Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Miniature Medals including Victoria Cross - Lieutenant Hugo Throssell VC

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Overview

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime. It was instituted in 1856 by Queen Victoria and made retrospective to 1854 to cover the period of the Crimean War. It is possible for any serving member of the armed forces to obtain this award.
The decoration is a bronze cross pattée 41 mm high, 36 mm wide, bearing the crown of Saint Edward surmounted by a lion, and the inscription "for valour" . The decoration, suspension bar, and link weigh about 27 grams. The cross is suspended by a ring from a seriffed "V" to a bar ornamented with laurel leaves, through which the ribbon passes
The ribbon is crimson, 38 mm wide. Although the army warrants state the colour as being red, it is defined by most commentators as being crimson or "wine-red".

These are the original miniature medals of Hugo Throssell. Miniatures are worn on formal Mess or Evening Dress. Throssell's full size medals including his Victoria Cross are held in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-2013-024

Inscriptions and markings

The reverse of the suspension bar is engraved with the recipient's name, rank, number and unit. On the reverse of the medal is a circular panel on which the date of the act for which it was awarded is engraved in the centre. Each Victoria Cross is unique in that the medal is cast and hand finished including a secret identifying mark.

Contextual Information

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during operations on the Kaiakij Aghala (Hill 60) in the Gallipoli Peninsular on 29 and 30 August 1915. Although severely wounded in several places during a counter-attack, he refused to leave his post or to obtain medical assistance till all danger was passed, when he had his wounds dressed and returned to the firing-line until ordered out of action by the Medical Officer. By his personal courage and example he kept up the spirits of his party, and was largely instrumental in saving the situation at a critical period.

[London Gazette 15 October 1915]

Links to additional resources

Greenmount Memorial

Northam Memorial

Hall of Valour

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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