The men of all the army and the fleet, The very bravest of the very brave, Linesman and Lord--these fought with equal feet Firm-planted on the grave.
The men who, setting light their blood and breath, So they might win a victor’s haught renown, Held their steel straight against the face of Death, And frowned his frowning down.
And some who climbed the deadly glacis-side, For all that steel could stay, or savage shell; And some, whose blood upon the Colours dried Tells if they bore them well.
Some, too, who, gentle-hearted even in strife, Seeing their fellow or their friend go down, Saved his, at peril of their own dear life, Winning the Civic Crown.
Well done for them; and, fair Isle, well for thee! While that thy bosom beareth sons like those, “_The little gem set in the silver sea_” Shall never fear her foes!
THE ORIGIN OF THE VICTORIA CROSS AND THE FIRST PRESENTATION.
Every nation loves to honour the brave deeds of her sons. We know how in olden times this was done, how the Romans conferred a “Civic Crown” upon the hero who saved a citizen’s life, and inscribed his name in letters of gold upon the marble wall in the Capitol. In these modern days it is the custom to bestow a medal or similar decoration upon the bravest of the brave, as a public mark of appreciation of their heroism.
So Russia has its Order of St. George, which is conferred solely for exceptional gallantry on the field of battle; Austria its Order of Maria Theresa (so exclusive that there are not more than twenty living possessors of its Cross); Prussia its Order “Pour le Mérite”; France its Legion of Honour and War Medal; and the United States a “Medal of Honour” which carries no privileges and confers no rank on the bearer, and which, curiously enough, is sent to the recipient through the post.
Great Britain’s symbol of the grand democracy of valour is a little Maltese cross of bronze, insignificant to look at beside many a more showy medal, and intrinsically worth only fourpence halfpenny, but the most coveted decoration of all that our soldiers and sailors can aspire to.
Somewhat reminiscent of a badge awarded to the 28th Regiment after the siege of Badajoz in the Peninsular War,--a badge which bore a crown, a star, and the letters V.S., signifying “Valiant Stormer,”--the Victoria Cross is adorned with a crown surmounted by a lion, and a scroll bearing the simple inscription “For Valour.” On the reverse side of the medal is given the date or dates of the act of bravery for which it has been awarded, while the name of the recipient is inscribed at the back of the bar to which it is attached by a V. The Cross, which is cast from cannon that were taken at Sebastopol, is suspended from its wearer’s left breast by a piece of ribbon, blue for the Navy and crimson for the Army.