Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) is a second level military decoration of the British Armed Forces. Created in 1993 and first awarded in 1995, it was instituted after a review of the British honours system to remove distinctions of rank in the awarding of gallantry decorations. The Victoria Cross is the only higher combat gallantry award presented by the United Kingdom.[4]

Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Obverse of the medal. Ribbon: 32 mm, white with blue edges and a red central stripe
Awarded by Monarch of the United Kingdom
CountryUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
TypeMilitary decoration
EligibilityBritish and allied forces
Awarded for... an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.[1]
StatusCurrently awarded
Description36mm max width; silver cross patée imposed on a wreath of laurel, with the Royal Crown in a circular panel in the centre. Suspended by a ring from a plain suspension bar
Statistics
EstablishedOctober 1993
First awarded1995
Total awarded61 including one unit award
Posthumous
awards		3
Order of Wear
Next (higher)Member of the Order of the British Empire[2]
Next (lower)Royal Red Cross, First Class[2][3]

CGC ribbon bar

History

The CGC was instituted in the aftermath of the 1993 review of the honours system. As part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the CGC replaced both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Army) and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Naval and Air) as second level awards to other ranks and ratings. The CGC also replaced the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), in its role as an award to officers for gallantry. The DSO was retained as an award for outstanding leadership. The CGC now serves as the second level award for gallantry for all ranks across the whole armed forces.

Eligibility

The CGC which may be awarded posthumously, is awarded "in recognition of an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy". All ranks of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, and Royal Air Force may be awarded the CGC in recognition of qualifying acts of gallantry.[4] Bars are awarded to the CGC in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. When the ribbon bar alone is worn, a silver rosette on the ribbon indicates the award of a bar.[5] Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters CGC.[6]

Appearance
The CGC (left) as worn on a dress uniform with campaign medals. The medals shown are those awarded to Lance Corporal of Horse Andrew Radford, CGC.

The medal is in the shape of a cross pattée in silver. Arranged behind the cross, visible between the arms is a laurel wreath. On the obverse of the medal, the circular medallion in the centre depicts St. Edward's crown. The reverse is plain which allows room for the engraving of the rank, name, and unit of its recipient. The award date is also engraved on the reverse of the medal. The medal is suspended by a white ribbon with two narrow dark blue stripes at the edge and one centre stripe in crimson.[4]

Recipients

To date, there have been about 60 awards of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, including three posthumous and one unit award. No second award bars have been awarded.
The following is a full list of recipients who have been Gazetted to date.

NameRankServiceDate award announcedPlace
Mills, Wayne[7]CorporalDuke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)9 May 1995Bosnia and Herzegovina
Humphreys, Peter[8]Colour SergeantRoyal Welch Fusiliers9 May 1996Bosnia and Herzegovina
Baycroft, John David, MBE[9]Colour SergeantParachute Regiment6 April 2001Sierra Leone (Operation Barras)
MacFarlane, Iain James McKechnie[10]Squadron LeaderRoyal Air Force6 April 2001Sierra Leone (Operation Barras)
Day, Tony Kenneth[11]CorporalRoyal Marines29 October 2002Afghanistan
Merchant, Jeremy Mark[11]CaptainRoyal Marines29 October 2002Afghanistan
Hearne, Karl Anthony[9]CorporalParachute Regiment29 October 2002Afghanistan
Sanders, Edward Lawrence[11]PrivateParachute Regiment29 October 2002Afghanistan
Thomas, Justin Royston[12]MarineRoyal Marines31 October 2003Iraq
Flynn, Michael John[12]Lance Corporal of HorseBlues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)31 October 2003Iraq
Jardine, Shaun Garry[13]CorporalKing's Own Scottish Borderers23 April 2004Iraq
Robertson, Gordon[13]SergeantParachute Regiment23 April 2004Iraq
Greensmith, Benjamin Paul[14]CorporalParachute Regiment7 March 2008Iraq
Broome, Christopher Mark[15]SergeantPrincess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)18 March 2005Iraq
Bryan, Terry[15]SergeantRoyal Artillery18 March 2005Iraq
Thomson, Terence Alan[15]CorporalPrincess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)18 March 2005Iraq
Tomlinson, Matthew Robert[16]Colour SergeantRoyal Marines24 March 2006Iraq
Radford, Andrew[17]Lance Corporal of HorseLife Guards14 December 2006Afghanistan
Collins, John[18]CorporalParachute Regiment14 December 2006Iraq
Harkess, James Royce[18]Colour SergeantWorcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot)14 December 2006Iraq
Farmer, Hugo[17]LieutenantParachute Regiment14 December 2006Afghanistan
Illingworth, Timothy[17]Acting CaptainLight Infantry14 December 2006Afghanistan
Unit award[19]Royal Irish Regiment/Ulster Defence Regiment19 December 2006Northern Ireland
Thompson, John Thomas[20]CorporalRoyal Marines19 July 2007Afghanistan
Hollingsworth, Jonathan Stuart,[21] QGMSergeantParachute Regiment19 July 2007Iraq (posthumous)
Campbell, Donald Peter[22]Acting CorporalRoyal Engineers7 March 2008Afghanistan
Cupples, Simon Timothy[22]LieutenantMercian Regiment7 March 2008Afghanistan
Willmott, Paul Darren[22]PrivateMercian Regiment7 March 2008Afghanistan
Miller, Adam William[23]CorporalRoyal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers7 March 2008Iraq
Wadsworth, James Anthony[23]Staff SergeantRoyal Logistic Corps7 March 2008Iraq
McClurg, Robert William Kerr[24]CorporalRoyal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)6 March 2009Afghanistan
Stevens, Alwyn John[24]Acting SergeantRoyal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)6 March 2009Afghanistan
Toge, Jone Bruce[24]Lance CorporalRoyal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)6 March 2009Afghanistan
Durber, Leonard John[25]Colour SergeantParachute Regiment6 March 2009Iraq
Malone, Bradley[26]Acting CorporalRoyal Marines11 September 2009Afghanistan
Nethery, Steven[27]MarineRoyal Marines11 September 2009Afghanistan
Dennis, Alan Gordon[28]SergeantMercian Regiment19 March 2010Afghanistan
Gadsby, Stephen William[28]GunnerRoyal Artillery19 March 2010Afghanistan
Giles, Marc Kevin[28]SergeantMercian Regiment19 March 2010Afghanistan
Moncho, Jaime[28]Sergeant[29]The Rifles19 March 2010Afghanistan
Prout, Gary[28]Lance BombardierRoyal Artillery19 March 2010Afghanistan
Smith, Kyle Patrick[28]Lance CorporalMercian Regiment19 March 2010Afghanistan
Turner, Robert[30]SergeantRoyal Marines24 September 2010Afghanistan
Bourne-Taylor, Robin Edwin Geoffrey[30]CaptainLife Guards24 September 2010Afghanistan
Brownson, Lee[30]CorporalThe Rifles24 September 2010Afghanistan (posthumous)
Horn, Graham Stuart[30]Lance CorporalParachute Regiment24 September 2010Afghanistan
McKie, James Lee[30]Lance CorporalThe Rifles24 September 2010Afghanistan
Pun, Dip Prasad[31]Acting SergeantRoyal Gurkha Rifles25 March 2011Afghanistan
Jackson, Mark Anthony[31]MarineRoyal Marines25 March 2011Afghanistan
Stephens, Seth Vincent Scott[31]CorporalRoyal Marines25 March 2011Afghanistan (posthumous)
Cutterham, Deacon[32]SergeantThe Rifles23 March 2012Afghanistan
Wright-Hider, Simon[32]CorporalRoyal Marines23 March 2012Afghanistan
Couzens, Scott Allan[33]Staff SergeantParachute Regiment28 September 2012Afghanistan
Fort, Jay
 Corporal Parachute Regiment 30 September 2012 Afghanistan
Glancy, James Alexander[34]CaptainRoyal Marines22 March 2013Afghanistan
Mason, Luke Timothy John[34]LieutenantYorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)22 March 2013Afghanistan
Davis, Owen Edward[35]LieutenantRoyal Marines4 October 2013Afghanistan
Griffiths, Josh Edward Hayden[35]CorporalMercian Regiment4 October 2013Afghanistan
Steel, Gareth David[35]PrivateParachute Regiment4 October 2013Afghanistan
Stazicker, Anthony[36]CorporalRoyal Marines21 March 2014Afghanistan
Moloney, Simon George[36]Lance CorporalBlues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)21 March 2014Afghanistan
Anonymous[37] Unknown Special Air Service 30 November 2019 Kenya

