- List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Royal Navy
This is a list of Victoria Cross recipients of the Royal Navy. The
Victoria Cross (VC) is amilitary decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previousBritish Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other postnominals and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture held atBuckingham Palace . It is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with theGeorge Cross , which is the equivalent honour for valour not "in the face of the enemy."Cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/VictoriaAndGeorgeCrossHoldersTheWorldsMostExclusiveClub.htm |title=The world's most exclusive club |publisher=Ministry of Defence |date=2007-04-30 |accessdate=2007-06-16] The VC has been awarded on 1356 occasions to 1353 individual recipients.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 thegunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russiancannon captured at the siege of Sevastopol. Recent research has thrown doubt on this story, suggesting a variety of origins. [Cite news |url=http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/28/nvc28.xml |title=Author explodes myth of the gunmetal VC |last=Davies |first=Catronia |publisher=The Telegraph |date=2005-12-28 |accessdate=2007-06-16] 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. [LondonGazette |issue=27986 |date=15 January 1907 |startpage=325 |endpage= |supp= |accessmonthday=28 August |accessyear=2008] The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to explicitly allow posthumous awards until 1920 but one quarter of all awards for theFirst World War were posthumous. [Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90] [LondonGazette |issue=31946|date=18 June 1920|startpage=6702|endpage= |supp= |accessmonthday=19 September|accessyear=2008]Within this list, the date of action listed is the year in which the action for which the VC was awarded took place. The most naval Victoria Crosses awarded in a single conflict were for the
First World War , followed by theSecond World War and then theCrimean War . There have been a total of 117 recipients of the Victoria Cross who served with theRoyal Navy . 68 awards were to ship-based Royal Naval personnel with 49 awards given to those who served with other organisations within the Royal Navy such as theRoyal Naval Brigade , theRoyal Naval Reserve and theRoyal Marines . The Royal Marines have received 10 Victoria Crosses, the Royal Naval Reserve and Volunteer reserve being awarded 22 VCs.Richard Bell-Davies of theRoyal Naval Air Service also received an award.Recipients
Notes
References
*cite web |url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/victoriacross.asp |title=Victoria Cross Registers |publisher=National Archives (UK) |accessdate=2007-11-28
*cite web |url=http://www.britisharmedforces.org/ns/nat_victoria_cross/nat_victoriacross_names_navy.htm |title=Royal Navy Victoria Cross recipients |publisher=Mike Chapman |accessdate=2007-11-28
*cite book |last = Ashcroft |first = Michael |authorlink = Michael Ashcroft |title = Victoria Cross Heroes |publisher = Headline Book Publishing |date = 2006 |doi = |isbn =0755316320
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