View source for Flip City Wiki:Victoria Cross (Canada)

{{short description|Military decoration of Canada}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox military award
|name          = Victoria Cross
|image         = [[File:Victoria Cross of Canada.jpg|150px|alt=A bronze cross pattée bearing the crown of Saint Edward surmounted by a lion with the inscription Pro Valore. A crimson ribbon is attached]]
|caption       = The Canadian Victoria Cross, as appearing in a promotional photograph from the Canadian government, May 2008.
|presenter     = The [[monarch of Canada]]
|type          = [[Military decoration]]
|eligibility   = Members of the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] or an allied force serving with the Canadian Armed Forces on or after 1 January 1993.
|awarded_for   = The most conspicuous bravery, daring or pre-eminent acts of valour, self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.
|status        = Currently awarded
|description   = 
|clasps        =
|post-nominals = VC
|established   = 2 February 1993
|holder_label   = Created by
|holder         = [[Elizabeth II]]
|firstawarded   =
|lastawarded    =
|total_awarded  = 
|total_awarded_posthumously    =
|total_recipients    = 0
|individual    =
|higher        =
|same          =
|lower         = [[Cross of Valour (Canada)|Cross of Valour]] 
|image2        = [[File:Victoria Cross (Canada) ribbon bar.png|150px]]
|caption2      = [[Ribbon bar]] of the Victoria Cross
}}
The '''Victoria Cross''' (VC; {{lang-fr|Croix de Victoria}}) was created in 1993, perpetuating the lineage of the British [[Victoria Cross]], while serving as the highest award within the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada|Canadian honours system]], [[Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)|taking precedence over]] all other orders, decorations, and medals. It is awarded by either the [[Canadian monarch]] or his [[Viceroy|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 [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|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.

Whereas in many other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries the relevant version of the Victoria Cross can only be awarded for actions against the enemy in a wartime setting, the [[Canadian government]] has a broader definition of the term ''enemy''. In Canada, the Victoria Cross can be awarded for action against armed mutineers, pirates, or other such hostile forces without war being officially declared. Recipients are entitled to use the [[post-nominal letters]] ''VC'' (for both [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]]), but they do not receive an [[annuity (finance theory)|annuity]] for the award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/themes/defence/caf/militaryhistory/dhh/honours/military-valour-decorations-1993-2018.pdf |title=The Military Valour Decorations 1993-2018 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2018 |website=Government of Canada |publisher=Directorate of Honours and Recognition of the Department of National Defence |access-date=29 June 2024 |quote=The decorations [...] carry no monetary benefits. |quote-page=30}}</ref> The decoration has not been awarded since its inception.

==Origin==
{{further|Victoria Cross#Origin|List of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients}}
The original [[Victoria Cross]] was created by a [[Royal warrant (document)|Royal Warrant]] issued on 29 January 1856 with the [[royal sign-manual]] of [[Queen Victoria]], and was intended to recognize demonstrations of gallantry during the [[Crimean War]], regardless of either a man's social status or his record of service.<ref>{{Harvnb| Ashcroft| 2006| loc=Introduction}}</ref> Initially, the Victoria Cross could not be conferred on colonial troops,<ref name=vcfivetv>{{cite web| url=http://www.five.tv/programmes/victoriacross/| title=Victoria Cross Heroes| publisher=Channel 5| access-date=31 July 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102623/http://www.five.tv/programmes/victoriacross/| archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref> until Major [[Charles Heaphy]] received the medal for his actions while serving with a New Zealand militia unit in 1864.<ref>{{DNZB|Fitzgerald|Michael|1h14|Heaphy, Charles 1820&ndash;1881|4 April 2011}}</ref> After this, the Victoria Cross was made available to all "local forces under imperial command."<ref>{{Cite book| last=Standish| first=Michael Wordsworth| contribution=Heaphy, Charles| year=1966| title=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand| editor-last=McLintock| editor-first=A.H.| place=Wellington| publisher=Queen's Printer| url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/H/HeaphyCharles/HeaphyCharles/en| access-date=31 July 2009}}</ref> The cross could not be awarded posthumously but the policy was reversed in 1907.<ref name=vcfivetv /><ref>{{Harvnb| Reynolds| 2008| p=14}}</ref>

