Post by Les on Sept 24, 2006 17:22:15 GMT
Info taken from victoriacross.org.uk -
A SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION TO MARK THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS and THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTORIA CROSS AND GEORGE CROSS ASSOCIATION held on --
MONDAY, 26TH JUNE 2006, at WESTMINSTER ABBEY, LONDON
attended by HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES AND HRH THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL
The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria on 29 January 1856 and made retrospective to 1854 to include actions in the Crimean War. The Victoria Cross is awarded "for most conspicuous bravery or some daring pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy". The award is the most democratic of all military decorations and is bestowed irrespective of rank, race, or creed, or any other circumstances or condition to those serving in British and Commonwealth forces who have shown most conspicuous bravery. To date there have been 1355 awards of the Victoria Cross. This total includes three Bars and the award to the American Unknown Warrior made in 1921.
The Victoria Cross & George Cross Association. At the 1956 Centenary of the Victoria Cross 299 VCs were gathered together from all over the world, the focal point being a review of holders in Hyde Park by Her Majesty The Queen on 26 June. It was during these celebrations that the decision was made to form the Victoria Cross Association with the main aim and objective being the provision of a headquarters to provide communication with each other and thereby to give help and guidance to one another when required. George Cross holders became Associate members in 1957, and in 1962 they were invited to become full members and the Association was renamed.
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Those VC and GC holders attending the ceremony in Westminster Abbey included:
Private Johnson BEHARRY VC
Flt Lieutenant John CRUICKSHANK VC
Lt Commander Ian FRASER VC, DSC, RD
Captain Lachhiman GURUNG VC
Captain Rambahadur LIMBU VC, MVO
Mr Keith PAYNE VC, OAM, DSC (USA)
Mr William SPEAKMAN-PITTS VC
The Rt Hon Sir Tasker WATKINS VC, GBE
(Victoria Cross holders unable to attend the ceremony)
Lance Naik Bhanbhagta GURUNG VC
Mr Edward KENNA VC
WO I Tulbahadur PUN VC
Lt Colonel Eric WILSON VC
A SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION TO MARK THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS and THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTORIA CROSS AND GEORGE CROSS ASSOCIATION held on --
MONDAY, 26TH JUNE 2006, at WESTMINSTER ABBEY, LONDON
attended by HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES AND HRH THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL
The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria on 29 January 1856 and made retrospective to 1854 to include actions in the Crimean War. The Victoria Cross is awarded "for most conspicuous bravery or some daring pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy". The award is the most democratic of all military decorations and is bestowed irrespective of rank, race, or creed, or any other circumstances or condition to those serving in British and Commonwealth forces who have shown most conspicuous bravery. To date there have been 1355 awards of the Victoria Cross. This total includes three Bars and the award to the American Unknown Warrior made in 1921.
The Victoria Cross & George Cross Association. At the 1956 Centenary of the Victoria Cross 299 VCs were gathered together from all over the world, the focal point being a review of holders in Hyde Park by Her Majesty The Queen on 26 June. It was during these celebrations that the decision was made to form the Victoria Cross Association with the main aim and objective being the provision of a headquarters to provide communication with each other and thereby to give help and guidance to one another when required. George Cross holders became Associate members in 1957, and in 1962 they were invited to become full members and the Association was renamed.
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Those VC and GC holders attending the ceremony in Westminster Abbey included:
Private Johnson BEHARRY VC
Flt Lieutenant John CRUICKSHANK VC
Lt Commander Ian FRASER VC, DSC, RD
Captain Lachhiman GURUNG VC
Captain Rambahadur LIMBU VC, MVO
Mr Keith PAYNE VC, OAM, DSC (USA)
Mr William SPEAKMAN-PITTS VC
The Rt Hon Sir Tasker WATKINS VC, GBE
(Victoria Cross holders unable to attend the ceremony)
Lance Naik Bhanbhagta GURUNG VC
Mr Edward KENNA VC
WO I Tulbahadur PUN VC
Lt Colonel Eric WILSON VC