The Military Cross

       In late 1914 a need was recognised for a warrant officers and lower commissioned officers decoration similar in scope to the Naval DSC but for the Army. In December 1914 the Military Cross was instituted to recognise "distinguished services in times of war of Officers of certain ranks in Our Army" ^N  The majority of Military Crosses were awarded for gallantry, but the decoration could also be granted for "distinguished and meritorious service", and many were awarded in new year and birthday honours to serving army officers. In 1917 it was decided to restrict the decoration as far as possible to the "Fighting Services", and in the same year extending it to acting and temporary Majors not above substantive rank of Captain. A further change in 1920 defined the cross as almost exclusively a bravery award "for gallant and distinguished services in action" The general conditions for the award  remained like this until the review of United Kingdom gallantry awards in 1993, when the cross was extended to all ranks upon the obsolescence of the other ranks only gallantry decoration, the Military Medal.

   Description: A silver Greek cross with splayed ends to the arms, suspended by a ring from a plain rectangular slotted ribbon suspension. Obverse; at the centre a smaller Greek cross mounted with the royal cypher of the reigning monarch, at the ends of the cross arms an imperial crown, rotated as appropriate for each arm. Reverse; plain until 1938, when the year of the act of bravery it commemorates was engraved on the bottom of the lower arm.
   Bars: a ribbon bar was issued for subsequent awards.
   Naming: issued unnamed, but frequently encountered unofficially engraved in various styles with the recipients details.

 

Numbers Awarded WW1, WW2 & Korea
	MC	1st Bar	2nd Bar	3rd Bar
1st World War	37,104	2,984	168	4
2nd World War	10,386	482	24	-
Korea	182	1	-	-

 

Ribbon
White with a central purple stripe.

 

Illustrative Awards:
WW1	WW1	WW2
Temp. 2nd Lt. (actg. Capt.)  James William Bell, Manch. R.	T./2nd Lt. Alfred Dunston Adams, Gen. List, attd. Bord. R.	Lt. W. Wormald 13th/18th Hussars
LG 18th July 1917	LG 14th September 1917
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion. He led a composite party, under severe artillery, machine gun and rifle fire, to attack a strong point, and, although wounded and driven back, he repeatedly renewed his attempts, and finally, unable to advance, he assumed a commanding position, in spite of heavy fire, opposite the strong point.	For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of an advanced post. He held it for a considerable time under heavy hostile fire of all descriptions, and in spite of many casualties. Being eventually compelled to retire, he carried out the operation very pluckily, and held his men together on the new line for thirty hours. He has previously displayed the utmost gallantry under fire, and has consistently set a splendid example to his men.	On the 6th June 1944, Lt. Wormald commanded a column of swimming tanks. The lowering point from which his column was launched was at a distance of 5,000 yards from the beaches. The sea was exceptionally rough and the beach enveloped in smoke. Under conditions of great danger and exceptional difficulty this Officer navigated his column with consummate skill and accuracy, pursuing an unswerving course through a continual hail of shell and mortar fire, until he reached the belt of mined obstructions. Threading his way through these he succeeded in touching down in a position from which with great rapidity he was able to bring most effective fire upon the enemy defences. Lt. Wormald's bold leadership and superb offensive spirit were largely responsible for maintaining the momentum of the assault force against the strong points on shore, and thereby assured the successful advance of the infantry to seize their objective.