Until 1972, 81 members of the Canadian military (including those from [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]) and 13 Canadians serving in British units had been [[List of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients|awarded the Victoria Cross]].<ref>{{Harvnb| Reynolds| 2008| pp=14–15}}</ref> After that date, however, the Canadian honours system was overhauled, and the Victoria Cross was eliminated from the official [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada|list of honours]], instigating a decades-long debate on whether or not to reinstate the decoration. The [[Prime Minister of Canada|prime minister]] at the time, [[Pierre Trudeau]], regularly dodged questions about the Victoria Cross, stating only that Canadians should receive Canadian decorations.<ref>Campbell, Murray; Moore, Oliver (3 March 2007). "[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/top-honour-now-cast-in-canada/article680346/ Top honour now cast in Canada]". ''The Globe and Mail''.</ref> In 1987, prime minister [[Brian Mulroney]] set up a committee to look into the creation of a Canadian Victoria Cross as part of a new series of military honours.<ref>{{Cite book| last=Lochnan| first=Carl| contribution=Victoria Cross| title=The Canadian Encyclopedia| editor-last=Marsh| editor-first=James Harley| place=Toronto| publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada| url=http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008360| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050516072624/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008360| url-status=dead| archive-date=16 May 2005| access-date=31 July 2009}}</ref> Although the committee did not recommend the Victoria Cross—names such as the ''Canada Cross'' and the ''Cross of Military Valour'' were put forward<ref name=CMN /><ref>{{Harvnb| McCreery| 2005| p=}}</ref>—the creation of a [[Victoria Cross for Australia]] in 1991 and pressure from ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' and [[advocacy group]]s,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/about/medal_descriptions/gallantry.html| title=It's an Honour > Honours > Awards > A-Z of Awards > Victoria Cross for Australia| publisher=Australian Government| access-date=31 July 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926221431/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/about/medal_descriptions/gallantry.html| archive-date=26 September 2007| url-status=dead}}</ref> such as the [[Monarchist League of Canada]] and the [[Royal Canadian Legion]], forced the plans to be amended.<ref name=CMN>{{cite journal| last=Dundas| first=Charles| title=VC Not Presented at Vimy Commemoration| journal=Canadian Monarchist News| volume=Summer 2007| issue=26| page=3| publisher=Monarchist League of Canada| location=Toronto| year=2007| url=http://www.monarchist.ca/cmn/2007/Summer_2007_CMN.pdf| access-date=31 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625225416/http://www.monarchist.ca/cmn/2007/Summer_2007_CMN.pdf|archive-date=25 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| last=Jackson| first=Michael D.| title=Honours of the Crown| journal=Canadian Monarchist News| volume=Summer 2007| issue=26| page=11| publisher=Monarchist League of Canada| location=Toronto| year=2007| url=http://www.monarchist.ca/cmn/2007/Summer_2007_CMN.pdf| access-date=31 July 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080625225416/http://www.monarchist.ca/cmn/2007/Summer_2007_CMN.pdf |archive-date = 25 June 2008}}</ref> In 1991 a [[private member's bill]] received [[List of political parties in Canada|all-party support]] in the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]], following which the Victoria Cross, along with other Canadian military valour decorations, were on 31 December 1992 formally requested by Mulroney. The request was approved with the issue of [[letters patent]] by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] on 2 February of the following year, thereby ceasing Canadian dependence (except for those honours and awards in the personal gift of the Sovereign) on the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|British honours system]].<ref name=CFdescpage>{{cite web| url=http://www.forces.gc.ca/dhh/honours_awards/chart/engraph/chart_display_e.asp?cat=3&ref=VC |title=Canadian Forces page on the medal |publisher=Canadian Armed Forces |access-date=12 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517125635/http://www.forces.gc.ca/dhh/honours_awards/chart/engraph/chart_display_e.asp?cat=3&ref=VC |archive-date=2008-05-17}}</ref>

==Criteria==

The Victoria Cross is awarded for "the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty, in the presence of the enemy" at any point after 1 January 1993. It may be presented [[Posthumous recognition|posthumously]], and, like its British counterpart, can not be revoked.<ref name=CFdescpage /> The main distinction between the Victoria Cross and the [[Cross of Valour (Canada)|Cross of Valour]] is the specific reference to "the enemy",<ref name=Reynolds13>{{Harvnb| Reynolds| 2008| p=13}}</ref> which the Canadian government has defined as a force hostile towards the [[Monarchy of Canada|Canadian Crown]], including armed mutineers, rebels, rioters, and [[pirate]]s. This means that the [[King-in-Council]] does not officially have to declare war to give acknowledgement of the existence of a hostile force that fits the official description.<ref name=Reynolds38>{{Harvnb| Reynolds| 2008| p=38}}</ref> Thus, a Canadian serving as part of a [[peacekeeping]] operation is eligible to be awarded the Victoria Cross if the service member fulfils the above criteria.

