Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Obverse of the medal. Ribbon: 32 mm, white with blue edges and a red central stripe
TypeMilitary decoration
Awarded for... an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.
Description36 mm max. width; silver cross patée imposed on a wreath of laurel, with the Royal Crown in a circular panel in the centre. Suspended by a ring from a plain suspension bar.
CountryUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Presented byMonarch of the United Kingdom
EligibilityBritish and allied forces
Statusactive
EstablishedOctober 1993
First award1995
Total61 including one unit award
Total awarded posthumously
3
CGC ribbon bar
Order of Wear
Next (higher)Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Next (lower)Distinguished Conduct Medal

The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) is a second level military decoration of the British Armed Forces. Created in 1993 and first awarded in 1995, it was instituted after a review of the British honours system to remove distinctions of rank in the awarding of gallantry decorations. The Victoria Cross is the only higher combat gallantry award presented by the United Kingdom.

History

The CGC was instituted in the aftermath of the 1993 review of the honours system. As part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the CGC replaced both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Army) and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Naval and Air) as second level awards to other ranks and ratings. The CGC also replaced the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), in its role as an award to officers for gallantry. The DSO was retained as an award for outstanding leadership. The CGC now serves as the second level award for gallantry for all ranks across the whole armed forces. It was designed and sculpted by Michael Rizzello for the Royal Mint.

Eligibility

The CGC, which may be awarded posthumously, is awarded "in recognition of an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy". All ranks of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, and Royal Air Force may be awarded the CGC in recognition of qualifying acts of gallantry. Bars are awarded to the CGC in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. When the ribbon bar alone is worn, a silver rosette on the ribbon indicates the award of a bar. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters CGC.

Appearance

The CGC (left) as worn on a dress uniform with campaign medals. The medals shown are those awarded to Lance Corporal of Horse Andrew Radford, CGC.

The medal is in the shape of a cross pattée in silver. Arranged behind the cross, visible between the arms is a laurel wreath. On the obverse of the medal, the circular medallion in the centre depicts the St Edward's crown. The reverse is plain which allows room for the engraving of the rank, name, and unit of its recipient. The award date is also engraved on the reverse of the medal. The medal is suspended by a white ribbon with two narrow dark blue stripes at the edge and one centre stripe in crimson.

Recipients

To date, there have been about 60 awards of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, including three posthumous and one unit award. No second award bars have been awarded.
The following is a full list of recipients who have been Gazetted to date.

NameRankServiceDate award announcedPlace
Mills, WayneCorporalDuke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)9 May 1995Bosnia and Herzegovina
Humphreys, PeterColour SergeantRoyal Welch Fusiliers9 May 1996Bosnia and Herzegovina
Baycroft, John David, MBEColour SergeantParachute Regiment6 April 2001Sierra Leone (Operation Barras)
MacFarlane, Iain James McKechnieSquadron LeaderRoyal Air Force6 April 2001Sierra Leone (Operation Barras)
Day, Tony KennethCorporalRoyal Marines29 October 2002Afghanistan
Merchant, Jeremy MarkCaptainRoyal Marines29 October 2002Afghanistan
Hearne, Karl AnthonyCorporalParachute Regiment29 October 2002Afghanistan
Sanders, Edward LawrencePrivateParachute Regiment29 October 2002Afghanistan
Thomas, Justin RoystonMarineRoyal Marines31 October 2003Iraq
Flynn, Michael JohnLance Corporal of HorseBlues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)31 October 2003Iraq
Jardine, Shaun GarryCorporalKing's Own Scottish Borderers23 April 2004Iraq
Robertson, GordonSergeantParachute Regiment23 April 2004Iraq
Greensmith, Benjamin PaulCorporalParachute Regiment7 March 2008Iraq
Broome, Christopher MarkSergeantPrincess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)18 March 2005Iraq
Bryan, TerrySergeantRoyal Artillery18 March 2005Iraq
Thomson, Terence AlanCorporalPrincess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)18 March 2005Iraq
Tomlinson, Matthew RobertColour SergeantRoyal Marines24 March 2006Iraq
Radford, AndrewLance Corporal of HorseLife Guards14 December 2006Afghanistan
Collins, JohnCorporalParachute Regiment14 December 2006Iraq
Harkess, James RoyceColour SergeantWorcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot)14 December 2006Iraq
Farmer, HugoLieutenantParachute Regiment14 December 2006Afghanistan
Illingworth, TimothyActing CaptainThe Light Infantry14 December 2006Afghanistan
Unit awardRoyal Irish Regiment/Ulster Defence Regiment19 December 2006Northern Ireland
Thompson, John ThomasCorporalRoyal Marines19 July 2007Afghanistan
Hollingsworth, Jonathan Stuart, QGMSergeantParachute Regiment19 July 2007Iraq (posthumous)
Campbell, Donald PeterActing CorporalRoyal Engineers7 March 2008Afghanistan
Cupples, Simon TimothyLieutenantMercian Regiment7 March 2008Afghanistan
Willmott, Paul DarrenPrivateMercian Regiment7 March 2008Afghanistan
Miller, Adam WilliamCorporalRoyal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers7 March 2008Iraq
Wadsworth, James AnthonyStaff SergeantRoyal Logistic Corps7 March 2008Iraq
McClurg, Robert William KerrCorporalRoyal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)6 March 2009Afghanistan
Stevens, Alwyn JohnActing SergeantRoyal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)6 March 2009Afghanistan
Toge, Jone BruceLance CorporalRoyal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)6 March 2009Afghanistan
Durber, Leonard JohnColour SergeantParachute Regiment6 March 2009Iraq
Malone, BradleyActing CorporalRoyal Marines11 September 2009Afghanistan
Nethery, StevenMarineRoyal Marines11 September 2009Afghanistan
Dennis, Alan GordonSergeantMercian Regiment19 March 2010Afghanistan
Gadsby, Stephen WilliamGunnerRoyal Artillery19 March 2010Afghanistan
Giles, Marc KevinSergeantMercian Regiment19 March 2010Afghanistan
Moncho, JaimeSergeantThe Rifles19 March 2010Afghanistan
Prout, GaryLance BombardierRoyal Artillery19 March 2010Afghanistan
Smith, Kyle PatrickLance CorporalMercian Regiment19 March 2010Afghanistan
Turner, RobertSergeantRoyal Marines24 September 2010Afghanistan
Bourne-Taylor, Robin Edwin GeoffreyCaptainLife Guards24 September 2010Afghanistan
Brownson, LeeCorporalThe Rifles24 September 2010Afghanistan (posthumous)
Horn, Graham StuartLance CorporalParachute Regiment24 September 2010Afghanistan
McKie, James LeeLance CorporalThe Rifles24 September 2010Afghanistan
Pun, Dip PrasadActing SergeantRoyal Gurkha Rifles25 March 2011Afghanistan
Jackson, Mark AnthonyMarineRoyal Marines25 March 2011Afghanistan
Stephens, Seth Vincent ScottCorporalRoyal Marines25 March 2011Afghanistan (posthumous)
Cutterham, DeaconSergeantThe Rifles23 March 2012Afghanistan
Wright-Hider, SimonCorporalRoyal Marines23 March 2012Afghanistan
Couzens, Scott AllanStaff SergeantParachute Regiment28 September 2012Afghanistan
Glancy, James AlexanderCaptainRoyal Marines22 March 2013Afghanistan
Mason, Luke Timothy JohnLieutenantYorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)22 March 2013Afghanistan
Davis, Owen EdwardLieutenantRoyal Marines4 October 2013Afghanistan
Griffiths, Josh Edward HaydenCorporalMercian Regiment4 October 2013Afghanistan
Steel, Gareth DavidPrivateParachute Regiment4 October 2013Afghanistan
Stazicker, AnthonyCorporalSpecial Boat Service21 March 2014Afghanistan
Moloney, Simon GeorgeLance CorporalBlues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)21 March 2014Afghanistan
Craighead, Christian MBE Warrant Officer Class 2 Special Air Service | Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom) 14 November 2019 Kenya

