George Cross

The George Cross (GC) is the second highest award of the United Kingdom honours system. It is awarded 'for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger'. It is for acts not in the presence of the enemy to members of the British armed forces and to British civilians. It has been awarded posthumously since it was instituted. It was previously awarded to Commonwealth countries, most of which have established their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians including police, emergency services and merchant seamen. Many of the awards have been personally presented by the British monarch to both recipients and in the case of posthumous awards to next of kin. These investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.
Awarded by Commonwealth realms
Type Civil decoration
Eligibility Commonwealth subjects
Awarded for "... acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger."
Status Currently awarded
Description Height 48 mm, max. width 45 mm; (Obverse) plain silver cross with circular medallion in the centre depicting the effigy of St. George and the Dragon, surrounded by the words "FOR GALLANTRY". In the angle of each limb is the Royal Cypher GVI; (Reverse) plain, centre engraved with name of recipient and date of award. Cross attached by ring to bar ornamented with laurel leaves, through which the ribbon passes.
Post-nominals GC
Statistics
Established 24 September 1940
Last awarded 16 June 2017 (gazetted)
Total awarded 408 (including 2 collective awards)
Posthumous
awards 90 (including 4 former EGM recipients)
Distinct
recipients 408 (including 2 collective awards)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cross