For other uses, see George Cross (disambiguation).
Award
George Cross
Obverse of the cross. Ribbon: 1½", dark blue
Type
Civil And Military Decoration
Awarded for
"... acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger."
Description
Height 48 mm, max. width 45 mm; (Obverse) plain silver cross with circular medallion in the centre depicting the effigy of St George and the Dragon, surrounded by the words "FOR GALLANTRY". In the angle of each limb is the Royal Cypher GVI; (Reverse) plain, centre engraved with name of recipient and date of award. Cross attached by ring to bar ornamented with laurel leaves, through which the ribbon passes.
Presented by
Monarch of the United Kingdom
Eligibility
Commonwealth subjects
Post-nominals
GC
Status
Currently awarded
Established
24 September 1940
Last awarded
6 July 2021 (gazetted)[1]
Total
416 (including 3 collective awards)
Total awarded posthumously
90 (including 5 former EGM recipients)
Total recipients
416 (including 3 collective awards)
GC ribbon bar
Order of Wear
Next (higher)
Victoria Cross[2]
Next (lower)
Order of the Garter
Related
George Medal and King's Gallantry Medal
The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, has been equal in stature to the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for valour.[3] It is awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger",[4] not in the presence of the enemy, to members of the British armed forces and to British civilians.[5] Posthumous awards have been allowed since it was instituted. It was previously awarded to residents of Commonwealth countries (and in one case to Malta, a colony that subsequently became a Commonwealth country), most of which have since established their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians including police, emergency services and merchant seamen. 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.[6]
^"No. 72309". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 16 July 2021. p. 11912.
^"No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3351.
^"Decorations, Gallantry and Distinguished Conduct medals: George Cross". Gov.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
^Clause five of the George Cross gazette
^The phrase "in the presence of the enemy" was inserted into the Victoria Cross Warrant in 1881 and continues in the present warrant but is often quoted as "in the face of the enemy".
The GeorgeCross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy...
The GeorgeCross (GC) is the second highest award of the United Kingdom honours system. It is awarded for gallantry not "in the presence of the enemy"...
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The GeorgeCross was awarded to the island of Malta by King George VI during the Siege of Malta undertaken by Italy and Germany in the early part of World...
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distinction, which will consist of the GeorgeCross, which will rank next to the Victoria Cross, and the George Medal for wider distribution. The warrant...
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has been awarded to a military unit. Unlike the 1942 GeorgeCross to Malta and the 1999 GeorgeCross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the award to The...
the pinnacle of the British honours system (after the Victoria Cross and GeorgeCross). Its membership is extremely limited, consisting of the Sovereign...
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basic variants of the red-on-white (termed the Cross of Saint George) and the white-on-red crusaders' cross were continued independently in the flags of...
equivalent to the Victoria Cross. Two GeorgeCross (GC) medals have been awarded to Gurkha soldiers for acts of bravery. The GeorgeCross (GC) is the highest...
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