Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Medal - Military Cross (MC)

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Overview

The Military Cross is an ornamental Greek Cross with slightly flared arms at the extremities. On the obverse there is a royal cypher in the centre of a smaller Greek cross superimposed on the principal cross. An imperial crown is at each end of the principal cross. The reverse is plain. A straight bar suspender is connected to the cross via a circular link. The ribbon width is 32 mm and consists of three equal vertical moire stripes of white, purple, and white. The cross is 46 mm maximum height, 44 mm maximum width and is cast in silver.

Historical information

The Military Cross (MC) is the second-level military decoration awarded to officers and Warrant Officers of Britain and Commonwealth countries. In the Australian Honour system it has been replaced by the Cross of Valour. The MC is granted in recognition of "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land". The award was created on 28 December 1914 for commissioned officers of the substantive rank of captain or below and for warrant officers. The Military Cross was designed by Henry Farnham Burke,while its ribbon was created by Victoria Ponsonby, Baroness Sysonby. The Military Cross has been replaced by the Cross of Gallantry in the Australian Honours system.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-155

Inscriptions and markings

From 1938 until 1957 the year of award was engraved on lower limb of cross. The names of recipients were traditionally not engraved to permit immediate awards in the field, however many were subsequently privately engraved with the rank and name of the recipient .

From the beginning many military awards for both bravery and long service had distinctions based on class, rank or responsibility. Awards could be issued in different medals, gold, silver or bronze. Their could be a Cross for officers and a medal for other ranks for example Military Cross and Military medal. For long service, officers received a Decoration, soldiers a Medal. Contemporary practice has been to remove rank restrictions for bravery awards while retaining options for the circumstancesof the action. Recognition for exceptional service such as the Oder of Australia retains criteria for the level of service being commended. In general long service medals have no rank distinction only years of service.
In contrast to the previous policies for medals, sacrifice was traditionally been recognised as equally honoured. Rank distinctions are not normally found on Memorials and Honour Boards, the Australian War memorial being a national example.

Contextual Information

A total of 2,930 were awarded to Australians, in addition to 188 first bars and four second bars. Of these, 2,403 MCs, 170 first Bars and four second Bars were for World War 1. The Army Museum has 14 Military Crosses in its collection awarded to the following:
2nd Lieutenant Archibold McNicol MC, MM, Royal Garrison Artillery
Captain Cecil Maitland Foss MC, 28th Battalion AIF
Lieutenant William Watson MC (2725) 48 Battalion AIF
Lieutenant Thomas Edward Cowley MC, 11 Battalion AIF
Captain W.B. Edwards OBE, MC, 6 Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
Colonel Lawrence George Clark MC
Captain Gerald Lionel Wood MC, CdeG, 10 Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
Major James Bentley MC, MID
Captain Clifford Herbert Hatcher MC, MID (330) 4th Machine Gun Battalion AIF
Captain Harvey Smith MC (123) 16 Battalion AIF
Captain John Smythe Yule MC, Australian Army Medical Corps
Lieutenant Colonel George Redziejowski MC, 12th Podolian Lancers, 5th Kresowa Infantry Division, 2nd Polish Corps, British 8th Army
Lieutenant Walter Roy Maddeford MC

Multiple examples of this medal are retained as an ongoing memorial to the service and sacrifice of Western Australians. Medals are displayed in context throughout the Museum. All medals are identified, archivally stored and those not on display are accessible and viewable with prior notice.

Links to additional resources

Australian Recipients of the Military Cross

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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