| Conspicuous Gallantry Cross | |
|---|---|
 Obverse of the medal. Ribbon: 32mm, white with blue edges and a red central stripe. | |
| Awarded by Her Majesty The Queen | |
| Country | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| Type | Military decoration. |
| Eligibility | British and allied forces. |
| Awarded for | ... an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.[1] |
| Status | Currently awarded. |
| Description | 36mm 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. |
| Statistics | |
| Established | October 1993 |
| First awarded | 1995 |
| Total awarded | 53 individuals, 1 collective award. |
| Posthumous awards | 3 |
| Order of Wear | |
| Next (higher) | Victoria Cross[2] |
| Next (lower) | Royal Red Cross (Class I)[2] |
 CGC ribbon bar | |
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) is a second level military decoration of the United Kingdom 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.[3]
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 (Air and Naval) 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.
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.[3] Bars are awarded to the CGC in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters CGC.[4]
Appearance[]
The CGC (left) as worn on a dress uniform with other decorations
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 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.[3]
Recipients[]
The following is a full list of recipients who have been Gazetted to date.
| Name | Rank | Unit | Gazetted | Conflict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mills, Wayne[5] | Corporal | Duke of Wellington's Regiment | 9 May 1995 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Humphreys, Peter[6] | Colour Sergeant | Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 9 May 1996 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Baycroft, John David, MBE[7] | Colour Sergeant | Parachute Regiment | 6 Apr 2001 | Sierra Leone (Operation Barras) |
| MacFarlane, Iain James McKechnie[8] | Squadron Leader | Royal Air Force | 6 Apr 2001 | Sierra Leone (Operation Barras) |
| Day, Tony Kenneth[9] | Corporal | Royal Marines | 29 Oct 2002 | Afghanistan |
| Merchant, Jeremy Mark[9] | Captain | Royal Marines | 29 Oct 2002 | Afghanistan |
| Hearne, Karl Anthony[7] | Corporal | Parachute Regiment | 29 Oct 2002 | Afghanistan |
| Sanders, Edward Lawrence[9] | Private | Parachute Regiment | 29 Oct 2002 | Afghanistan |
| Thomas, Justin Royston[10] | Marine | Royal Marines | 31 Oct 2003 | Iraq |
| Flynn, Michael John[10] | Lance Corporal of Horse | Blues and Royals | 31 Oct 2003 | Iraq |
| Jardine, Shaun Garry[11] | Corporal | King's Own Scottish Borderers | 23 Apr 2004 | Iraq |
| Robertson, Gordon[11] | Sergeant | Parachute Regiment | 23 Apr 2004 | Iraq |
| Greensmith, Benjamin Paul[12] | Corporal | Parachute Regiment | 7 Mar 2008 (dated 7 Sep 2004) |
Iraq |
| Broome, Christopher Mark[13] | Sergeant | Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment | 15 Mar 2005 | Iraq |
| Bryan, Terry[13] | Sergeant | Royal Artillery | 15 Mar 2005 | Iraq |
| Thomson, Terence Alan[13] | Corporal | Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment | 15 Mar 2005 | Iraq |
| Tomlinson, Matthew Robert[14] | Colour Sergeant | Royal Marines | 24 Mar 2006 | Iraq |
| Radford, Andrew[15] | Lance Corporal of Horse | Life Guards | 14 Dec 2006 | Afghanistan |
| Collins, John[16] | Corporal | Parachute Regiment | 14 Dec 2006 | Iraq |
| Harkess, James Royce[16] | Colour Sergeant | Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment | 14 Dec 2006 | Iraq |
| Farmer, Hugo[15] | Lieutenant | Parachute Regiment | 14 Dec 2006 | Afghanistan |
| Illingworth, Timothy[15] | Acting Captain | Light Infantry | 14 Dec 2006 | Afghanistan |
| Collective Award[17] | Royal Irish Regiment/Ulster Defence Regiment | Northern Ireland | ||
| Thompson, John Thomas[18] | Corporal | Royal Marines | 19 Jul 2007 | Afghanistan |
| Hollingsworth, Jonathan Stuart,[19] QGM | Sergeant | Parachute Regiment | 19 Jul 2007 | Iraq (posthumous) |
| Campbell, Donald Peter[20] | Acting Corporal | Royal Engineers | 7 Mar 2008 | Afghanistan |
| Cupples, Simon Timothy[20] | Lieutenant | Mercian Regiment | 7 Mar 2008 | Afghanistan |
| Willmott, Paul Darren[20] | Private | Mercian Regiment | 7 Mar 2008 | Afghanistan |
| Miller, Adam William[21] | Corporal | Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | 7 Mar 2008 | Iraq |
| Wadsworth, James Anthony[21] | Staff Sergeant | Royal Logistic Corps | 7 Mar 2008 | Iraq |
| McClurg, Robert William Kerr[22] | Corporal | Royal Irish Regiment | 6 Mar 2009 | Afghanistan |
| Stevens, Alwyn John[22] | Acting Sergeant | Royal Irish Regiment | 6 Mar 2009 | Afghanistan |
| Toge, Jone Bruce[22] | Lance Corporal | Royal Irish Regiment | 6 Mar 2009 | Afghanistan |
| Durber, Leonard John[23] | Colour Sergeant | Parachute Regiment | 6 Mar 2009 | Iraq |
| Malone, Bradley[24] | Acting Corporal | Royal Marines | 11 Sep 2009 | Afghanistan |
| Nethery, Steven[25] | Marine | Royal Marines | 11 Sep 2009 | Afghanistan |
| Dennis, Alan Gordon[26] | Sergeant | Mercian Regiment | 19 Mar 2010 | Afghanistan |
| Gadsby, Stephen William[26] | Gunner | Royal Artillery | 19 Mar 2010 | Afghanistan |
| Giles, Marc Kevin[26] | Sergeant | Mercian Regiment | 19 Mar 2010 | Afghanistan |
| Moncho, Jaime[26] | Serjeant[27] | The Rifles | 19 Mar 2010 | Afghanistan |
| Prout, Gary[26] | Lance Bombardier | Royal Artillery | 19 Mar 2010 | Afghanistan |
| Smith, Kyle Patrick[26] | Lance Corporal | Mercian Regiment | 19 Mar 2010 | Afghanistan |
