Edward's crown. The reverse is plain which allows room for the engraving of the rank, name, and unit of its recipient. The award date is also engraved on the reverse of the medal. The medal is suspended by a white ribbon with two narrow dark blue stripes at the edge and one centre stripe in crimson.[3]

Recipients

To date, there have been about 60 awards of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, including three posthumous and one unit award. No second award bars have been awarded.
The following is a full list of recipients who have been Gazetted to date.

More information Name, Rank ...

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    "Military Honours and Awards". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2006.
  2. [2]
    "The London Gazette, Order of Wear". p. 326. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  3. [3]
    "Conspicuous Gallantry Cross". MOD Medal Office. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  4. [4]
    Online Medals: Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, (Accessed 8 June 2018).
  5. [5]
    "Honours & Gallantry Awards". mod.uk/. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  6. [6]
    "No. 54028". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 May 1995. p. 6612.
  7. [7]
    "No. 54393". The London Gazette. 9 May 1996. p. 6547.
  8. [8]
    "No. 57936". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 March 2006. p. 4197.
  9. [9]
    "No. 57751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 September 2005. p. 11648.
  10. [10]
    "No. 57588". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 2005. p. 3378.
  11. [11]
    "No. 57100". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 October 2003. p. 4.
  12. [12]
    "No. 57269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 April 2004. p. 5132.
  13. [13]
    "No. 58633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2008. p. 3619.
  14. [14]
    "No. 57588". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 2005. p. 3374.
  15. [15]
    "No. 57936". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 March 2006. p. 4195.
  16. [16]
    "No. 58183". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 December 2006. p. 17357.
  17. [17]
    "No. 58183". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 December 2006. p. 17359.
  18. [18]
    It is the first and only time an individual gallantry award has been awarded to a military unit. Unlike the 1942 George Cross to Malta and the 1999 George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the award to The Royal Irish Regiment was gazetted. See: "No. 58186". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 December 2006. p. 17495.
  19. [19]
    "No. 58396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2007. p. 10411.
  20. [20]
    "No. 58396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2007. p. 10413.
  21. [21]
    "No. 58633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2008. p. 3613.
  22. [22]
    "No. 58633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2008. p. 3615.
  23. [23]
    "No. 58999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 March 2009. p. 4082.
  24. [24]
    "No. 58999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 March 2009. p. 4085.
  25. [25]
    "No. 59211". The London Gazette. 13 October 2009. p. 17559.
  26. [26]
    "No. 59182". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 2009. p. 15640.
  27. [27]
    "No. 59366". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 March 2010. p. 4834.
  28. [28]
    Spelling is correct: this form is used by The Rifles.
  29. [29]
    "No. 59554". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 September 2010. p. 18536.
  30. [30]
    "No. 59737". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 March 2011. p. 5640.
  31. [31]
    "No. 60095". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 2012. p. 5848.
  32. [32]
    "No. 60283". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 September 2012. p. 18624.
  33. [33]
    "No. 60456". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 March 2013. p. 5738.
  34. [34]
    "Operational Honours and Awards List: 4 October 2013 – News stories – GOV.UK".
  35. [35]
    "No. 60813". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 March 2014. p. 5836.
  36. [36]
    Pending Gazette Entry (Due end of 2022) https://www.forces.net/news/sas-hero-who-secured-kenyan-hotel-receive-top-award
  37. [37]
    Pseudonym used to protect identity

References

  • Mackay, J and Mussell, J (eds) – Medal Yearbook – 2007, (2006), Token Publishing, Honiton, Devon
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