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Military Cross





Military Information

  name Military Cross
  caption Obverse of the medal Ribbon: 32 mm, three equal parts of white, purple, and white
  awarded By United Kingdom and Commonwealth
  type Military decoration
  eligibility British, (formerly) Commonwealth, and allied forces
  for '' gallantry during active operations against the enemy'' Defence FactSheet Accessed 28 June 2007
  status Currently awarded
  description silver cross with straight arms (Obverse) Royal Cypher in centre (reverse) plain
  established 28 December 1914
  higher Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
  same Distinguished Service Cross , Distinguished Flying Cross
  lower Mention In Despatches


__NOTOC__
The Military Cross ('''MC''') is the third level Military Decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.

The MC, which may not be awarded posthumously, is granted to army personnel in recognition of'' '... gallantry during active operations against the enemy.' ''

The award was created in 1914 for Commissioned Officers of the substantive rank of Captain or below and for Warrant Officer s. In 1931, the award was extended to Major s and also to members of the Royal Air Force for actions on the ground. Since the 1993 review of the honours system, as part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the Military Medal , formerly the third level decoration for Other Ranks , has been discontinued. The MC now serves as the third level award for gallantry for all ranks of the British Army.

Bars are awarded to the MC in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters MC.


Description

  • 46 mm max height, 44 mm max width

  • Ornamental silver cross with straight arms terminating in broad finials decorated with Imperial Crowns , suspended from plain suspension bar. The Obverse has a Royal Cypher in centre;

  • The reverse is plain, but from 1938 the name of the recipient and year of issue has been engraved on lower limb of cross.



NOTABLE AWARDS

The first woman to be awarded the Military Cross was Private Michelle Norris of the Royal Army Medical Corps , while attached to The Princess Of Wales's Royal Regiment in Iraq. Norris was awarded her medal personally by Queen Elizabeth II on March 21 2007 as the result of her actions in Iraq on June 11 2006 .


NOTES



BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • Mackay, J and Mussel, J (eds) - ''Medals Yearbook - 2005'', (2004), Token Publishing.



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