1-632-868 - Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images

'Victoria Cross, the New Order of Valour for the Army', c1857. The Victoria Cross was instituted in 1856 for all ranks of the British army and navy. It was first conferred by Queen Victoria on 62 men in June 1857. The decoration was a Maltese cross made from Russian cannon captured at Sevastopol in the Crimean War, with a red ribbon for the army, and a blue ribbon when awarded to naval servicemen. The illustrations show some of the first army awards.