| Turner, Robert[28] | Sergeant | Royal Marines | 24 Sep 2010 | Afghanistan |
| Bourne-Taylor, Robin Edwin Geoffrey[28] | Captain | Life Guards | 24 Sep 2010 | Afghanistan |
| Brownson, Lee[28] | Corporal | The Rifles | 24 Sep 2010 | Afghanistan (posthumous) |
| Horn, Graham Stuart[28] | Lance Corporal | Parachute Regiment | 24 Sep 2010 | Afghanistan |
| McKie, James Lee[28] | Lance Corporal | The Rifles | 24 Sep 2010 | Afghanistan |
| Pun, Dip Prasad[28] | Acting Sergeant | Royal Gurkha Rifles | 25 March 2011 | Afghanistan |
| Jackson, Mark Anthony[28] | Marine | Royal Marines | 25 March 2011 | Afghanistan |
| Stephens, Seth Vincent Scott[28] | Corporal | Royal Marines | 25 March 2011 | Afghanistan |
| Couzens, Scott Allan[29] | Staff Sergeant | Parachute Regiment | 28 September 2012 | Afghanistan |
| Glancy, James Alexander[30] | Captain | Royal Marines | 22 March 2013 | Afghanistan |
| Mason, Luke Timothy John[30] | Lieutenant | Yorkshire Regiment | 22 March 2013 | Afghanistan |
| Davis, Owen Edward[31] | Lieutenant | Royal Marines | 4 October 2013 | Afghanistan |
| Griffiths, Josh Edward Hayden[31] | Corporal | Mercian Regiment | 4 October 2013 | Afghanistan |
| Steel, Gareth David[31] | Private | Parachute Regiment | 4 October 2013 | Afghanistan |
See also[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Defence Internet | Fact Sheets | Guide to Honours
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "No. 56878". 17 March 2003. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/56878/supplement/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Conspicuous Gallantry Cross". MOD Medal Office. Ministry of Defence. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/ConspicuousGallantryCross.htm. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ↑ "Honours & Gallantry Awards". http://www.mod.uk/. Ministry of Defence. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/HonoursAndGallantryAwards.htm. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ↑ "No. 54028". 5 May 1995. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/54028/page/
- ↑ "No. 54393". 9 May 1996. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/54393/page/
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "No. 57936". 24 March 2006. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57936/page/
- ↑ "No. 57751". 9 September 2005. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57751/page/
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "No. 57588". 18 March 2005. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57588/page/
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "No. 57100". 31 October 2003. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57100/page/
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "No. 57269". 23 April 2004. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57269/page/
- ↑ "No. 58633". 7 March 2008. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58633/page/
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "No. 57588". 18 March 2005. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57588/page/
- ↑ "No. 57936". 24 March 2006. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57936/page/
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "No. 58183". 15 December 2006. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58183/page/
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "No. 58183". 15 December 2006. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58183/page/
- ↑ It is the first time this medal has been collectively awarded to a military unit, and only the third occasion, since the start of World War 2, that such a collective award has been bestowed (the others being the 1942 George Cross to Malta and the 1999 George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary)
- ↑ "No. 58396". 19 July 2007. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58396/page/
- ↑ "No. 58396". 19 July 2007. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58396/page/
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "No. 58633". 7 March 2008. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58633/page/
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "No. 58633". 7 March 2008. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58633/page/
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "No. 58999". 16 March 2009. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58999/page/
- ↑ "No. 58999". 16 March 2009. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58999/page/
- ↑ "No. 59211". 13 October 2009. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59211/page/
- ↑ "No. 59128". 11 September 2009. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59128/page/
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 "No. 59366". 19 March 2010. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59366/page/
- ↑ Spelling is correct: this form is used by The Rifles.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 "No. 59554". 24 September 2010. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59554/page/
- ↑ "No. 60283". 28 September 2012. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60283/page/
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 "No. 60456". 22 March 2013. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60456/page/
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/operational-honours-and-awards-list-4-october-2013
References[]
- Mackay, J and Mussell, J (eds) - Medal Yearbook - 2007, (2006), Token Publishing, Honiton, Devon
The original article can be found at Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and the edit history here.