190 AWARDED FOR VALOUR
The majority of the Second World War VCs – 107 – went to forces
originating in the United Kingdom, and of those 55 percent went to land
forces. In the Army the distribution is what might be expected, with the
infantry taking 80 percent of the VCs granted. Armored units won four
medals, but as noted above, none while actually in a tank. Artillery units
and Airborne Infantry won three awards each.
The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy won 23 Crosses each. In the RAF all
but one went to bomber crews and of those 18 went to aircrew members
whose act allowed the plane to continue missions despite damage – RAF
VCs will be discussed in greater detail below. For the Royal Navy 39 percent
went to special operations. Four Crosses went to the crews of miniature
submarines who attacked the GermanTirpitzand the JapaneseTakao, while five
went for harbor raids, such as the 27/28 March 1942 operation at St Nazaire
to scuttle theCamperdownat the lock gates. The Navy still valued ‘good form,’
as 13 percent of RN Crosses went to commanders who attacked a superior
foe, generally with fatal results. Both Navy and Air Force granted awards
recognizing cumulative command accomplishment, but very sparingly.
The First World War ratio of awards earned by men holding a temporary
or acting rank remained constant in the Second, with 22.5 percent of the
awards thus won. The distribution was similar to that of 1917, with minor
variations – a couple more majors, a couple fewer lieutenant-colonels.
In terms of other national formations involved, Indian troops collected
the second largest number of Crosses; their 31 awards represent 17 percent
of the war’s total. That fully 97 percent of the Indian Establishment’s awards
went to infantry is a reflection of the difference in force composition as
opposed to that of the British Army. Of the Indian awards only three
went to White officers of Indian units. Units from Australia and New
Zealand garnered 14 percent of the overall total, or 27 medals. Theirs
and the Indian VC statistics follow closely the overall distribution by type
of act, with slightly over 90 percent given for war-winning acts. The 13
Canadian VCs – 7 percent of the overall number – vary from this pattern,
with 31 percent granted for life-saving acts. The Second World War also
saw three South African VCs and the first and only VC conferred upon a
Fijian.
It is possible that a new use of the Victoria Cross emerged during the First
World War, awards granted for political or doctrinal purposes. Statistical
analysis of the frequency and timing of VCs on the Western Front suggest
that Douglas Haig may have given Crosses more liberally for actions that
confirmed his tactical doctrines and supported his strategy. In the absence
of concrete documentary evidence this must remain a mere suspicion in
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