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Military Honours and Awards". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2006.
  2. 1 2 "The London Gazette, Order of Wear". p. 326. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Conspicuous Gallantry Cross". MOD Medal Office. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Online Medals: Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, (Accessed 8 June 2018).
  5. ↑ "Honours & Gallantry Awards". mod.uk/. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "No. 54028". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 May 1995. p. 6612.
  7. ↑ "No. 54393". The London Gazette. 9 May 1996. p. 6547.
  8. 1 2 "No. 57936". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 March 2006. p. 4197.
  9. ↑ "No. 57751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 September 2005. p. 11648.
  10. 1 2 3 "No. 57588". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 2005. p. 3378.
  11. 1 2 "No. 57100". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 October 2003. p. 4.
  12. 1 2 "No. 57269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 April 2004. p. 5132.
  13. ↑ "No. 58633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2008. p. 3619.
  14. 1 2 3 "No. 57588". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 2005. p. 3374.
  15. ↑ "No. 57936". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 March 2006. p. 4195.
  16. 1 2 3 "No. 58183". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 December 2006. p. 17357.
  17. 1 2 "No. 58183". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 December 2006. p. 17359.
  18. ↑ It is the first and only time an individual gallantry award has been awarded to a military unit. Unlike the 1942 George Cross to Malta and the 1999 George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the award to The Royal Irish Regiment was gazetted. See: "No. 58186". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 December 2006. p. 17495.
  19. ↑ "No. 58396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2007. p. 10411.
  20. ↑ "No. 58396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2007. p. 10413.
  21. 1 2 3 "No. 58633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2008. p. 3613.
  22. 1 2 "No. 58633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2008. p. 3615.
  23. 1 2 3 "No. 58999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 March 2009. p. 4082.
  24. ↑ "No. 58999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 March 2009. p. 4085.
  25. ↑ "No. 59211". The London Gazette. 13 October 2009. p. 17559.
  26. ↑ "No. 59182". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 2009. p. 15640.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "No. 59366". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 March 2010. p. 4834.
  28. ↑ Spelling is correct: this form is used by The Rifles.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 "No. 59554". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 September 2010. p. 18536.
  30. 1 2 3 "No. 59737". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 March 2011. p. 5640.
  31. 1 2 "No. 60095". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 2012. p. 5848.
  32. ↑ "No. 60283". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 September 2012. p. 18624.
  33. 1 2 "No. 60456". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 March 2013. p. 5738.
  34. 1 2 3 "Operational Honours and Awards List: 4 October 2013 – News stories – GOV.UK".
  35. 1 2 "No. 60813". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 March 2014. p. 5836.
  36. ↑ Pending Gazette Entry (Due end of 2022) https://www.forces.net/news/sas-hero-who-secured-kenyan-hotel-receive-top-award
  37. ↑ Pseudonym used to protect identity

References