Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Obverse of the medal. Ribbon: 32mm, white with blue edges and a red central stripe.
Awarded by Her Majesty The Queen
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Type	Military decoration.
Eligibility	British and allied forces.
Awarded for	... an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.[1]
Status	Currently awarded.
Description	36mm max width; silver cross patée imposed on a wreath of laurel, with the Royal Crown in a circular panel in the centre. Suspended by a ring from a plain suspension bar.
Statistics
Established	October 1993
First awarded	1995
Last awarded	2011
Total awarded	48 individuals, 1 collective award.
Posthumous awards	3
Precedence
Next (higher)	Victoria Cross
Equivalent	Distinguished Service Order
Next (lower)	Distinguished Service Cross Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross
Related	Distinguished Conduct Medal Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
CGC ribbon bar

The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) is a second level military decoration of the United Kingdom 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.^[2]

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 (Air and Naval) 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.

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.^[2] Bars are awarded to the CGC in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters CGC.^[3]

Appearance

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 center stripe in crimson.^[2]

Recipients

The following is a full list of recipients to date.

Name	Rank	Unit	Gazetted	Conflict
Mills, Wayne[4]	Corporal	Duke of Wellington's Regiment	9 May 1995	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Humphreys, Peter[5]	Colour Sergeant	Royal Welch Fusiliers	9 May 1996	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Baycroft, John David, MBE[6]	Colour Sergeant	Parachute Regiment	6 Apr 2001	Sierra Leone (Operation Barras)
MacFarlane, Iain James McKechnie[7]	Squadron Leader	Royal Air Force	6 Apr 2001	Sierra Leone (Operation Barras)
Day, Tony Kenneth[8]	Corporal	Royal Marines	29 Oct 2002	Afghanistan
Merchant, Jeremy Mark[8]	Captain	Royal Marines	29 Oct 2002	Afghanistan
Hearne, Karl Anthony[6]	Corporal	Parachute Regiment	29 Oct 2002	Afghanistan
Sanders, Edward Lawrence[8]	Private	Parachute Regiment	29 Oct 2002	Afghanistan
Thomas, Justin Royston[9]	Marine	Royal Marines	31 Oct 2003	Iraq
Flynn, Michael John[9]	Lance Corporal of Horse	Blues and Royals	31 Oct 2003	Iraq
Jardine, Shaun Garry[10]	Corporal	King's Own Scottish Borderers	23 Apr 2004	Iraq
Robertson, Gordon[10]	Sergeant	Parachute Regiment	23 Apr 2004	Iraq
Greensmith, Benjamin Paul[11]	Corporal	Parachute Regiment	7 Mar 2008 (dated 7 Sep 2004)	Iraq
Broome, Christopher Mark[12]	Sergeant	Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment	15 Mar 2005	Iraq
Bryan, Terry[12]	Sergeant	Royal Artillery	15 Mar 2005	Iraq
Thomson, Terence Alan[12]	Corporal	Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment	15 Mar 2005	Iraq
Tomlinson, Matthew Robert[13]	Colour Sergeant	Royal Marines	24 Mar 2006	Iraq
Radford, Andrew[14]	Lance Corporal of Horse	Life Guards	14 Dec 2006	Afghanistan
Collins, John[15]	Corporal	The Parachute Regiment	14 Dec 2006	Iraq
Harkess, James Royce[15]	Colour Sergeant	Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment	14 Dec 2006	Iraq
Farmer, Hugo[14]	Lieutenant	Parachute Regiment	14 Dec 2006	Afghanistan
Illingworth, Timothy[14]	Acting Captain	The Light Infantry	14 Dec 2006	Afghanistan
Collective Award[16]		Royal Irish Regiment/Ulster Defence Regiment		Northern Ireland
Thompson, John Thomas[17]	Corporal	Royal Marines	19 Jul 2007	Afghanistan
Hollingsworth, Jonathan Stuart[18], QGM	Sergeant	Parachute Regiment	19 Jul 2007	Iraq (posthumous)
Campbell, Donald Peter[19]	Acting Corporal	Royal Engineers	7 Mar 2008	Afghanistan
Cupples, Simon Timothy[19]	Lieutenant	Mercian Regiment	7 Mar 2008	Afghanistan
Willmott, Paul Darren[19]	Private	Mercian Regiment	7 Mar 2008	Afghanistan
Miller, Adam William[20]	Corporal	Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers	7 Mar 2008	Iraq
Wadsworth, James Anthony[20]	Staff Sergeant	Royal Logistic Corps	7 Mar 2008	Iraq
McClurg, Robert William Kerr[21]	Corporal	Royal Irish Regiment	6 Mar 2009	Afghanistan
Stevens, Alwyn John[21]	Acting Sergeant	Royal Irish Regiment	6 Mar 2009	Afghanistan
Toge, Jone Bruce[21]	Lance Corporal	Royal Irish Regiment	6 Mar 2009	Afghanistan
Durber, Leonard John[22]	Colour Sergeant	Parachute Regiment	6 Mar 2009	Iraq
Malone, Bradley[23]	Acting Corporal	Royal Marines	11 Sep 2009	Afghanistan
Nethery, Steven[24]	Marine	Royal Marines	11 Sep 2009	Afghanistan
Dennis, Alan Gordon[25]	Sergeant	Mercian Regiment	19 Mar 2010	Afghanistan
Gadsby, Stephen William[25]	Gunner	Royal Artillery	19 Mar 2010	Afghanistan
Giles, Marc Kevin[25]	Sergeant	Mercian Regiment	19 Mar 2010	Afghanistan
Moncho, Jaime[25]	Serjeant[26]	The Rifles	19 Mar 2010	Afghanistan
Prout, Gary[25]	Lance Bombardier	Royal Artillery	19 Mar 2010	Afghanistan
Smith, Kyle Patrick[25]	Lance Corporal	Mercian Regiment	19 Mar 2010	Afghanistan
Turner, Robert[27]	Sergeant	Royal Marines	24 Sep 2010	Afghanistan
Bourne-Taylor, Robin Edwin Geoffrey[27]	Captain	The Life Guards	24 Sep 2010	Afghanistan
Brownson, Lee[27]	Corporal	The Rifles	24 Sep 2010	Afghanistan (posthumous)
Horn, Graham Stuart[27]	Lance Corporal	The Parachute Regiment	24 Sep 2010	Afghanistan
McKie, James Lee[27]	Lance Corporal	The Rifles	24 Sep 2010	Afghanistan
Pun, Dip Prasad [28]	Acting Sergeant	Royal Gurkha Rifles	25 March 2011	Afghanistan
Jackson, Mark Anthony[28]	Marine	Royal Marines	25 March 2011	Afghanistan
Stephens, Seth Vincent Scott[28]	Corporal	Royal Marines	25 March 2011	Afghanistan

