Breadcrumb

Home >
Records & Collections >
Canadian Orders, Medals and Decorations >
Canadian Military Medals and Decorations >
Modern Honours of Canada >
Victoria Cross (VC) Canadian Version

Modern Honours of Canada (1972) - Victoria Cross (VC) Canadian Version

Click on picture for larger image (79Kb).

Terms

The Victoria Cross will become the highest Canadian decoration and will maintain exactly the same criteria for award as that of its British equivalent. The Victoria Cross "shall be awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty, in the presence of the enemy". For the purpose of these decorations, "enemy" is defined as a hostile force, including armed mutineers, armed rebels, armed rioters and armed pirates. Canada does not have to be at war to acknowledge the existence of an enemy which fits this description. It is broad enough to encompass Canadian involvement in UN peacekeeping operations.

Bar

Each subsequent award of the Cross will be indicated by a plain bronze bar ornamented with laurel leaves attached to the centre of the crimson ribbon which holds the medal on the chest of the recipient.

Description

The Victoria Cross consists of a bronze straight armed cross pattée, 38mm across with raised edges, suspended from a crimson ribbon.

Obverse

The front side shows, in the middle of the cross, a lion guardant standing upon the Royal Crown, with the inscription "PRO VALORE" below the Crown.

Reverse

The date of the act for which the decoration is bestowed is engraved in a raised circle on its reverse.

Mounting

The Cross is suspended by means of a plain link from a "V" below a straight bar ornamented with laurel leaves.

Ribbon

The medal will be worn on the left breast of the uniform, suspended from a ribbon. Recipients may wear a miniature version of the decoration on all occasions when it is customary.

Naming

The rank, name and unit of the recipient are engraved on the back of the bar.

Dates

A formal request for the creation of a family of Military Valour Decorations was signed by the Prime Minister of Canada on December 31, 1992. The Queen approved the Letters Patent on February 2, 1993.

The highest British and Commonwealth decoration, the Victoria Cross, has traditionally been recognized as the most prestigious award for gallantry under enemy fire. Only one minor change will distinguish the Canadian VC from the original VC created by the Queen Victoria in 1856. The Canadian version of the Victoria Cross will have the Latin inscription "PRO VALORE" in place of the English - only "FOR VALOUR" found on the British VC.

Issued

As of 1996, none have been awarded.

History

As part of the Canadian honours system, a family of three Military Valour Decorations, comprising the Victoria Cross (VC), the Star of Military Valour (SMV) and the Medal of Military Valour (MMV) has been designated and styled. These medals are being incorporated into the Canadian honours and awards system to enable Canada to recognize members of the Canadian Forces, or members of an allied armed force serving with or in conjunction with the CF, for deeds of military valour.

As part of the British Empire and later Commonwealth, Canada relied on the British honours system to recognize service members for gallantry in battle. Since the Second World War, Canada developed its own honour system, and expanded it considerably in the late 1960's and early 1970's. For example, in 1972 Canada developed its own decoration for bravery in peacetime. However, a set of Canadian honours recognizing gallantry by military personnel in the presence of an enemy was not instituted.

Eligibility

For all three Military Valour Decoration, recipients must be a member of the Canadian Forces or a member of an allied armed force that is serving with or in conjunction with the Canadian Forces, on or after January 1, 1993. Military Valour Decorations can be awarded posthumously.

A person must be recommended by the Military Valour Decoration Advisory Committee. This committee is made up of one person appointed by the Governor General, and five CF members appointed by the Chief of Defence Staff. Field commanders can also grant Military Valour Decorations, but they must first have the Governor General's approval.