War Cross with sword

Infobox Military Award
name=War Cross


caption=
awarded_by=Norway
type=Military cross
eligibility=
for=Extraordinary brave actions or extraordinary leadership during combat
status=Currently awarded
description=
clasps=
established=23 May 1941
first_award=12 December 1941
last_award=1949 [ [http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=225040 Article from VG on a soldier from WWII being considered for a posthumous award] no icon Retrieved 15 September 2007]
total=123
posthumous=3
recipients=
individual=
higher=
same=
lower=Medal for Outstanding Civic Achievement


caption2=

Krigskorset med Sverd or the War Cross with Sword is the highest ranking Norwegian gallantry decoration. It is awarded for extraordinary brave actions or extraordinary leadership during combat.

If a recipient is deemed worthy of additional citations up to three swords will be added. Gunnar Sønsteby is the only person to receive the War Cross with three swords.

Recipients of the War Cross are ranked 33 in the national Norwegian order of precedence, after bearers of Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav with collar and before recipients of the Medal for Outstanding Civic Achievement.

The War Cross was last awarded in 1949, but it has been revealed that at least one soldier is being considered for the award after action in Afghanistan. [ [http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nordland/1.3413616 Article from NRK on a soldier being considered for the medal] no icon Retrieved 15 September 2007]

Foreign Recipients

Since its inception, Krigskorset has been awarded to 126 foreigners. These awards were mostly for actions during the Norway Campaign of 1940. This is reflected in the list of nations and of the number of awards to each nation:

*66 France. (mostly Legion Etrangere and Chasseurs Alpins).
*43 UK. (including a gracious award to HM King & Queen, his host and hostess 'for the duration').
*13 Poland. (the Polish Mountain Podhale Demi-Brigade).
* 2 US.
* 1 Denmark.(but serving with the Royal Norwegian Air Force).
* 1 Greece. (a slightly incongruous 'courtesy award' to his kinsman HM the King of the Hellenes).

US Recipients

*LTC Keith N. Allen.
*CPT Alfred Carini. died 1945. Master of SS Henry Bacon.

UK Recipients

All the awards were made in 1942, unless stated:

Royal Family:
*HM King George VI.
*HM Queen Elizabeth. Royal Navy:
*Capt. Bernard Warburton-Lee, VC. (2nd Destroyer Flotilla).
*Capt. Hamilton. HMS Aurora. (later Admiral & KCB).
*Capt. Hewitt.
*Cdr. Richard Stannard, VC. (HMT "Arab").
*LCdr. Glen.
*LCdr. Waterhouse.
*Skpr. Spindler, CGM.
*PO. Skene, CGM.

Royal Marines:
*Cpl. Page. DSM.

Army
*LCol. Beveridge. OBE, MC.
*Maj. Clinch.
*Maj. Jefferies.
*Capt. Bulfin.
*Capt. Burgess.
*Capt. Deedes.
*Capt. Dimmock.
*Lt. Boswell.
*Lt. Coleman.
*Lt. Turner.
*2Lt. Godfrey.
*Sgt.Maj.Rowlinson.
*Sgt. Humble.
*Sgt. Peacock.
*LCpl. Wilkinson.
*Pte. Monkman.
*Pte. Mountford.
*Pte. Neal.
*WO. Pond.

Royal Air Force:
*G/C. Richard Atcherley, OBE, AFC.(later Air Marshall & KBE,CB,AFC and bar).
*G/C. Kenneth Cross. DFC. 46 Squadron(later Air Chief Marshall & KCB, CBE, DSO).
*S/L. Whitney Straight. DFC, MC.(later Air Commodore & CBE, [LOM] )] .
*W/C. Scott-Malden. (later Air Vice-Marshall & DSO, DFC and bar, Order of Orange-Nassau).
*W/C. Mayhew.
*S/L. Fawdry.
*F/L. Healy. DSO.
*F/O. Kitchener. DFM. 263 Squadron. (later W/C).
*F/Sgt. Reen. DFM.
*F/Sgt. Kemp.
*AC.1. Coomber.

1943 Additions:
*1943: LCol. Whatman. MBE.
*1943: W/C. Jameson. 46 Squadron.

External links

* [http://www.warsailors.com/oddswar/warmedals.html warsailors.com about the medal]
* [http://www.webstaff.no/851000%20Medal%20lists/Krigskorset.htm List of recipients]

References