See also

Notes
  1. "Military Honours and Awards". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2006.
  2. "JSP 761 Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces" (PDF). p. 12A-1. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  3. "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3351.
  4. "Conspicuous Gallantry Cross". MOD Medal Office. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  5. Online Medals: Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, (Accessed 8 June 2018).
  6. "Honours & Gallantry Awards". mod.uk/. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  7. "No. 54028". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 May 1995. p. 6612.
  8. "No. 54393". The London Gazette. 9 May 1996. p. 6547.
  9. "No. 57936". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 March 2006. p. 4197.
  10. "No. 57751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 September 2005. p. 11648.
  11. "No. 57588". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 2005. p. 3378.
  12. "No. 57100". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 October 2003. p. 4.
  13. "No. 57269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 April 2004. p. 5132.
  14. "No. 58633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2008. p. 3619.
  15. "No. 57588". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 2005. p. 3374.
  16. "No. 57936". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 March 2006. p. 4195.
  17. "No. 58183". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 December 2006. p. 17357.
  18. "No. 58183". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 December 2006. p. 17359.
  19. It is the first and only time an individual gallantry award has been awarded to a military unit. Unlike the 1942 George Cross to Malta and the 1999 George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the award to The Royal Irish Regiment was gazetted. See: "No. 58186". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 December 2006. p. 17495.
  20. "No. 58396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2007. p. 10411.
  21. "No. 58396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2007. p. 10413.
  22. "No. 58633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2008. p. 3613.
  23. "No. 58633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2008. p. 3615.
  24. "No. 58999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 March 2009. p. 4082.
  25. "No. 58999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 March 2009. p. 4085.
  26. "No. 59211". The London Gazette. 13 October 2009. p. 17559.
  27. "No. 59182". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 2009. p. 15640.
  28. "No. 59366". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 March 2010. p. 4834.
  29. Spelling is correct: this form is used by The Rifles.
  30. "No. 59554". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 September 2010. p. 18536.
  31. >"No. 59737". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 March 2011. p. 5640.
  32. "No. 60095". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 2012. p. 5848.
  33. "No. 60283". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 September 2012. p. 18624.
  34. "No. 60456". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 March 2013. p. 5738.
  35. "Operational Honours and Awards List: 4 October 2013 – News stories – GOV.UK".
  36. "No. 60813". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 March 2014. p. 5836.
  37. "SAS Hero Who Secured Kenyan Hotel To Receive Top Award". Forces Network. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.

References
  • Mackay, J and Mussell, J (eds) – Medal Yearbook – 2007, (2006), Token Publishing, Honiton, Devon
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