The Elizabeth
Cross will be granted to the next of kin of Armed Forces personnel
killed on operations or as a result of terrorism in a mark of
national recognition for their loss.
This is the first
time the name of a reigning Monarch has been given to a new award
since the George Cross was instituted in 1940 by King George VI
for brave acts by both civilians and the military. Prior to this,
the Victoria Cross was introduced by Queen Victoria in 1856 for
acts of gallantry by the Armed Forces.
The next of kin will receive the Elizabeth Cross – a sterling
silver emblem, in the shape of a cross over a wreath - plus a
Memorial Scroll signed by The Queen which will bear the name of
the person who died.
The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll will not just be granted
to families who have lost loved ones in the recent operations in
Iraq and Afghanistan. The Queen’s recognition will also be
available to the families of those who died in conflicts dating
back to 1948, including the Korean War, the Falklands conflict and
operations in Northern Ireland.
In a message to Her Armed Forces, Her Majesty The Queen said:
“This seems to me a right and proper way of showing our enduring
debt to those who are killed while actively protecting what is
most dear to us all. The solemn dignity which we attach to the
names of those who have fallen is deeply engrained in our national
character. As a people, we accord this ultimate sacrifice the
highest honour and respect.”
Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock
Stirrup, said:
“I know that the families of those who have given their lives
will wear the Elizabeth Cross with immense pride. It is a reminder
not just of the ultimate price their loved ones have paid while
safeguarding our security and freedom; it is also a lasting symbol
of the nation’s recognition of and gratitude for their sacrifice.”
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said:
“We owe so much to those who have died to protect our country and
our way of life. The Elizabeth Cross was recommended by the
military Chiefs to Her Majesty to recognise the huge debt this
country owes to the families those brave individuals have left behind.”
The arms of the Elizabeth Cross bear floral symbols representing
England (Rose), Scotland (Thistle), Northern Ireland (Shamrock)
and Wales (Daffodil). The reverse of the Cross will be engraved
with the name of the person in whose memory it is granted. The
Scroll is on parchment style paper, headed with the Royal Coat of
Arms and the following words: “This Scroll Commemorates [name to
be inserted] who gave his/her life for Queen and Country on [date
to be inserted] ” The Scroll will bear the signature of Her
Majesty The Queen in the upper left hand corner.
The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll have been inspired by
precedents from the first and second World Wars. A scroll and
memorial plaque were presented to the families of those killed in
World War One. A scroll was given to the families of those who
died in World War Two and in the Korean War in the early 1950s.
In June 2008 the MOD announced plans to introduce a new national
form of recognition for those Armed Forces personnel who die on
operations or as a result of terrorist activity whilst on duty.
These plans were based on the recommendations of the military
Chiefs of Staff and the final details have been confirmed today.
Families of those Service Personnel who have died since 1948 are
invited to read the information on the MOD Medal Office website
(see below) which includes information on the eligibility criteria
and details of how to apply. Information and an application form
can also be obtained by calling 0800 085 3600.
The full text of the Queen’s message to Her Armed Forces follows
below.
A recorded radio message from the Queen is
available for broadcasters from the British Forces Broadcasting
Service (BFBS) from 1 July 2009. Broadcasters should contact BFBS
on 01494 878568.
A recorded TV interview with CDS is
also available from BFBS from 1 July 2009. Broadcasters should
contact BFBS on 01494 878568.
A Written Ministerial
Statement (WMS) was laid in Parliament in the Defence Secretary’s
name on 1 July 2009.
Pictures of the Elizabeth Cross
and Memorial Scroll are available on request from the MOD’s
Defence News Imagery service at www.dni.mod.uk. If you need to
set up an account, email admin@photos.mod.uk or
telephone 020 7218 6997.
Families of those who have
died in Service can find out more about how to receive the
Elizabeth Cross and eligibility criteria at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals
Pictures of the Queen with service personnel are
available on request from the MOD press office.
For
more information, contact Tom Bennett in the Ministry of Defence
Press Office on 020 7218 5083 or DMC-NewsPersonnel4@MOD.uk
or Ailsa Anderson, Buckingham Palace Press Office, 020 7024 4209.
MESSAGE FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
TO HER ARMED FORCES.
As I talk to you today I am conscious that my words are being
heard simultaneously across many time-zones, climates and
terrains. Wherever you are deployed in the world, you should be
assured that I and the whole nation are deeply thankful for the
part you play in helping to maintain peace around the globe. In
these present times, no less than in previous years, the men and
women of our Armed Forces undertake their duties in the knowledge
that danger often lies ahead. They know that many have died in the
service of our country and that difficulties are ever present.
With this in mind, the Armed Forces have recommended that for
those servicemen and women who have given their lives during
operations, a special emblem and scroll will be granted to their
next of kin. I am pleased to be associated with such an
initiative, which is in keeping with a tradition established
during the First World War. And so I have asked that this emblem
should be known as the Elizabeth Cross.
This seems to me a right and proper way of showing our enduring
debt to those who are killed while actively protecting what is
most dear to us all. The solemn dignity which we attach to the
names of those who have fallen is deeply engrained in our national
character. As a people, we accord this ultimate sacrifice the
highest honour and respect.
Around the world Prince Philip and I have always been impressed
by the way the Commonwealth War Graves Commission tends to the
graves and memorials of those servicemen and women who lost their
lives during the First and Second World Wars. And now, the Armed
Forces Memorial, established at the National Memorial Arboretum,
bears the names of each of the British service personnel who have
died on operations since that time.
To these collective memorials we now add a new and deeply
personal commemoration. I greatly hope that the Elizabeth Cross
will give further meaning to the nation’s debt of gratitude to the
families and loved ones of those who have died in the service of
our country. We will remember them all.