in the Field." The ribbon is red and ribbed, with a broad blue stripe in the centre. This medal has since been awarded to soldiers for services performed during the Indian Mutiny and subsequent campaigns. The name of the recipient, with his rank and regiment, are indented on the edge of the medal, and in most cases the date of the action for which the medal was given.

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

THE year 1856 was memorable for the establishment of a decoration to which all ranks of the army and navy might aspire. It was instituted by a warrant dated June 29th., 1856, and revised April 23rd., 1881. This new reward of valour appropriately bears the name of the "Victoria Cross," and its value is heightened by the fact of the Queen personally conferring the disinction, when the recipient happens to be in this country. It consists of a Maltese cross of bronze, attached by the letter V to a bar, on which a sprig of laurel is embossed. On the obverse, in the centre is the British Lion and Crown, and beneath it a scroll, bearing the inscription "For Valour;" the reverse is plain, the name and corps of the recipient being engraved on the bar to which the ribbon is attached, and the date of the act of bravery in the centre of the Cross. The ribbon for the army is red, whilst for the navy it is blue. All are placed on an equal footing as regards eligibility for this decoration, as neither rank, long service, wounds, nor any other circumstance whatever, save conspicuous bravery, can establish a claim to the honour. Every non-commissioned officer or soldier is entitled to a special pension of ten pounds a year from the date of the act by which the decoration was gained. Should further acts of bravery be performed by the recipient, which, had he not already received the Cross, would have entitled him thereto, additional bars attached to the ribbon are accorded, carrying with them further pensions of five pounds per annum for each. The same of course holds good for the navy. The names of recipients are published

in the "London Gazette," and a registry thereof is kept in the office of the Secretary of State for War. The following is a list, arranged alphabetically, of the winners of the Cross since its institution to the present time (1892), giving the date when, and the campaign in which, the act of bravery was performed, with a brief notice of the same, and the rank the recipient eventually attained.

ABLET, Sergeant A., Grenadier Guards. Sept. 2, 1855. Throwing outside trench a live shell from the midst of a number of ammunition cases, which burst as it touched the ground.

ADAMS, Rev. J. W., Bengal Ecclesiastical Establishment, Killa Kazi, Afghanistan. Dec. 11, 1879. Rescuing from drowning some of the 9th. Lancers, in the immediate presence of the enemy, under a heavy fire, and up to his waist in water.

ADDISON, Private H., 43rd. Foot. Indian Mutiny, Jan. 2, 1859. Defending and saving the life of Lieut. Osborne. Addison received two wounds and lost a leg in this service.

AIKMAN, Colonel F. R., 4th. Bengal Native Infantry. Indian Mutiny, March 1, 1858. Routing a body of 500 rebel infantry, 200 horse, and two guns, which he captured, with only 100 of the 3rd. Sikh Cavalry.

AITKEN, Colonel R. H. M., late of the 13th. Bengal Native Infantry. Indian Mutiny, 1857. Various gallant acts during defence of Lucknow Residency, among others saving a powder magazine from explosion, capturing guns, etc., from June 30 to Nov. 22, 1857.

ALEXANDER, Private J., 90th. Foot. Redan, June 18 and Sept. 6, 1855. Bringing in wounded men on two occasions, under heavy fire, one being Capt. Buckley, Scots Fusilier Guards.

ALLEN, Corporal W., 2nd. Batt. 24th. Foot. Rorke's Drift, Zululand, Jan. 22, 1879. Severely wounded in defending the hospital till the patients were removed. See Private F. Hitch.

ANDERSON, Corporal C., 2nd. Dragoon Guards. Indian Mutiny, Oct. 8, 1851, and Trumpeter T. Monaghan. Saving the life of Lieut.-Col. Seymour, C.B., commanding the regiment, when cut down and surrounded by a body of mutineers.

ANSON, Brevet Lieut. -Col. A. H. A., 84th. Regiment. Indian Mutiny, Sept. 28 and Nov. 16, 1857. For conspicuous bravery at Bolundshahur, and the storming of the Secundra Bagh at Lucknow.

ARTHUR, Gunner T., Royal Artillery. Sebastopol, June 7 and 18, 1855. Carrying barrels of ammunition to the 7th. Fusiliers, several times, under fire, and volunteering for the spiking party at the assault on the Redan.

ASHFORD, Private J., Royal Fusiliers. Candahar, Aug. 16, 1880. Assisting in removing wounded, under a heavy fire. See Lieut. Chase. BAKER, Lieutenant C. G., Bengal Police Batt. Indian Mutiny, Sept.