View source for Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

{{Short description|British military award}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox military award
|name= Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
|image=Conspicuous Gallantry Cross obverse.jpg
|image_size=150px
|caption= Obverse of the medal. Ribbon: 32 mm, white with blue edges and a red central stripe
|presenter=[[Monarch of the United Kingdom]]
|country= United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|type= Military decoration
|eligibility= British and allied forces
|awarded_for= ''... an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.operations.mod.uk/honours/honours.htm |title=Military Honours and Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210734/http://www.operations.mod.uk/honours/honours.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=10 October 2006}}</ref>
|campaign=
|status= active
|description= 36{{nbsp}}mm 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.
|clasps=
|established= October 1993
|firstawarded= 1995
|lastawarded= <!--still awarded-->
|total_awarded= 61 including one unit award
|total_awarded_posthumously= 3
|total_recipients= 
|individual=
|precedence_label=Order of Wear
|higher= [[Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]] (MBE)<ref name=LG2019>{{cite web|title=The London Gazette, Order of Wear|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62529/supplement/326 |page=326 |access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref>
|lower= [[Distinguished Conduct Medal ]]<ref name=LG2019>{{cite web|title=The London Gazette, Order of Wear|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62529/supplement/326 |page=326 |access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref>
|image2=[[File:UK Conspicuous Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|100px]]
|caption2=CGC ribbon bar
}}
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.<ref name=MoDMedalOffice>{{cite web|title=Conspicuous Gallantry Cross |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/ConspicuousGallantryCross.htm |work=MOD Medal Office |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=10 November 2011}}</ref>

==History==
The CGC was instituted in the aftermath of [[1993 reviews of the British honours system|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 (UK)|other ranks]] and [[Naval rating|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. It was designed and sculpted by [[Michael Rizzello]] for the Royal Mint.

==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.<ref name=MoDMedalOffice/> 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.<ref>[http://www.onlinemedals.co.uk/medal-encyclopaedia/other-medals/conspicuous-gallantry-cross Online Medals: Conspicuous Gallantry Cross], (Accessed 8 June 2018).</ref> Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters '''CGC'''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Honours & Gallantry Awards |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/HonoursAndGallantryAwards.htm |work=mod.uk/ |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=10 November 2011}}</ref>

==Appearance==
[[File:A Soldier Proudly Holds His Medals MOD 45153192.jpg|thumb|left|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 and reverse|obverse]] of the medal, the circular medallion in the centre depicts the [[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.<ref name=MoDMedalOffice/>

