Victoria Cross- Afganistan

[bigjarofwasps]

Well in actual fact there nearly wasn't a Canadian Victoria Cross at all. In 1972 The VC was totaly omitted from the Canadian Honours system. The Prime Minister of the time, Pierre Trudeau stated "that only Canadians should receive Canadian decorations."

After Brian Mulroney was elected Prime Minister it took till 1984 for an Honours commitee to be formed, and even then the VC was not recommended. Only after years of intense lobbying by Loyalist groups such as the Monarchist League of Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion were the plans amended.

It took until December 31st, 1992, for a formal request to be made by Mulroney. The request was approved by the issue of Letters Patent by Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada, on February 2nd, 1993.

It is not known from which source the metal comes from to make Canadian VC's other than it is not made from the Gunmetal used for the other Commonwealth awards. As to why this is, who knows?

Victoria Crosses were manufactured from bars of bronze, smelted from the parts of two Russian Bronze smooth bore guns captured during the Crimean War according to the Royal Mint, and popular myth. But these ingots were destroyed during a bombing raid in World War II. This meant that apparently a different metal was used for five crosses awarded between 1942 and 1945.

Part of the myth is that every cross has been cast from the two cannons at Woolwich. The cannon in Woolwich however, are Chinese-made, although they have often previously been cited as Russian, their origin is a mystery, there is no evidence that they had been captured at Sebastopol.

The original gunmetal is kept under guard by the Royal Logistic Corps in Donnington. Although rarely seen, it is said to weigh just 358 ounces, enough for a further 85 crosses

So speculation surrounds suggestions that bronze from Chinese cannons was used for a short period.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...12/28/nvc28.xml

Regards Eddie.

Ed, thats Fascinating thanks for sharing it to our attention!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gordon.

[Ed_Haynes]

Gratuitous Gong Shot.

Regards;

Johnsy

Lovely photo, thanks, Johnsy!