The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) is a second level military decoration of the British 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.

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 (Naval and Air) 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. It was designed and sculpted by Michael Rizzello for the Royal Mint.

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. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters CGC.

Appearance

thumb|left|The CGC (left) as worn on a dress uniform with campaign medals. The medals shown are those awarded to Lance Corporal of Horse Andrew Radford, CGC.

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 the 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 centre stripe in crimson. ||Corporal ||Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) ||9 May 1995 ||Bosnia and Herzegovina

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|Humphreys, Peter ||Colour Sergeant ||Royal Welch Fusiliers ||9 May 1996 ||Bosnia and Herzegovina

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|Harvey, James

|Petty Officer

|Royal Navy

|11 Feb 2000

|Great Britain

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|Baycroft, John David, MBE ||Colour Sergeant ||Parachute Regiment ||6 April 2001 ||Sierra Leone (Operation Barras)

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|MacFarlane, Iain James McKechnie || Squadron Leader||Royal Air Force ||6 April 2001 ||Sierra Leone (Operation Barras)

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|Day, Tony Kenneth ||Corporal ||Royal Marines ||29 October 2002 ||Afghanistan

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|Merchant, Jeremy Mark ||Marine ||Royal Marines ||31 October 2003 ||Iraq

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|Flynn, Michael John ||Corporal ||King's Own Scottish Borderers ||23 April 2004 ||Iraq

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|Robertson, Gordon ||Corporal || Parachute Regiment||7 March 2008 ||Iraq

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|Broome, Christopher Mark ||Sergeant ||Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) ||18 March 2005 ||Iraq

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|Bryan, Terry ||Colour Sergeant ||Royal Marines||24 March 2006 ||Iraq

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|Radford, Andrew ||Lance Corporal of Horse ||Life Guards ||14 December 2006 ||Afghanistan

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|Collins, John ||Corporal ||Parachute Regiment||14 December 2006 ||Iraq

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|Harkess, James Royce || ||Royal Irish Regiment/Ulster Defence Regiment ||19 December 2006||Northern Ireland

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|Thompson, John Thomas ||Corporal ||Royal Marines||19 July 2007 ||Afghanistan

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|Hollingsworth, Jonathan Stuart, QGM ||Sergeant ||Parachute Regiment||19 July 2007 ||Iraq (posthumous)

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|Campbell, Donald Peter ||Acting Corporal ||Royal Engineers ||7 March 2008 ||Afghanistan

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|Cupples, Simon Timothy ||Corporal ||Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers ||7 March 2008 ||Iraq

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|Wadsworth, James Anthony ||Corporal ||Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment) ||6 March 2009 ||Afghanistan

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|Stevens, Alwyn John|| Colour Sergeant ||Parachute Regiment ||6 March 2009 ||Iraq

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|Malone, Bradley || Acting Corporal ||Royal Marines || 11 September 2009 ||Afghanistan

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|Nethery, Steven || Marine ||Royal Marines || 11 September 2009 ||Afghanistan

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|Dennis, Alan Gordon || Sergeant ||Mercian Regiment || 19 March 2010 ||Afghanistan

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|Gadsby, Stephen William ||The Rifles || 19 March 2010 ||Afghanistan

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|Prout, Gary || Sergeant ||Royal Marines || 24 September 2010 ||Afghanistan

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|Bourne-Taylor, Robin Edwin Geoffrey || Acting Sergeant ||Royal Gurkha Rifles || 25 March 2011 ||Afghanistan

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|Jackson, Mark Anthony || Corporal ||Royal Marines|| 23 March 2012 ||Afghanistan

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|Couzens, Scott Allan || Staff Sergeant ||Parachute Regiment|| 28 September 2012 ||Afghanistan

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|Glancy, James Alexander|| Lieutenant|| Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) || 22 March 2013 ||Afghanistan

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|Davis, Owen Edward|| Lieutenant||Royal Marines|| 4 October 2013 ||Afghanistan

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|Griffiths, Josh Edward Hayden || Corporal ||Special Boat Service|| 21 March 2014 || Afghanistan

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|Moloney, Simon George

|Warrant Officer Class 2

|Special Air Service<nowiki> | </nowiki>Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)

|14 November 2019

|Kenya

|}

See also

  • Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom

Notes

References

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