{{clr}}

==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.<br>
The following is a full list of recipients who have been Gazetted to date.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!
!
!
!
!
|-
! Name !! Rank !! Service !! Date award announced !! Place
|-
|[[Wayne Mills (British Army soldier)|Mills, Wayne]]<ref name="5 May 1995">{{London Gazette |issue=54028 |date=5 May 1995 |page=6612 |supp=y }}</ref> ||[[Corporal]] ||[[Duke of Wellington's Regiment|Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)]] ||9 May 1995 ||[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
|-
|Humphreys, Peter<ref name="LG 9 May 1996">{{London Gazette |issue=54393 |date=9 May 1996 |page=6547}}</ref> ||[[Colour Sergeant]] ||[[Royal Welch Fusiliers]] ||9 May 1996 ||Bosnia and Herzegovina
|-
|<ref>James Harvey</ref>Harvey,James
|Petty Officer
|Royal Navy
|11 Feb 2000
|Great Britain
|-
|Baycroft, John David, [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]]<ref name="24 March 2006">{{London Gazette |issue=57936 |date=24 March 2006 |page=4197 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Colour Sergeant  ||[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]] ||6 April 2001 ||[[Sierra Leone]] ([[Operation Barras]])
|-
|MacFarlane, Iain James McKechnie<ref name="9 September 2005">{{London Gazette |issue=57751 |date=9 September 2005 |page=11648 |supp=y }}</ref> || [[Squadron Leader]]||[[Royal Air Force]] ||6 April 2001 ||Sierra Leone (Operation Barras)
|-
|Day, Tony Kenneth<ref name="18 March 2005 p 3378">{{London Gazette |issue=57588 |date=18 March 2005 |page=3378 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Corporal ||[[Royal Marines]] ||29 October 2002 ||[[Afghanistan]]
|-
|Merchant, Jeremy Mark<ref name="18 March 2005 p 3378"/> ||[[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|Captain]] ||Royal Marines ||29 October 2002 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Hearne, Karl Anthony<ref name="24 March 2006"/> ||Corporal ||  Parachute Regiment ||29 October 2002 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Sanders, Edward Lawrence<ref name="18 March 2005 p 3378"/> ||[[Private (rank)|Private]] ||  Parachute Regiment ||29 October 2002 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Thomas, Justin Royston<ref name="31 October 2003">{{London Gazette |issue=57100 |date=31 October 2003 |page=4 |supp=y }}</ref> ||[[Royal Marines|Marine]] ||Royal Marines ||31 October 2003 ||[[Iraq]]
|-
|[[Michael John Flynn|Flynn, Michael John]]<ref name="31 October 2003"/>||[[Lance Corporal of Horse]] ||[[Blues and Royals|Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)]] ||31 October 2003 ||Iraq
|-
|Jardine, Shaun Garry<ref name="23 April 2004">{{London Gazette |issue=57269 |date=23 April 2004 |page=5132 |supp=y }}</ref>  ||Corporal ||[[King's Own Scottish Borderers]] ||23 April 2004 ||Iraq
|-
|Robertson, Gordon<ref name="23 April 2004"/> ||[[Sergeant]] ||[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]]||23 April 2004 ||Iraq
|-
|Greensmith, Benjamin Paul<ref name="LG 7 March 2008 p 3619">{{London Gazette |issue=58633 |date=7 March 2008 |page=3619 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Corporal ||  Parachute Regiment||7 March 2008 ||Iraq
|-
|Broome, Christopher Mark<ref name="18 March 2005">{{London Gazette |issue=57588 |date=18 March 2005 |page=3374 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Sergeant ||[[Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment|Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)]] ||18 March 2005 ||Iraq
|-
|Bryan, Terry<ref name="18 March 2005"/> ||Sergeant ||[[Royal Artillery]] ||18 March 2005 ||Iraq
|-
|Thomson, Terence Alan<ref name="18 March 2005"/> ||Corporal ||[[Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment|Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)]]||18 March 2005 ||Iraq
|-
|Tomlinson, Matthew Robert<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=57936 |date=24 March 2006 |page=4195 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Colour Sergeant ||[[Royal Marines]]||24 March 2006 ||Iraq
|-
|Radford, Andrew<ref name="LG 15 December 2006">{{London Gazette |issue=58183 |date=15 December 2006 |page=17357 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Lance Corporal of Horse ||[[Life Guards (British Army)|Life Guards]] ||14 December 2006 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Collins, John<ref name="LG 15 December 2006 p 17359">{{London Gazette |issue=58183 |date=15 December 2006 |page=17359 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Corporal ||[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]]||14 December 2006 ||Iraq
