FOR VALOUR

THE QUEEN'S LANCASHIRE REGIMENT

The Red Rose Regiment

THE VICTORIA CROSS

There have been various changes to the conditions for award of the VC since 1856, including assent by King Edward VII to the making of posthumous awards, the earliest of which were back-dated to 1857.

VCs are cast from the gunmetal of two Chinese cannon captured from the Russians during the Crimean War. Queen Victoria was intimately involved in the design, which she expressly wished to be simple and unpretentious. She also chose the motto, 'For Valour'.

1,354 VCs have been awarded - 1,350 to individuals, three of whom received a bar to their VC, and one to the American Unknown Warrior of the First World War. 837 VCs have been awarded to members of the British Army, 119 to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, and 32 to the Royal Air Force and Royal Flying Corps. The Australian Forces have been awarded 91, the Canadian Forces 80, New Zealand Forces 22, and South African Forces 28. Members of the former Honourable East India Company and Indian Army received 137. Some 300 have been awarded posthumously.

It is increasingly rare for VCs to be awarded as the nature of warfare has changed from the hand to hand combat of the nineteenth century and the carnage of the battlefields of the First World War. Only one VC was awarded on D Day in 1944, whereas 24 were won on a single day - 16 November 1857 - at the relief of Lucknow.

The last VCs awarded were in the Falklands campaign in 1982 to Lieutenant Colonel 'H' Jones and Sergeant Ian McKay of The Parachute Regiment.

The Queen's Lancashire Regiment is intensely proud of the fact that members of our Predecessor Regiment were awarded 19 Victoria Crosses.  The following are the names by Regiment, date and theatre where the individuals were decorated.