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What is a VC?
The Victoria Cross is the British and Commonwealth's highest award for bravery and valour. Way back during the Crimean War in 1854, Queen Victoria was greatly impressed by the feats of bravery shown by her soldiers and sailors, often in the face of extreme adversity. Up to this point only senior officers had been rewarded if a soldier or junior officer performed an act of bravery as senior officer in charge. Queen Victoria was not happy that she could not present an award to all those who had shown extreme courage so she approved the deisgn of a new medal. Queen Victoria ordered that:
"...it should be highly prized and eagerly sought after above all others, and awarded regardless of rank, long service, wounds or any other circumstances or condition save the merit of bravery which alone should establish sufficient to claim the honour."
The VC as it is often now termed is awarded to those who in the presence of the enemy perform a single act of valour or devotion to their country. The Victoria Cross was replaced in 1999 by "The Victoria Cross for New Zealand" and this is what Cpl Willie Apiata of the SAS has been awarded.
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