January 4, 2008 MAC/ARD Page-211 16:12 9780230_547056_13_app01
APPENDIX 211
on board Ship, or of the foundering of a vessel-at Sea, or under any other circumstances in
which through the courage and devotion displayed, life or public property may be saved.
Now know Ye, that We, of Our especial Grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion,
have thought fit hereby to signify Our Royal Will and Pleasure that the said decoration shall
be conferred on the Officers and men in Our Naval and Military Services and in the Naval
and Military Services of the East India Company, who may perform acts of conspicuous
courage and bravery under the circumstances referred to in this Our Warrant. Provided,
nevertheless, and We do hereby, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, declare, ordain, and
appoint that nothing herein contained shall be deemed or construed to have the effect, of
altering, abrogating, or dispensing with the rules and ordinances set forth in Our said just
recited Warrant, or any of them, except so far as may be necessary for the purpose of
enabling Us to confer the said decoration on the Officers and men of Our Naval and Military
Services or of the Naval and Military Services of the East India Company in conformity with
the provisions of this Our Warrant.
Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this Tenth day of August, 1858 in the Twenty
second year of Our Reign.
By Her Majesty’s Command
J. Peel
IV AMENDING WARRANT: CIVILIAN SERVICE
DURING THE MUTINY, 13 DECEMBER 1858
Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen,
Defender of the Faith, To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting! Whereas by a
Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual, countersigned by one of Our Principal Secretaries of
State, and bearing date at Our Court at Buckingham Palace the 29th day of January 1856,
in the nineteenth year of Our Reign, We did constitute and create a new naval and military
decoration to be styled and designated the Victoria Cross, which decoration We expressed
Our desire should be highly prized and eagerly sought after by the Officers and men of Our
Naval and Military services and did also make ordain and establish the rules and ordinances
therein set forth for the Government of the same, to be henceforth inviolably observed and
kept.
And Whereas by another Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual countersigned by one
of Our Principal Secretaries of State and bearing date at Our Court at Windsor, the 29th
day of October 1857, in the Twenty first year of Our Reign, We thought fit to signify Our
Royal Will and Pleasure, that the said decoration shall be conferred on the Officers and men
of the Naval and Military Service of the East India Company – now Our Indian Naval and
Military Forces who may be qualified to receive the same in accordance with the rules and
ordinances made ordained and established by Us for the Government thereof by Our first
recited Warrant aforesaid.
And Whereas during the progress of the operations which We have undertaken against
the Insurgent Mutineers in India, it has not infrequently happened that non military persons
who have borne arms as volunteers against the mutineers both at Lucknow and elsewhere
have performed deeds of gallantry in consideration of which they are not according to the
strict provisions of Our first recited Warrant eligible for this high distinction.
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