Hancocks & Co produced numbered replicas made from commercial bronze.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 94
• 4 pre–South African War.
• 70 First World War.
• 16 Second World War.
The George Cross
Origins: At the beginning of the Second World War there was a variety of honours that recognized gallant or brave acts rendered in situations not necessarily in the face of the enemy. The Empire Gallantry Medal, Albert Medal, and Edward Medal all existed to recognize courageous acts, primarily in non-combat settings. The intensity of the air war being waged on the United Kingdom, and the greatly enhanced role of civilians and those working on the home front, necessitated the creation of a decoration on the same level as the Victoria Cross,
George Cross obverse.
George Cross reverse.
though for non-combat situations, to recognize both civilians and those serving in the mili-tary who rendered outstanding acts of gallantry. The George Cross and George Medal were both created by King George VI in September 1940; indeed, the King took a personal role in the design of the insignia and development of the criteria pertaining to the awards. With the creation of the GC, the Empire Gallantry Medal was cancelled and all living holders of the EGM were permitted to exchange their insignia for a GC. In 1971 all living recipients of the Albert Medal and Edward Medal were invited to exchange their insignia for a GC.
Criteria: To recognize acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.
Insignia: A silver Geneva cross 45 mm wide and tall, the obverse depicting in the centre St. George slaying the dragon, circumscribed by the legend FOR GALLANTRY and a small rose at the base. The angle of each arm of the cross contains the Royal Cypher of King George VI, GRI. The reverse is plain. The GC was designed by George VI and F.W. Barry.
Suspender: A slotted bar 39 mm wide displaying laurel leaves. A small eyelet is attached to the bottom of the bar through which passes an oblong ring that attaches to another eyelet on the top of the cross.
Ribbon: A garter blue ribbon 38 mm wide. A small silver GC is worn in the centre of the undress ribbon.
Bars: None to Canadians.
Group of medals to Colonel A.R.C. Butson, GC, OMM, CD.
Naming: Engraved capitals, number, and abbreviated rank (if any) along with full given name, surname, and date the award was announced in the London Gazette, all hand-engraved in capitals.
Postnominals: GC.
Other: Replaced by the Cross of Valour.
Number of Awards to Canadians: 10.2 were exchanged from Albert Medals while 1 was converted from an Empire Gallantry Medal).
The Albert Medal
Albert Medal for Gallantry at Sea in gold obverse.
Origins: Established by Queen Victoria in 1866 as a single-level honour, the Albert Medal was broadened by 1867 into a two-class decoration to recognize acts of gallantry at sea. In 1877 the Albert Medal was expanded in scope to include acts of gallantry on land. From its inception this medal was open to both civilians and members of the military and was the first official honour bestowed by the Crown intended to recognize brave acts rendered by civilians. As noted by P.E. Abbott and J.M.A. Tamplin, “the standard of gallantry qualifying for an award has always been very high and it seems that the criterion adopted has been that the recipient’s risk of death had to be greater than chances of survival, and that in the case of the gold medal [1st class] the risk had to be altogether exceptional.”[3]
Albert Medal for Gallantry at Sea in bronze obverse.
There being a significant degree of overlap between the criteria of this award and the George Cross and George Medal, awards of the Albert Medal in Gold ceased in November 1949. Awards of the Albert Medal (formerly known as the AM 2nd class) ceased in 1971. Although initially divided into two classes, 1st and 2nd, King George V approved a change in 1917 that designated the Albert Medal 1st class the “Albert Medal in Gold,” while the Albert Medal 2nd class became simply the “Albert Medal.”
Criteria: The criteria can be divided into two parts, dependent on whether or not the act of bravery was rendered at sea or on land:
• Gallantry at Sea: To recognize daring and heroic actions performed by mariners and others to prevent the loss of life and to save the lives of those who are in danger of perishing by reason of wrecks and perils of the sea; the 1st class being confined to cases of extreme and heroic daring, while the 2nd class being limited to other acts of heroic daring.
• Gallantry on Land: to recognize daring and heroic actions performed on land to prevent the loss of life and to save the lives of those who are in danger of perishing; the 1st class being confined to cases of extreme and heroic daring, while the 2nd class being limited to other acts of heroic daring.
Albert Medal for Gallantry at Sea in bronze reverse.
Insignia (for Gallantry at Sea): An oval-shaped gold (1st class/in gold) or bronze (2nd class/Albert Medal) insignia 32 mm wide and 38 mm high, bearing in the centre a monogram of the letters V and A interlaced (for Victoria and Albert) with an upright anchor, the background enamelled in translucent blue with a starburst pattern beneath, the entire device encircled by a garter belt bearing the text FOR GALLANTRY IN SAVING LIFE AT SEA. The insignia is topped with the crown worn by Prince Albert. The reverse is plain other than naming details. The reverse bears the text PRESENTED IN THE NAME OF HIS/HER MAJESTY or AWARDED BY HIS/HER MAJESTY along with details of the recipient and details of the gallant action.
Insignia (for Gallantry on Land): An oval-shaped gold (1st class/in gold) or bronze (2nd class) Albert Medal insignia 32 mm wide and 38 mm high, bearing in the centre a monogram of the letters V and A, the background enamelled in translucent red with a starburst pattern beneath, the entire device encircled by a garter belt bearing the text FOR GALLANTRY IN SAVING LIFE ON LAND. The reverse is the same as that of the Albert Medal for saving life at sea.
Suspender: A ring 11 mm in diameter passes through the orb of the crown through which the ribbon passes. The ring is gold for the 1st class and bronze for the 2nd class.
Ribbon: Four different ribbons were issued, and they were dependent on the class of award and division (sea or land):
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