In the case of a gallant and daring act having been performed by a squadron, ship's company, or detached body of individuals (such as a security detachment) in which all persons were deemed equally brave and deserving of the Victoria Cross, a ballot is to be drawn; the [[Officer (armed forces)#Commissioned officers|commissioned]] and [[Officer (armed forces)#Non-commissioned officers|non-commissioned officers]] each select one of their own, and the private soldiers or seamen select from amongst themselves two individuals.{{refn|Clause 13 of the original warrant constituting the Victoria Cross states: "It is ordained that in the event of a gallant and daring act having been performed by a squadron, ship's company, or detached body of seamen and marines not under fifty in number, or by a brigade, regiment, troop or company in which the admiral, general, or other officer commanding such forces may deem that all are equally brave and distinguished, and that no special selection can be made by them, then is such case the admiral, general, or other officer commanding, may direct that for any such body of seamen or marines, or for every troop or company of soldiers, one officer shall be selected by the officers engaged for the Decoration, and in like manner one petty officer or non-commissioned officer shall be selected by the petty officers and non-commissioned officers engaged, and two seamen or private soldiers or marines shall be selected by the seamen, or private soldiers, or marines engaged, respectively for the Decoration, and the names of those selected shall be transmitted by the senior officers in command of the Naval force, brigade, regiment, troop, or company, to the admiral or general officer commanding, who shall in due manner confer the Decoration as if the acts were done under his own eye."<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=21846|page=411|date=5 February 1856}} This issue contains official publication of the original warrant issued by [[Queen Victoria]]</ref>|group=n|name=Criteria}} This provision with modification is included in the current warrant but has not been used since the First World War.
 
The process of awarding the Victoria Cross may take place in two ways: One is through a recommendation by the Decorations and Commendations Advisory Committee,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Department of National Defence |author-link=Department of National Defence (Canada) |title=The Honours, Flags and Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces |place=Ottawa |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada |date=30 January 2004 |pages=2–2–6 |edition=2 |url=http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/Downloads/cfp200.pdf |id=A-AD-200-000/AG-000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210202430/http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/Downloads/cfp200.pdf |archive-date=10 December 2008 |access-date=8 October 2013 }}</ref> which is a part of the [[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of National Defence]] and has six members, one appointed by the governor general and the rest by the [[chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)|chief of the Defence Staff]]. Alternatively, a field commander can submit a name for consideration, though permission must be obtained from the governor general before the award can be presented. Recipients are entitled to receive an annuity from the federal [[Canadian Crown]]; per the Canadian gallantry awards order issued in January 2005, members of the Canadian Armed Forces or those who joined the [[British Armed Forces|British forces]] while domiciled in Canada or Newfoundland prior to 31 March 1949, after receiving the Victoria Cross, be granted {{CAD|3,000}} each year.<ref>{{Cite book| last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| date=1 August 1990| title=Gallantry Awards Order| series=2, 4.1.a| location=Ottawa| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada}}</ref> Previously, Canadians who were posthumously awarded the British Victoria Cross were given special headstones at their burial sites in [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission|Commonwealth War Graves]] and other cemeteries.<ref name=Reynolds13 />
[[File:Unknown Soldier.jpg|thumb|left|Close-up of the [[Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]]|alt=A granite tomb engraved with ''The Unknown Soldier'' on the side; a bronze relief sculpture is atop the sarcophagus]]

