Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/250

112 officers, sub-officers, and privates who served in the Crimea. Clasps, with the words, "Alma, Balaklava, and Inkermann," inscribed on them, were also distributed amongst those who were present in those Battles.

A, suspended to a sky-blue ribbon, is also accorded for distinguished service in.

THE VICTORIA CROSS, (No. 28,)

Was instituted on the 29th January, 1856, by a Royal Warrant, of which the following is a literal copy:—

VICTORIA R.

We, taking into Our Royal consideration that there exists no means of adequately rewarding the individual gallant services either of officers of the lower grades in Our naval and military service, or of warrant and petty officers, seamen, and marines, in Our navy, and non-commissioned officers and soldiers in Our army; and whereas the third class of Our most Honourable Order of the Bath is limited, except in very rare cases, to the higher ranks of both services, and the granting of medals, both in Our navy and army, is only awarded for long service or meritorious conduct, rather than for bravery in action or distinction before an enemy, such cases alone excepted where a general medal is granted for a particular action or campaign, or a clasp added to the medal for some especial engagement, in both of which cases all share equally in the boon, and those who by their valour have particularly signalized themselves remain undistinguished from their comrades: Now, for the purpose of attaining an end so desirable as that of rewarding individual instances of merit and valour, We