|-
|Harkess, James Royce<ref name="LG 15 December 2006 p 17359"/> ||Colour Sergeant ||[[Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment|Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot)]] ||14 December 2006 ||Iraq
|-
|Farmer, Hugo<ref name="LG 15 December 2006"/> ||Lieutenant ||[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]]||14 December 2006 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Illingworth, Timothy<ref name="LG 15 December 2006"/> ||Acting Captain || [[The Light Infantry]] ||14 December 2006 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Unit award<ref>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: {{London Gazette |issue=58186 |date=19 December 2006 |page=17495 |supp=y }}</ref> || ||[[The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)|Royal Irish Regiment]]/[[Ulster Defence Regiment]] ||19 December 2006||[[Northern Ireland]]
|-
|Thompson, John Thomas<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58396 |date=19 July 2007 |page=10411 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Corporal ||[[Royal Marines]]||19 July 2007 ||Afghanistan
|-
|[[Jon Hollingsworth|Hollingsworth, Jonathan Stuart]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58396 |date=19 July 2007 |page=10413 |supp=y }}</ref> [[Queen's Gallantry Medal|QGM]] ||Sergeant ||[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]]||19 July 2007 ||Iraq (posthumous)
|-
|Campbell, Donald Peter<ref name="LG 7 March 2008">{{London Gazette |issue=58633 |date=7 March 2008 |page=3613 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Acting Corporal ||[[Royal Engineers]] ||7 March 2008 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Cupples, Simon Timothy<ref name="LG 7 March 2008"/> ||Lieutenant ||[[Mercian Regiment]] ||7 March 2008 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Willmott, Paul Darren<ref name="LG 7 March 2008"/> ||Private ||[[Mercian Regiment]]||7 March 2008 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Miller, Adam William<ref name="LG 7 March 2008 p 3615">{{London Gazette |issue=58633 |date=7 March 2008 |page=3615 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Corporal ||[[Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers]] ||7 March 2008 ||Iraq
|-
|Wadsworth, James Anthony<ref name="LG 7 March 2008 p 3615"/> ||[[Staff Sergeant]] ||[[Royal Logistic Corps]] ||7 March 2008 ||Iraq
|-
|McClurg, Robert William Kerr<ref name="LG 16 March 2009">{{London Gazette |issue=58999 |date=16 March 2009 |page=4082 |supp=y }}</ref> ||Corporal ||[[Royal Irish Regiment (1992)|Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)]] ||6 March 2009 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Stevens, Alwyn John<ref name="LG 16 March 2009"/> ||Acting Sergeant ||[[Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)]]||6 March 2009 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Toge, Jone Bruce<ref name="LG 16 March 2009"/> || Lance Corporal ||[[Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)]]||6 March 2009 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Durber, Leonard John<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58999 |date=16 March 2009 |page=4085 |supp=y }}</ref>|| Colour Sergeant ||Parachute Regiment ||6 March 2009 ||Iraq
|-
|Malone, Bradley<ref name="LG 13 October 2009">{{London Gazette |issue=59211 |date=13 October 2009 |page=17559 }}</ref> || Acting Corporal ||Royal Marines || 11 September 2009 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Nethery, Steven<ref name="LG 11 September 2009">{{London Gazette |issue=59182 |date=11 September 2009 |page=15640 |supp=y }}</ref> || Marine ||Royal Marines || 11 September 2009 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Dennis, Alan Gordon<ref name="LG 19 March 2010">{{London Gazette |issue=59366 |date=19 March 2010 |page=4834 |supp=y }}</ref> || Sergeant ||Mercian Regiment || 19 March 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Gadsby, Stephen William<ref name="LG 19 March 2010"/> || Gunner ||[[Royal Artillery]] || 19 March 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Giles, Marc Kevin<ref name="LG 19 March 2010"/> || Sergeant ||Mercian Regiment || 19 March 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Moncho, Jaime<ref name="LG 19 March 2010"/> || [[Sergeant]]<ref>Spelling is correct: this form is used by The Rifles.