Victoria Cross (Canada)

The Victoria Cross (VC; French: Croix de Victoria) was created in 1993, perpetuating the lineage of the British Victoria Cross, while serving as the highest award within the Canadian honours system, taking precedence over all other orders, decorations, and medals. It is awarded by either the Canadian monarch or his viceregal representative, the governor general of Canada, to any member of the Canadian Armed Forces or allies serving under or with Canadian military command for extraordinary valour and devotion to duty while facing hostile forces. The British Victoria Cross was recommended prior to the creation of the Canadian medal. The previous Victoria Cross remains the highest award of the United Kingdom honours system and was also awarded in other Commonwealth countries; although most, including Canada, later established their own honours systems and no longer recommended British honours.

The Canadian Victoria Cross can be awarded for action against armed mutineers, pirates, or other such hostile forces whereas the conditions of the British Victoria Cross last recoded in 1961, ‘shall only be awarded for some daring and pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy’. The warrants for neither the Canadian nor the British Victoria Cross require war to be officially declared. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters VC (for both English and French), but they do not receive an annuity for the award. The decoration has not been awarded since its inception.