Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-16
THE VICTORIA CROSS.
Badge of Honor for Which the British
Soldier Struggles.

From the st. Luis Post-Dispatch.
II is probable that of the 7U,0N men who
have sailed during the last month from Eng
land for South Africa there is hardly sim
gle officer soldier who dies not look for
ward to returning home with that little
bronze badge known as the Victoria cross
pinned upon his breast. 1t is a distinction
that is within the reach of every member
of the entire force, from the divisional
generals down to the smallest bugler or
drummer boy. and there is not one of them
who would not infinitely prefer it to any
form of promotion. For Its possession in
dictates that its owner is in every sense
of the word a hero. the cross being con-
ferred on y for some signal act of altogether
exceptional bravery, partaking of the char
acter of heroism. 1t was founded at the
time of the Crimean war, and among those
whose breasts 1t adornS are generals such
as Sir Reavers Butler, who commands in
chief in South Africa, Field Marshal Lord
Roberts and plain, ordinary privates in
the army. In fact, at least ~ per cent of the
2tD Victoria cross men won the distinction
as privates or nOn-commissioned officers
of the army and as common sailors in the
navy
Sir Redvers Butler. for instance, received
his Victoria cross for riding back three
times IN day in the face of holly pur-
suing foe to rescue wounded comrades and
soldiers. Lord William Beresford, who is
married to an American .ady. the widowed
Mrs. HammersIey of New York, received
it for feats of a similar character. Cen
eral Sir Evelyn Wood got it in India for
advancing under a heavy fire along mar
row causeway to place bag of gun
powder against the gate of a city which the
English We're to storm during the mutiny,
while at least two midShipmen received
the cross for picking up bombs from the
decks of their vessels during the Crimean
war and throwing them overheard before
the sizzling fuse had time to explode the
shell and carry death and destruction to al
around 1t.
In the case of military men the ribbon
Is of red, while in the navy the ribbon is
blue. The metal of which the cross is made
is of that same kind of bronze that fifty
years ago was used for field guns. The
cross Is of the style known as Maltese;
has the royal crown Surmounted by the
lion in the center. and underneath scroll
bearing the inscription. For valor." 1t is
hung suspended by R'V" ring to a bar, on
the reverse side of which the rank and
name of the recipient Is engraved, while
on the cross itself are inscribed the name
and date of the action in which the honor
was won.
Any additional act of bravery which
would have won the Victoria cross for its
holder had he not already possessed it is
Slgnalzed by bar or clasp being added
to the ribbon just above the bar from which
the cross is suspended. The cross carries
with 1t pension of $50 a year. and an
additional 50 is given for each bar To
the best of my knowledge there is no Vic
toria cross man who can boast of an ad-
ditional bar to his cross
1t must be thoroughly understood that
the feats of bravery for which the cross
Is conferred must have been performed in
war time. and to all intents and purposes
under the fire of the enemy. Acts of
bravery in times of peace do not receive
any such recognition. and although Ad-
niral Lord Charles Beresford has on sew
erai occasions rlsked his life at by div
ing overheard from a ship to save fellow
officers and sailors from drowning, yet he
mas never received the Victoria cross
which. as stated above. was granted to
ms brother Bill for rescuing one wounded
trooper under fire.