Valour Cross

Valour Cross
Awarded by Sovereign of the Kingdom of Aswick
Country	Aswick
Type	Military Decoration
Eligibility	Persons of any rank in the Naval, Military and Air Forces of the Kingdom of Aswick or territories; members of the Merchant Navy; and civilians serving under the orders, directions or supervision of any of the above-mentioned forces or services.
Awarded for	"... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy."
Status	Currently awarded
Post-nominals	LR
Statistics
Established	11 June, 1925
First awarded	11 June, 1925
Last awarded	2016
Total awarded	1272
Distinct recipients	1254
Precedence
Next (higher)	None
Next (lower)	Medal for Valour

The Valour Cross is the highest award of the Aswickan honours system. It is awarded for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" to members of the Aswickan Defence forces. It may be awarded posthumously. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians under military command although no civilian has received the award since 1959. Since the first awards were presented by King James, two thirds of all awards have been personally presented by the Aswickan monarch. These investitures are usually held at the Royal Palace.

The Valour Cross was introduced on 11 June 1925 by King James to honour acts of valour during the Aswickan War of Independence, and the Great Astyrian War. Since then, the medal has been awarded 1,272 times to 1,254 individual recipients.

Award Process

The Valour Cross is awarded for

... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.

A recommendation for the Valour Cross is normally issued by an officer at regimental level, or equivalent, and has to be supported by three witnesses, although this has been waived on occasion. The recommendation is then passed up the military hierarchy until it reaches the Secretary of State for Defence. The recommendation is then laid before the monarch who approves the award with his or her signature. Valour Cross awards are always promulgated in the Jamestown Gazette. The Valour Cross warrant makes no specific provision as to who should actually present the medals to the recipients. King James indicated that he would like to present the medals in person and he presented 185 medals out of the 472 gazetted during his reign.

The original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was not to award the Valour Cross posthumously.

In the case of a gallant and daring act being performed by a squadron, ship's company or a detached body of men (such as marines) in which all men are deemed equally brave and deserving of the Valour Cross, a ballot is drawn. The officers select one officer, the NCOs select one individual and the private soldiers or seamen select two individuals. Furthermore the whole squadron, ship's company or detached body of men may be awarded the Royal Unit Citation. In all 46 awards have been awarded by ballot with 29 of the awards during the Second Astyrian War.

Authority and Priveleges

As the highest award for valour of the Kingdom, the Valour Cross is always the first award to be presented at an investiture, even before knighthoods, as was shown at the investiture of Private Daniel Williams, who received his medal before General Sir Steven O'Dwayde received his knighthood. Owing to its status, the Valour Cross is always the first decoration worn in a row of medals and it is the first set of post-nominal letters used to indicate any decoration or order.

There is a widespread though erroneous belief that it is statutory for "all ranks to salute a bearer of the Valour Cross". There is no official requirement that appears in the official Warrant of the Valour Cross, nor in King's Regulations and Orders, but tradition dictates that this occurs and as such the Chiefs of Staff will salute a Private awarded a Valour Cross.

The Valour Cross was at first worn as the recipient fancied. It was popular to pin it on the left side of the chest over the heart, with other decorations grouped around the VC. The King's Regulations for the Army of 1930 gave clear instructions on how to wear it. The medal is also worn as a miniature decoration on a brooch or a chain with mess jacket, white tie or black tie. As a bearer of the Valour Cross is not a Companion in an Order of Chivalry, the VC has no place in a coat of arms.

Annuity

The original warrant stated that NCOs and private soldiers or seamen on the Valour Cross Register were entitled to a £10 per annum annuity. In 1939, King James raised the pension to £50 for those that could not earn a livelihood, be it from old age or infirmity. Today holders of the Valour Cross or Medal for Valour are entitled to an annuity, the amount of which is determined by the awarding government. Since 2015, the annuity paid by the Aswickan Government is £10,000 per year. This is exempted from tax for Aswickan taxpayers by Section 638 Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, along with pensions or annuities from other awards for bravery.