The Victoria Cross (VC) was originally instituted in 1856 as a decoration to recognise gallantry in action by all ranks of the services. The VC was awarded to Australians under the Imperial system of awards, with 96 Australians receiving the award. It was decided to retain the VC as the pre-eminent gallantry award in the Australian system. The Victoria Cross for Australia was approved on 15 January 1991.
The VC is awarded for the most conspicuous gallantry, or a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the face of the enemy.
The Victoria Cross for Australia is identical to the original VC. It is a bronze cross with the obverse having a Crowned Lion standing on the Royal Crown with the words “FOR VALOUR” inscribed on a semicircular scroll below the Crown. The reverse has the date of the act for which the Cross is awarded engraved within a circle in the centre. The Cross is suspended by a ring from a seriffed “V” attached to a suspension bar decorated with laurel leaves.
The VC ribbon is crimson and 38 mm wide. When the ribbon is worn alone a ribbon bar emblem in the form of a replica of the Cross is worn on the ribbon.
A further award of the VC is denoted by a bronze bar. When the ribbon is worn alone, the award of a bar is indicated by the addition of a further ribbon bar emblem.
Recipients of the Victoria Cross are entitled to the postnominal letters ‘VC’. Recipients of a bar to the VC add ‘and Bar’ to the postnominal.
The source document for the VC for Australia is:
CAG S25 of 4 February 1991 (Letters Patent and Regulations).
The nomination procedure is detailed in Defence Instruction (General) PERS 31-3 Australian Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards.
The VC is worn ahead of all other awards as notified by the Governor-General in The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.
Web page last updated 21 May, 2012