To date, no Canadian Victoria Cross has been conferred; [[Smokey Smith]], who died in 2005, was the last living Canadian recipient of the imperial Victoria Cross, personally receiving it from King [[George VI]] at Buckingham Palace in December 1944. The last action that resulted in a Canadian being awarded the Victoria Cross was to Lieutenant [[Robert Hampton Gray]] for gallantry on 9 August 1945, at [[Onagawa, Miyagi|Onagawa Bay]], [[Miyagi Prefecture]], Japan. The award was posthumously gazetted on 13 November 1945 although in the following five months, three additional awards to Canadians were gazetted for actions in 1941, 1942 and February 1945. Prior to Queen Elizabeth II's re-dedication of the [[Vimy Memorial]] on 7 April 2007, there was speculation she would present a Canadian Victoria Cross to her then-prime minister, [[Stephen Harper]], offering it in recognition of the gallantry of the [[Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier|Unknown Soldier]], as representative of all Canada's casualties of combat.<ref>{{cite news| title=Top military honour now cast in Canada| publisher=CTV| date=3 March 2007| url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/top-military-honour-now-cast-in-canada-report-1.231701| access-date=12 July 2007| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305201815/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070303/victoria_cross_070303/20070303| archive-date=5 March 2007}}</ref> The proposal was met with a mixed response from members of the Royal Canadian Legion and Canadian Armed Forces, detractors feeling that the Unknown Soldier should not be elevated above his other comrades killed in war. It had also been agreed at the time of the Unknown Soldier's repatriation that no award or decoration would be bestowed on the remains.<ref>{{Cite news| last=Teotonio| first=Isabel| title=Vets irate at Victoria Cross proposal| newspaper=Toronto Star| date=7 March 2007| url=https://www.thestar.com/article/189029| access-date=7 December 2007}}</ref> No decision was taken about the awarding of the Victoria Cross to the Unknown Soldier.<ref>{{cite news |title=No decision yet on Victoria Cross award: PM |date=2007-03-06 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/no-decision-yet-on-victoria-cross-award-pm-1.689275 |work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC News]]|access-date=8 November 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070316152932/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/03/06/victoria-cross.html |archive-date=16 March 2007 }}</ref>

Near the end of [[Canada's role in the Afghanistan War]], concerns were raised about the stringency of the criteria that needed to be met to receive the Victoria Cross. Other countries with a Victoria Cross had awarded it numerous times since the end of the Second World War, some members of the Australian, New Zealand, and British armed forces receiving the decoration for their actions during the Afghan and Iraq wars of the 2000s. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces questioned why some actions by Canadians were deemed worthy only of the [[Star of Military Valour]]; citations for individuals who had received the imperial Victoria Cross during the First World War were very similar to those for Canadians who were presented with the Star of Military Valour during the war in Afghanistan. This led then Chief of the Defence Staff, [[Walter Natynczyk]], to create a special committee to review the matter. The Department of National Defence's Directorate of Honours and Recognition explained concepts of war had changed since the mid-20th century and Canada had also developed a more elaborate honours system.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://globalnews.ca/news/306455/canadas-war-in-afghanistan-may-go-without-highest-battle-honour/| last=Brewster| first=Murray| title=Canada's war in Afghanistan may go without highest battle honour| date=7 November 2012| publisher=Global News| access-date=12 November 2014}}</ref>

Beginning in 2021, a campaign was launched to award [[Jess Larochelle]] the medal, upgrading his [[Star of Military Valour]]. To date the campaign has been unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/soldier-victoria-cross-canada-1.6954450|title=Soldier praised for heroism in Afghanistan dies|work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC News]]|first=Murray|last=Brewster|date =1 September 2023|accessdate=29 November 2023}}</ref>

==Appearance and display==
[[File:Victoria Cross of Canada (Second award).jpg|thumb|The Victoria Cross of Canada, shown with a [[medal bar]] indicating a second award|alt=A bronze cross pattée bearing the crown of Saint Edward surmounted by a lion with the inscription Pro Valore. A Bar crosses the crimson ribbon attached to the medal.]]
The design of the Canadian medal is derived from that of the British original, which was the creation of [[Albert, Prince Consort]],<ref name=DNDVC>{{cite web| url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/gal/vcg-gcv/index-eng.asp| last=Department of National Defence| author-link=Department of National Defence (Canada)| title=Victoria Cross| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=4 August 2009| archive-date=6 February 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206151837/http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/gal/vcg-gcv/index-eng.asp| url-status=dead}}</ref> [[List of Canadian monarchs#List of royal consorts of Canada|royal consort]] to Queen Victoria. Canada's Victoria Cross is thus a [[Cross pattée|cross ''pattée'']] with straight arms, {{convert|38|mm|in}} across in each direction, and made out of [[bronze]] coloured [[alloy]], the obverse bearing a lion crowned and statant guardant, similar to that which forms the [[Crest (heraldry)|crest]] of the [[Arms of Canada|Royal Arms of Canada]], standing upon a representation of [[St Edward's Crown|St. Edward's Crown]], which itself rests above a semi-circular scroll. On the reverse is a raised circle for engraving the date of the act of gallantry along with the name, rank, and unit of the recipient.<ref name=DNDVC /> The medal is suspended from a link forming the letter ''V'' attached to a bar adorned on the front with [[Bay laurel|laurel]] leaves, and on the reverse with the name, rank, and unit of the medal's recipient,<ref name=Reynolds38 /> all cast in the same metal as the medal. The ribbon, also {{Nowrap|38 mm}} wide, is solid [[crimson]] in colour.<ref>{{Harvnb| Ashcroft| 2006| p=16}}</ref> [[Cathy Bursey-Sabourin]], [[Fraser Herald]] of the [[Canadian Heraldic Authority]], and [[Bruce W. Beatty]], however, made certain modifications for the Canadian Victoria Cross, the most notable being the inclusion of Canadian flora as decoration and the alteration of the inscription on the scroll from ''FOR VALOUR'' to the [[Latin]] translation, ''PRO VALORE'',<ref name=DNDVC /> so as to accommodate [[Official bilingualism in Canada|Canada's two official languages]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=4431 |last=Noppe |first=David |title=Canadian Victoria Cross unveiled |publisher=National Defence and the Canadian Forces |date=May 2008 |access-date=30 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609135459/http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=4431 |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref> In 2008, [[Citizens for a Canadian Republic]]'s leader, Tom Freda, publicly objected to the decoration's name and appearance, with what he saw as its "objectionable colonial symbolism," royal iconography, and a shape offensive to Muslims and Jews.<ref>{{Citation| last=Freda| first=Tom| title=Hanging on to Victoria's cross| newspaper=Ottawa Citizen| date=25 May 2008| url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/views/story.html?id=270a2741-7222-4a1e-9c43-9228b2442ee5#Comments| access-date=8 August 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418053542/http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/views/story.html?id=270a2741-7222-4a1e-9c43-9228b2442ee5#Comments| archive-date=18 April 2010}}</ref>