</ref> ||[[The Rifles]] || 19 March 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Prout, Gary<ref name="LG 19 March 2010"/> || Lance Bombardier ||[[Royal Artillery]]|| 19 March 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Smith, Kyle Patrick<ref name="LG 19 March 2010"/> || Lance Corporal ||Mercian Regiment || 19 March 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Turner, Robert<ref name="LG 24 September 2010">{{London Gazette |issue=59554 |date=24 September 2010 |page=18536 |supp=y }}</ref> || Sergeant ||Royal Marines || 24 September 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|[[Robin Bourne-Taylor|Bourne-Taylor, Robin Edwin Geoffrey]]<ref name="LG 24 September 2010" /> || Captain ||[[Life Guards (United Kingdom)|Life Guards]]|| 24 September 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Brownson, Lee<ref name="LG 24 September 2010" /> || Corporal ||The Rifles || 24 September 2010 ||Afghanistan (posthumous)
|-
|Horn, Graham Stuart<ref name="LG 24 September 2010" /> || Lance Corporal ||[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]]|| 24 September 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|McKie, James Lee<ref name="LG 24 September 2010" /> || Lance Corporal ||[[The Rifles]]|| 24 September 2010 ||Afghanistan
|-
|[[Dip Prasad Pun|Pun, Dip Prasad]]<ref name="LG 25 Mar 11">{{London Gazette|issue=59737|page=5640|date=25 March 2011|supp=y}}</ref> || Acting Sergeant ||[[Royal Gurkha Rifles]] || 25 March 2011 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Jackson, Mark Anthony<ref name="LG 25 Mar 11"/> || Marine ||[[Royal Marines]]|| 25 March 2011 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Stephens, Seth Vincent Scott<ref name="LG 25 Mar 11"/> || Corporal ||[[Royal Marines]]|| 25 March 2011 ||Afghanistan (posthumous)
|-
|Cutterham, Deacon<ref name="LG 23 Mar 12"/> || Sergeant ||[[The Rifles]]|| 23 March 2012 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Wright-Hider, Simon<ref name="LG 23 Mar 12">{{London Gazette|issue=60095|page=5848|date=23 March 2012|supp=y}}</ref> || Corporal ||[[Royal Marines]]|| 23 March 2012 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Couzens, Scott Allan<ref name="LG 28 September 2012">{{London Gazette |issue=60283 |date=28 September 2012 |page=18624 |supp=y }}</ref> || Staff Sergeant ||[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]]|| 28 September 2012 ||Afghanistan
|-
|[[James Glancy|Glancy, James Alexander]]<ref name="LG 22 March 2013"/> || Captain ||[[Royal Marines]]|| 22 March 2013 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Mason, Luke Timothy John<ref name="LG 22 March 2013">{{London Gazette | issue = 60456 | date = 22 March 2013 | page = 5738 | supp = y}}</ref>|| Lieutenant|| [[Yorkshire Regiment|Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)]] || 22 March 2013 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Davis, Owen Edward<ref name="4 October 2013">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/operational-honours-and-awards-list-4-october-2013|title=Operational Honours and Awards List: 4 October 2013 – News stories – GOV.UK}}</ref>|| Lieutenant||[[Royal Marines]]|| 4 October 2013 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Griffiths, Josh Edward Hayden<ref name="4 October 2013"/> || Corporal||[[Mercian Regiment]]|| 4 October 2013 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Steel, Gareth David<ref name="4 October 2013"/>|| Private ||[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]]|| 4 October 2013 ||Afghanistan
|-
|Stazicker, Anthony<ref name="LG 21 Mar 14">{{London Gazette|issue=60813|page=5836|date=21 March 2014|supp=y}}</ref> || Corporal ||[[Special Boat Service]]|| 21 March 2014 || Afghanistan
|-
|Moloney, Simon George<ref name="LG 21 Mar 14"/>|| Lance Corporal ||[[Blues and Royals|Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)]]|| 21 March 2014 || Afghanistan
|-
|Craighead, Christian MBE<ref>Pending Gazette Entry (Due end of 2022) https://www.forces.net/news/sas-hero-who-secured-kenyan-hotel-receive-top-award</ref><ref>Pseudonym used to protect identity</ref>
|Warrant Officer Class 2
|[[Special Air Service]]<nowiki> | </nowiki>[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)]]
|14 November 2019
|[[Kenya]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

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

{{Decorations of the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:1993 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1993]]
[[Category:Courage awards]]
[[Category:Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom]]