Notes

1. ^ Defence Internet | Fact Sheets | Guide to Honours
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Conspicuous Gallantry Cross". MOD Medal Office. Ministry of Defence. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/ConspicuousGallantryCross.htm. Retrieved 10 November 2011. 
3. ^ "Honours & Gallantry Awards". http://www.mod.uk/. Ministry of Defence. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/HonoursAndGallantryAwards.htm. Retrieved 10 November 2011. 
4. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 54028. p. 4. 5 May 1995. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 54393. p. 3. 9 May 1996. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
6. ^ ^{a b} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57936. p. 4179. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
7. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57751. p. 11648. 9 September 2005. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
8. ^ ^{a b c} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57588. p. 3378. 18 March 2005. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
9. ^ ^{a b} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57100. p. 4. 31 October 2003. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
10. ^ ^{a b} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57269. p. 5132. 23 April 2004. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
11. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58633. p. 3619. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
12. ^ ^{a b c} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57588. p. 3374. 18 March 2005. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
13. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57936. p. 4195. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
14. ^ ^{a b c} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58183. p. 17357. 15 December 2006. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
15. ^ ^{a b} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58183. p. 17359. 15 December 2006. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
16. ^ It is the first time this medal has been collectively awarded to a military unit, and only the third occasion, since the start of World War 2, that such a collective award has been bestowed (the others being the 1942 George Cross to Malta and the 1999 George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary)
17. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58396. p. 10411. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
18. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58396. p. 10413. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
19. ^ ^{a b c} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58633. p. 3613. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
20. ^ ^{a b} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58633. p. 3615. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
21. ^ ^{a b c} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58999. p. 4082. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
22. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58999. p. 4085. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
23. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59211. p. 17559. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
24. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59128. p. 15640. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
25. ^ ^{a b c d e f} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59366. p. 4834. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
26. ^ Spelling is correct: this form is used by The Rifles.
27. ^ ^{a b c d e} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59554. p. 18536. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
28. ^ ^{a b c} London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59554. p. 18536. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-04.

References

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

See also

• British and Commonwealth orders and decorations