With [[Canada's role in the invasion of Afghanistan|Canada at war]] for the first time since its version of the Victoria Cross was created, preparations for a physical cast of the medal were initiated in 2006, when a committee called the Victoria Cross Production Planning Group was formed under the leadership of the Chancellery of Honours at [[Rideau Hall]]. It originally consisted of representatives from the [[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of National Defence]], [[Veterans Affairs Canada]], and the Office of the [[Secretary to the Governor General of Canada]], and the group later expanded to include individuals from the [[Department of Canadian Heritage]], [[Natural Resources Canada]], and the [[Royal Canadian Mint]],<ref name=Reynolds38 /> with assistance provided by the Queen and the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|British Ministry of Defence]].<ref name=Reynolds43>{{Harvnb| Reynolds| 2008 | p=43}}</ref> Following their research and deliberations, the first Victoria Cross decoration was struck in 2007, as confirmed by [[Herald Chancellor of Canada|Deputy Herald Chancellor]] Emmanuelle Sajous,<ref name=CMN /> and the medal was officially released to the public on 16 May 2008 by Governor General [[Michaëlle Jean]] at Rideau Hall.<ref>{{Cite news| last=El Akkad| first=Omar| title=Canadian Victoria Cross unveiled| newspaper=The Globe and Mail| date=17 May 2008| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-victoria-cross-unveiled/article17986091/| access-date=17 May 2008}}</ref> It was one of 20 cast, each of which is composed of three groupings of metals: that of a [[Russian Empire|Russian]] cannon captured at the [[Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855)|siege of Sevastopol]] (1854&ndash;1855), donated by Queen Elizabeth II; a Confederation Medal, created to mark [[Canadian Confederation|Canada's confederation]] in 1867; and a selection of metals from each of [[List of regions of Canada|Canada's regions]].{{refn|According to [[Natural Resources Canada]]: "All British and Commonwealth Victoria Crosses reputedly include metal from a cannon captured during the Crimean War (1854–1856). The Canadian Victoria Cross also includes metal from the same cannon, as does one of Canada's Confederation Medals, produced in 1867. To reflect Canada's rich resource-based industries, commercially-made copper and other metals from Canadian sources were used. This was supplemented with naturally occurring copper from NRCan and private collections, representing all regions of Canada."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/backprecis-eng.php| last=Natural Resources Canada| author-link=Natural Resources Canada| title=Canadian Victorian Cross| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| date=30 December 2008| access-date=4 August 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515091559/http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/backprecis-eng.php| archive-date=15 May 2009}}</ref> The traditional explanation of the source of the gunmetal has been cast in doubt by the research of [[John Glanfield]], which suggested a variety of origins for the British medals' materials.<ref name=Glanfield>{{Cite news| last=Davies| first=Catronia| title=Author explodes myth of the gunmetal VC| newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London| date=28 December 2005| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1506463/Author-explodes-myth-of-the-gunmetal-VC.html| access-date=16 June 2007}}</ref>|group=n|name=Metal}}<ref>{{Harvnb| Reynolds| 2008| p=39}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| last=Noppe| first=Dave| title=Canadian Victoria Cross unveiled| journal=The Maple Leaf| volume=11| issue=20| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| location=Ottawa| date=28 May 2008| url=http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=4431| access-date=4 August 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609135459/http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=4431| archive-date=9 June 2011}}</ref> These were [[Casting|cast]], rather than struck, continuing the tradition started in the United Kingdom when it was found the metal alloy was too brittle for striking,<ref name=Reynolds40>{{Harvnb| Reynolds|2008| p=40}}</ref> and finished at the Royal Canadian Mint. The first two were sent to [[Buckingham Palace]] for addition to the British [[Royal Collection]] and other specimens were kept as part of the [[Crown Collection]] at Rideau Hall, as well as at the Department of National Defence, [[Library and Archives Canada]], and the [[Canadian War Museum]].<ref name=Reynolds43 />

