Victoria's Cross

Victoria's Cross PDF Author: Gary Mead
Publisher: Atlantic Books (UK)
ISBN: 9781843542704
Category : Victoria Cross
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This controversial book, by one of the UK's finest military historians, reveals the squalid truth about Britain's highest military honor, exposing a shameful history of racism, misogyny, and political expediency. When 25-year old Private Johnson Beharry won the Victoria Cross in 2005 for bravery under fire in Iraq, he was the first person to win Britain's highest military honor since the Falklands war in 1982 and the first living recipient since 1969, when two Australians were given the award for action in Vietnam. Born out of the squalor of the Crimean War in 1856 and the fragility of the monarchy at that time, the VC's prestige is such that it takes precedence over all other orders and medals in Britain. But while many books have been written about specific aspects of the VC and its recipients, none have asked why so many brave men who deserved the medal were denied it, and why no women have ever been awarded the VC, even though they are entitled. Military historian Gary Mead's vivid and balanced account of the VC's life and times exposes the hypocrisy behind one of the UK's last sacred cows, and explores its role as a barometer for the shifting sands of political and social change during the last 150 years.

Victoria's Cross

Victoria's Cross PDF Author: Gary Mead
Publisher: Atlantic Books (UK)
ISBN: 9781843542704
Category : Victoria Cross
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This controversial book, by one of the UK's finest military historians, reveals the squalid truth about Britain's highest military honor, exposing a shameful history of racism, misogyny, and political expediency. When 25-year old Private Johnson Beharry won the Victoria Cross in 2005 for bravery under fire in Iraq, he was the first person to win Britain's highest military honor since the Falklands war in 1982 and the first living recipient since 1969, when two Australians were given the award for action in Vietnam. Born out of the squalor of the Crimean War in 1856 and the fragility of the monarchy at that time, the VC's prestige is such that it takes precedence over all other orders and medals in Britain. But while many books have been written about specific aspects of the VC and its recipients, none have asked why so many brave men who deserved the medal were denied it, and why no women have ever been awarded the VC, even though they are entitled. Military historian Gary Mead's vivid and balanced account of the VC's life and times exposes the hypocrisy behind one of the UK's last sacred cows, and explores its role as a barometer for the shifting sands of political and social change during the last 150 years.

The Complete Victoria Cross

The Complete Victoria Cross PDF Author: Kevin Brazier
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1473872065
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 450

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Book Description
This fully revised paperback edition of the complete chronological record of VC holders is an essential work of reference for every student of military history. All the British and Commonwealth servicemen who have been awarded the highest honour for exceptional acts of bravery and self-sacrifice are commemorated here. The first VCs awarded for the Crimean War and in the nineteenth-century colonial wars are described, as are the VCs awarded in the world wars of the twentieth century and the most recent VCs awarded during present-day conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The extraordinary exploits recounted in this fascinating book make unforgettable reading.

The Victoria Cross Wars

The Victoria Cross Wars PDF Author: Brian Best
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1473887380
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 599

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Book Description
The British Empire at its height stretched around the globe. From Asia to the Americas, scores of countries were conquered or assimilated into the greatest commonwealth of nations in history. Many of these countries were won, and held, at the point of the bayonet, and British soldiers and sailors fought long and hard campaigns in deserts, mountains and jungles to maintain and expand the Empire. Fighting, though, means bloodshed; it also means bravery. Victoria Crosses were awarded in operations against Persia, Abyssinia and China, in New Zealand, Burma and Sudan, in the Perak War, the Andaman Islands Expedition and the Mashona Rebellion to name but a few of the forty-four different campaigns of the colonial era.The Victoria Cross Wars explains Britains involvement in these little-known and forgotten campaigns and details the battles and engagements that resulted in the granting of the most highly regarded award for valor in the face of the enemy. The greater conflicts of the twentieth century receive due treatment as do more recent operations in the troubled parts of the world.A total of 1,358 VCs have been awarded since the cross of valor was first instituted in 1855, the latest of which was announced in February 2015. The stories behind the awarding of these medals have been repeated in countless anthologies but The Victoria Cross Wars explains not just what the men did, but why they were there and what they were fighting for.

Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross

Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross PDF Author: Richard Doherty
Publisher: Four Courts Press
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 294

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Book Description
Military historians Doherty and Truesdale tell the personal stories of the many Irish winners of the prestigious medal since its inception in 1856. They include men from all levels of society from poor farmers to lords and generals. Their account is chronological, from the Crimean War through World War II. They also list the winners alphabetically, discuss rejected recommendations and forfeited awards, and include poems about two winners. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Victoria Cross Bibliography

Victoria Cross Bibliography PDF Author: Alan Jordan
Publisher: London : Spink
ISBN:
Category : Soldiers
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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Book Description
Many books have been written about the Victoria Cross and its recipients. The first published work on the subject appeared in 1857 - the same year as the first VC investiture. A resurgence of interest in the 1990s led to the publication of numerous new titles, but there was no comprehensive bibliography of the Victoria Cross until John Mulholland and Alan Jordan's first volume appeared in 1999, representing the efforts of a team of researchers in the UK, Canada and Australia.0This second edition completely updates their research, increasing the number of books listed, annotated and cross-referenced from 640 to around 1,100, and including all the Journals of the Victoria Cross Society. Part I contains a listing of all key VC titles; Part II lists non-fiction and fictional books written by VC recipients; and the index lists, in alphabetical order, every VC recipient with the date of the London Gazette citation. Additionally it identifies the books in which the recipients are referred to significantly, enabling the researcher to quickly identify key works.0The bibliography is an important contribution to Victoria Cross literature and an essential, up-to-date reference guide for anyone with an interest in the decoration.

Victoria Cross Bibliography

Victoria Cross Bibliography PDF Author: John Mulholland
Publisher: Spink Books
ISBN: 9781912667031
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
Languages : en
Pages : 416

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Book Description
Many books have been written about the Victoria Cross and its recipients. The first published work on the subject appeared in 1857 - the same year as the first VC investiture. A resurgence of interest in the 1990s led to the publication of numerous new titles, but there was no comprehensive bibliography of the Victoria Cross until John Mulholland and Alan Jordan's first volume appeared in 1999, representing the efforts of a team of researchers in the UK, Canada and Australia. This second edition completely updates their research, increasing the number of books listed, annotated and cross-referenced from 640 to around 1,100, and including all the Journals of the Victoria Cross Society. Part I contains a listing of all key VC titles; Part II lists non-fiction and fictional books written by VC recipients; and the index lists, in alphabetical order, every VC recipient with the date of the London Gazette citation. Additionally it identifies the books in which the recipients are referred to significantly, enabling the researcher to quickly identify key works. The bibliography is an important contribution to Victoria Cross literature and an essential, up-to-date reference guide for anyone with an interest in the decoration.

The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross PDF Author: Michael Madden
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781925520989
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 512

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Book Description
This book is an ambitious endeavour to capture the history of Australia's pre-eminent award for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy and its highest military honour, the Victoria Cross (VC). Since 1856 when the award was created by Queen Victoria, 100 Australian servicemen have been recognised with the Cross. This book, however, is not a ......

Symbol of Courage

Symbol of Courage PDF Author: Max Arthur
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9780330491334
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 750

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Book Description
The Victoria Cross can only be awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. It has been awarded only 1,354 times since the Crimean War, the majority going to British and Commonwealth troops. Symbol of Courage vividly brings the story of the medal to life, giving a narrative history from the Crimean War to the recent war in Afghanistan. It includes many first-hand accounts of individual acts of bravery and describes what happened to the VC holders, some of whom found it was harder wearing the medal than winning it. It also gives a complete listing of every VC holder with details of the action in which they won the medal. Written by acclaimed military historian Max Arthur, this is a fascinating and comprehensive study that will appeal to everyone who is interested in military history.The Victoria Cross is Britains most famous medalit has a great emotional appeal and this book is full of stories of remarkable courage. Max Arthurs last book, Forgotten Voices of the Great War, sold over 84,000 copies in paperback for Ebury. The first book for many years to give a complete history of the medal. There are many Commonwealth holders so there should be a market outside the UK.

The Register of the Victoria Cross

The Register of the Victoria Cross PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description


The Commando

The Commando PDF Author: Ben Mckelvey
Publisher: Hachette Australia
ISBN: 0733636500
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 227

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Book Description
'Corporal Baird was a modern-day warrior who set a standard that every soldier aspires to achieve.' - GENERAL DAVID HURLEY On 22 June 2013, Corporal Cameron Baird was a 2nd Commando Regiment Special Forces soldier when he led his platoon into a known Taliban stronghold to back-up another Australian unit under heavy fire. In the pronged firefight, Cameron was mortally wounded. In 2014, Cameron's bravery and courage under fire saw him posthumously awarded the 100th Victoria Cross, our highest award possible for bravery in the presence of the enemy. Cameron Baird died how he lived - at the front, giving it his all, without any indecision. He will forever be remembered by his mates and the soldiers he served with in the 2nd Commando Regiment. THE COMMANDO reveals Cameron's life, from young boy and aspiring AFL player, who only missed out on being drafted because of injury, to exemplary soldier and leader. Cameron's story and that of 4RAR and 2nd Commando personifies the courage and character of the men and women who go to war and will show us the good man we have lost.