Victoria Cross

The UK's highest award for valour, the VC was instituted on 29 January 1856 by Royal Warrant. Originally, it was to be awarded to members of the British Army and Royal Navy who had performed some signal act of valour or devotion to their country. The Warrant was amended in 1858 to allow the VC to be bestowed on those who "may perform acts of conspicuous courage and bravery ... in circumstances of extreme danger, such as the occurrence of a fire on board ship, or of the foundering of a vessel at sea, or under any other circumstances in which ... life or public property may be saved".

The Warrant was further amended in 1881 to make the grounds for award "Conspicuous bravery or devotion to the country in the presence of the enemy".

The VC is also awarded to Commonwealth troops, and a very few have been awarded to foreigners, such as Americans, Belgians and Danes. Four civilians have won it.

As with all British decorations, subsequent awards are denoted by a Bar. Only three men have won a Bar to their VCs and no one has won a second bar. No woman has yet won the award.

1,354 VCs have been awarded. Although instituted to recognise outstanding bravery in the Crimean War, the very first award was to to Charles Lucas, serving as Mate on HMS Hecla in the Baltic in June 1854.

The Cross is made from bronze, taken from Russian guns captured at Sevastopol.