As the apex of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada|Canadian system of honours]], the Victoria Cross is to be worn before all other Canadian decorations and insignia of orders, including the [[Order of Merit]] and the [[Order of Canada]]. It is worn as a medal, suspended from a medal bar on the left chest, unless protocol calls for a ribbon bar, which consists of a crimson ribbon with a miniature bronze Victoria Cross at its centre. Should an individual receive multiple awards of the Victoria Cross, additional bronze medal bars are added to the ribbon and further miniatures are placed evenly on the ribbon bar, reflecting the number of crosses the wearer has earned.<ref name=CFdescpage />

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="n"}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book| last=Ashcroft| first=Michael| author-link=Michael Ashcroft| title=Victoria Cross Heroes| publisher=Headline Book Publishing| location=London| page=[https://archive.org/details/victoriacrossher0000ashc/page/ Introduction]| isbn=0-7553-1632-0| year=2006| url=https://archive.org/details/victoriacrossher0000ashc/page/}}
* {{cite book| last=McCreery| first=Christopher| author-link=Christopher McCreery| title=The Canadian Honours System| location=Toronto| publisher=Dundurn Press| isbn=978-1-55002-554-5| year=2005}}
* {{Cite book| last=Reynolds| first=Ken| title=Pro Valore: Canada's Victoria Cross| place=Ottawa| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| edition=2| url=https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/themes/defence/caf/militaryhistory/dhh/popular/victoria-cross.pdf| access-date=27 June 2022| year=2008}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada#Further reading|l1=Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada > Further reading}}
* {{cite book| last=Beharry| first=Johnson| author-link=Johnson Beharry| title=Barefoot Soldier| publisher=Crystalline Sphere Publishing| location=Waterloo| year=2006| isbn=0-316-73321-0}}
* {{cite book| last=Bishop| first=William Arthur| title=Our Bravest and Our Best: The Stories of Canada's Victoria Cross Winners| publisher=McGraw-Hill Ryerson| year=1995| location=Toronto| isbn=978-0-07-552619-3}}
* {{cite book| last=Boileau| first=John| title=Valiant Hearts: Atlantic Canada and the Victoria Cross| publisher=Nimbus Publishing|location=Halifax, Nova Scotia |year=2005| isbn=978-1-55109-548-6}}
* {{cite book| last=Halliday| first=Hugh| title=Valour Reconsidered: Inquiries into the Victoria Cross and Other Awards for Extreme Bravery| publisher=Robin Brass Studio| year=2006| location=Toronto| isbn=978-1-896941-47-9| url-access=registration| url=https://archive.org/details/valourreconsider0000hall}}
* {{cite book| last=Machum| first=George C.| title=Canada's V.C.s: The Story of Canadians who have been Awarded the Victoria Cross| publisher=McClelland and Stewart| year=1956| location=Toronto |oclc=421841304}}
* {{cite book| last=Swettenham| first=John| title=Valiant Men: Canada's Victoria Cross and George Cross Winners| publisher=Hakkert| year=1973| location=Toronto| isbn=978-0-88866-525-6}}

==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Victoria Cross (Canada)-article.ogg|date=2021-06-28}}
* [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/medals/medals-chart-index/victoria-cross-vc.html Canada's Victoria Cross]

{{Portal|Canada}}

{{Victoria Cross recipients}}
{{Highest Awards for gallantry}}
{{Canadian Honours System}}
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[[Category:Victoria Cross| ]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1993]]
[[Category:Military awards and decorations of Canada]]
[[Category:Courage awards]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Canada]]