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Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross obverse
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]
UK Conspicuous Gallantry Cross ribbon
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[]

A Soldier Proudly Holds His Medals MOD 45153192

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[]

  1. Defence Internet | Fact Sheets | Guide to Honours
  2. 2.0 2.1 "No. 56878". 17 March 2003. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/56878/supplement/ 
  3. 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. 
  4. "Honours & Gallantry Awards". http://www.mod.uk/. Ministry of Defence. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/HonoursAndGallantryAwards.htm. Retrieved 10 November 2011. 
  5. "No. 54028". 5 May 1995. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/54028/page/ 
  6. "No. 54393". 9 May 1996. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/54393/page/ 
  7. 7.0 7.1 "No. 57936". 24 March 2006. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57936/page/ 
  8. "No. 57751". 9 September 2005. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57751/page/ 
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 "No. 57588". 18 March 2005. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57588/page/ 
  10. 10.0 10.1 "No. 57100". 31 October 2003. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57100/page/ 
  11. 11.0 11.1 "No. 57269". 23 April 2004. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57269/page/ 
  12. "No. 58633". 7 March 2008. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58633/page/ 
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 "No. 57588". 18 March 2005. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57588/page/ 
  14. "No. 57936". 24 March 2006. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57936/page/ 
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 "No. 58183". 15 December 2006. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58183/page/ 
  16. 16.0 16.1 "No. 58183". 15 December 2006. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58183/page/ 
  17. 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)
  18. "No. 58396". 19 July 2007. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58396/page/ 
  19. "No. 58396". 19 July 2007. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58396/page/ 
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 "No. 58633". 7 March 2008. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58633/page/ 
  21. 21.0 21.1 "No. 58633". 7 March 2008. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58633/page/ 
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 "No. 58999". 16 March 2009. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58999/page/ 
  23. "No. 58999". 16 March 2009. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58999/page/ 
  24. "No. 59211". 13 October 2009. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59211/page/ 
  25. "No. 59128". 11 September 2009. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59128/page/ 
  26. 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/ 
  27. Spelling is correct: this form is used by The Rifles.
  28. 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/ 
  29. "No. 60283". 28 September 2012. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60283/page/ 
  30. 30.0 30.1 "No. 60456". 22 March 2013. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60456/page/ 
  31. 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
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