The Victoria Cross

General

Ever since its institution the Cross has been supplied by the well-known London jewellers, Messrs. Hancocks and Co., now of Burlington Gardens London W1. The Cross and suspender are first cast in gunmetal and then chased and finished by hand; from 1914 to 1950 a die-cast suspender was used. The metal is taken from guns captured from the Russians in the Crimean War although during and after the First World War it is fairly certain that metal from captured Chinese guns was used for a short period. The components of the decoration are then treated chemically to obtain the uniform dark brown finish which is darker on some issues than on others. The Cross is 1.375 inches wide and, together with the suspender bar and link, weighs about 0.87 ounces troy, although chasing and finishing may cause slight variation in these figures. The design of the Cross is attributed to H.H. Armstead who at the time of its inception was working for Hancocks, the design then being approved by the Queen.

Ribbon

Crimson (described as red in the Warrents), 1.5 inches wide. Originally the ribbon was dark blue or the Royal Navy and crimson for the Army. Shortly before the Royal Air Force was formed on 1st April 1918 the King approved the recommendation that what had been the Army ribbon should be adopted by all recipients. When the ribbon is worn alone a miniature of the Cross is pinned on it, a bar being indicated by a second miniature worn beside the first (when first approved in 1916, a single miniature indicated the award of a bar; from 1917 this was changed to the current configuration).

Suspension

By a straight bar, slotted for the ribbon, with a V-lug below, made in one piece. The front of the bar is ornamented with laurels (the die-cast bars having the leaves set more closely together), and the reverse engraved with details of the recipient. The Cross and suspender bar are joined by a small link which passes through the lugs of both components. On earlier issues the link is completely circular and the inside bottom of the V-lug slightly recessed to accommodate it. Later the link was made oval and the lug not recessed.

Obverse

In reality the Cross is not a Maltese Cross, as it is described in the Royal Warrents, but is closer to a cross patté.

Reverse

The date (or dates), of the act of gallantry is engraved in the centre circle.

Bars

This is based on the suspender bar but without the V-lug, ribbon and frame above. The reverse is engraved with details of the recipient and the date or dates of the act.

Naming

Details of the recipient are engraved in capital letters on the reverse of the suspender bar, and the date or dates of the act of gallantry in the centre circle of the reverse of the Cross. The style of engraving varies although, generally speaking, the use of serifs seem to have been discontinued during the South African War (Boer) War. However, King Edward VII having approved postumous issues, some comparatively modern Crosses exist which were awarded for services performed many years before. Sometimes the inscription is of the same colour as the decoration itself. The latter practise seems to have been more general before the Boer War although thereafter no particular pattern is apparent.

The details on the suspender bar include the rank, name and regiment, or other description of the recipient. Abbreviations are used, according to the length of the inscription, and during the First World War the practise of adding the regimental or equivalent number in the case of recipients below commissioned rank was introduced. Occasionally the recipient’s full (or abbreviated) first names appear. The FirstWorld War and later inscriptions tend to be fuller than those appearing previously. The details on the reverse of the Cross give the date or dates of the act concerned, the month usually being abbreviated.

Re-issues

Occasionally a recipient has been issued with a replacement which, in itself, cannot readily be detected, although suspicion may be aroused if the accompanying medals are themselves replacement issues. Hancocks are able to say if a replacement has been issued.

Copies and Fakes

Various types of copy exist, some cast examples being very well made indeed. However, due to the cooling of the metal in the mould, they are slightly smaller than the genuine Crosses and not of the correct weight. Nevertheless, Hancocks do not consider the weight of great importance as the thickness of the decoration can vary, especially with early issues.
Some copies are struck from dies which, together with some of those cast, are poorly finished and of too light a colour. On one type of copy the sides of the suspender bar are not straight but have a curved excrescence either side of the ribbon slot, while another type has V-shaped niches at either end of the ribbon slot. Some years ago a particularly well-made copy appeared on the market; in this, however, the inner diameter of the centre circle of the reverse is 14mm which is too wide and hence relatively easily recognisable. Some copies have been faked by the addition of details of actual recipients although usually the engraving is of poor quality. Hancocks can almost invariably state whether a Cross is genuine or not.