The George Cross (GC) is the highest British award for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the GC, since its introduction in 1940, has been equal in stature to the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for valour. It is awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger", not in the presence of the enemy, to members of the British Armed Forces and to British civilians. Posthumous awards have been allowed since it was instituted. Since the Second World War, most Commonwealth countries have created their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours.
The last GC recommended by a Commonwealth country was by New Zealand for the 1990 posthumous award to Stewart Guthrie for gallantry during the Aramoana massacre. That award was gazetted in 1992. Although civilians may be awarded the GC, there has been just one civilian recipient since Guthrie: Dominic Troulan, for his actions in the Westgate shopping mall attack in 2013 (gazetted in 2017). There have been eight GC awards to the Royal Marines and British Army since 2000. Many of the awards have been personally presented by the British monarch to recipients or, in the case of posthumous awards, to next of kin. The investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.
Creation
The George Cross was announced on 23 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, days after the climax of the Battle of Britain and during the third week of the Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage. The existing awards open to civilians were not judged suitable to meet the new situation, therefore it was decided to institute the GC and the George Medal (GM) to recognise civilian gallantry in the face of enemy action, and brave deeds more generally.
Announcing the new award, the King said:
The medal was designed by Percy Metcalfe. The warrants for the GC and for the GM were backdated to 24 September 1940, and published in The London Gazette on 31 January 1941.
The King in his speech announcing the new award, stated that it would rank next to the Victoria Cross. This was second on the Order of Wear, much higher than the then existing awards for bravery not in the presence of the enemy, the highest being the two-class Albert Medal (AM); and the lowest being the single class Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM). In a substitution of awards unprecedented in the history of British decorations, holders of the EGM were required to exchange their insignia for the GC, most receiving their replacement GC at a formal investiture. The four honorary EGM awards to foreigners were not exchanged and could therefore continue to be worn. In 1971, surviving recipients of the Albert Medal and the Edward Medal (EM) became George Cross recipients, but unlike the EGM exchange of insignia, they had the option of retaining their original insignia. Of the 69 holders of the Albert Medal and 70 holders of the Edward Medal eligible to exchange, 49 and 59 respectively took up the option.
Award
The GC, which may be awarded posthumously, is granted in recognition of:
The award is for civilians but also for military personnel whose actions would not normally be eligible to receive military awards, such as gallantry not in the face of the enemy. The Warrant states: